Hank's Gets a Bad Rap.

Parking is free, with no valet service, and the lot is decent-sized. The cover was $5. There is no coat check. Drinks were standard for a strip club (soft drinks were $7, and a shot was $6 on special). $10 for a wristband (one-time charge) to go in the VIP area for a dance.

Henry the VIIIs has a reputation for being near the bottom of the Detroit-area clubs. There’s a lot of truth to that, as the club is run down and doesn’t have the cleanest floors or bathrooms. And smoking is still allowed in the club, which can be a problem for some. In fact, it's my biggest pet peeve with this place.

Still, it has some upsides. The music was at a tolerable level and a mix of genres, not just hip-hop. The lighting is good, with three stages and multiple TVs, so you can watch just about any sport you want. Seating is ample. There are rows of chairs and tables when you first walk in, with what appeared to be a more private area behind them. There is seating at all three stages, at the bar, and more tables over by the VIP area. The wait staff was a blonde waitress and a bartender, both of whom were fine, and I appreciated not being constantly pressured to order more drinks. There was a doorman, of course, and one or two other guys I saw who might have been bouncers, and all in all, I never had any reason not feel safe. The patrons are a mix of ethnicities and are strictly working class, but it wasn't a rough crowd, and the entire place felt laid-back.