Operators of a Florida-based strip club chain plan on filling the vacant storefront left by Berlin Nightclub's closure, but the business's policies regarding dancers and women visitors have some petitioning to stop it from opening.
Johnson's Chicago is a strip club for gay men that's expected to open in May, said owner Matt Colunga. It's the third location of the business, which also plans to expand into Atlanta later this year. Johnson's clubs are presently located in Tampa as well as Wilton Manors, Florida.
The new Chicago location will fill the storefront at 954 W. Belmont Ave., which formerly housed Berlin Nightclub until it closed in November 2023, according to Ald. Bennett Lawson's office (44th Ward). The team behind Johnson's had not yet announced the business's address because they're still waiting on necessary permits and to assume ownership of the space, Colunga said.
Colunga got his start in the industry as a dancer at a club in Atlanta, and opened the first Johnson's in 2017 in Fort Lauderdale because he wanted to create an environment for people to enjoy male dancers without some of the issues he experienced at previous clubs, he said. He later opened a second location in Tampa.
"I watched how other bar owners would neglect their spaces, treat their staff or act creepy and hit on their dancers," Colunga said. "I wanted to make the perfect space where every little detail was thought out, from paying the staff well to making sure it smells good."
But Colunga's recruitment efforts—and Johnson's' stated policy of requiring all women visitors to be accompanied by a man—have some criticizing the business for not being inclusive.
"It's going to be a bunch of super muscular men, some straight and some gay," said Lux Filler, a local dancer who was turned away from Johnson's after messaging the bar to inquire about dancing there. "It's not a good look to not have any diversity, and it feels like a downgrade from Berlin, which was an alternative club where everyone was welcome."
Filler was dancing at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, a strip club at 3169 N. Halsted St., when he learned that Johnson's was looking for dancers ahead of its opening. He messaged the business on Facebook, but was immediately turned away because of his physique. The Facebook messenger exchange was reviewed by Windy City Times.
"We only hire the best guys," the business told Filler. "If you wanna work for us, I suggest fighting up some, hit the gym a little harder."
Filler dances at bars across the North Side, including Cell Block, Jackhammer, Charlie's and Atmosphere. He said he's never faced issues due to his body type.
"To get that kind of response from Johnson's was crazy, and not what we're supposed to be doing as a community," Filler said. "Every other bar in Northalsted has shown support and positivity while being there for each other."
In an interview with Windy City Times, Colunga apologized to everyone he offended with the Facebook message, which has been shared widely across social media.
"I'm to the point because I can't sugarcoat anything in this industry," Colunga said. "I'm very strict when I run a club and part of that is I can be blunt. Nobody wants to hear they don't make the cut and I'm sorry, but that's just my business model."
Others have raised issues with the club's policy on women visitors, which requires all women to be accompanied by a man. A petition, which has received more than 1,000 signatures, said the policy "perpetuates harmful stereotypes and promotes toxic masculinity."
Colunga said the policy is to ensure the club remains a space for men to enjoy male dancers. He also said the club is looking for a variety of dancers, ranging from "twinks" to "muscle boys."
"There aren't many male strip clubs for women anymore, and females outnumber us two to one," Colunga said. "If I don't have that female policy, females overtake the club because they feel comfortable with the gays and want to be in our surroundings."
Patrons have walked out of Colunga's other locations on nights where too many women were inside, he said.
"If I have seven girls there, customers will walk out and make a point to stop me and tell me it's because there's too many girls in there," Colunga said. "And they don't come back. You can't make everyone happy, but I do my best."
Daniel Perez, CEO and executive producer of the nonprofit Chicago LSD Radio, created the petition against Johnson's, calling for the business to be prevented from opening in Chicago and banning it from marching in this year's Pride Parade, which organizers are scaling back this year amid a new entry cap enforced by the city.
"This isn't something we feel is a representation of our community," Perez said.
Organizers of the Chicago Pride Parade did not return a request for comment.
Johnson's in Tampa was also met with some opposition, but those people are now supporters of the business, Colunga said.
"I'm not worried about this outcry affecting our business because we've got people who were against us in Tampa who are now our customers," Colunga said. "I've been in the business for 30 years and I run a great bar. I'm just trying to keep the gay environment when I feel like we're starting to lose it."
The http://change.org petition is at http://tinyurl.com/mpcb2p5v.