Consistently fails to live up to its potential

To set some background for this review, I've been going to emperors for about 15 years now. I was a patron as it changed to Scores and back again. I've had great times and mediocre times, but my most recent visit was the worst by far. It's a shame, as now that Gold club is gone Emperor's is probably the "classiest" of the Jacksonville clubs, but given how low they've set the bar, that's not saying much.

For my most recent visit, I arrived on a Friday evening to a fairly empty parking lot. Upon approaching the door a large meathead bouncer opens the door, looks at me, and barks "IT'LL BE TEN!" and points to the register. Umm, "hi?". "Welcome in?".. No, just an admonishment to pay the cover or else. I pay the pretty lady at the register (and tip as well) and take a seat at an open table on the non-DJ side of the stage. Literally sat there for 30+ mins and never saw a waitress. I leaned over to ask the guy at the table next to me (who had drinks) if there was a waitress and he rolled his eyes and said "barely - we've only seen her twice in 2 hours". I moved to a table on the other side of the stage, as I could see waitress working that section. Within about 5 minutes she asked for my order (again, no "hi" or "welcome in", just "what do you want to drink?") - I ordered a beer and a shot and waited. And waited. Then watched as she took drinks and shots to all of the other tables in the section. After an additional 30+ minutes of no drinks and no attention from any of the dancers (and there were plenty working, all sticking to their regulars) I had enough and left to visit another club.

Service at Emperor's has always been their achilles' heel, but man, waiting over an hour just to get a drink? I was there with money to spend and they just didn't want to take it - how sad.