Johnson’s, the Florida-based strip club planning an expansion into the former Berlin Nightclub space, has reversed its controversial policy requiring all women to be accompanied by a man, but petitioners still want to block the business from opening based on concerns with the owner’s social media posts.
Matt Colunga, owner of the male strip club, announced on the business’s Facebook page May 6 that the policy was struck after he “listened and responded to my customers.”
“First, I want to apologize if my comments offended anyone,” Colunga wrote in the statement. “They have truly been taken out of context. I have been a gay business owner for almost three decades and am a fierce advocate for the rights of our community.”
Johnson’s Chicago, which plans to open at 954 W. Belmont Ave. in May, came under fire for the policy earlier this month after a local dancer who inquired about working at the club said he was turned away and body-shamed.
The incident spurred Chicagoans like Daniel Perez, CEO and executive producer of the nonprofit Chicago LSD Radio, to research more on Johnson’s and discover its policy banning women from entering the business alone.
Perez created a petition calling for the city to stop Johnson’s from opening and for the Chicago Pride Parade organizers to remove it from its lineup, claiming the business “isn’t something we feel is a representation of our community.”
So far, the petition has received more than 1,300 signatures.
In his May 6 statement, Colunga said the policy was originally enacted because customers were upset with the number of bachelorette and birthday parties that prevented them from “the opportunity to enjoy our entertainers in a male-oriented club.”
“Regardless, I realized that it was up to my staff to control the crowd and therefore changed my policy to be more inclusive,” Colunga said.
Perez told Windy City Times May 6 he was skeptical of Johnson’s reversal of the policy. Additionally, Perez said concerns remain about whether Colunga will foster an inclusive environment in his business, based on social media posts the owner has made in the past few years.
Colunga was active on Twitter in 2020, when he replied to and reposted several tweets criticizing the ongoing protests against anti-Black police brutality and pandemic-related shutdowns.
“Well said,” Colunga replied to a June 5, 2020, tweet by conservative political commentator Brandon Tatum that said, “It’s less about white racism & more about black accountability.”
In another post, Colunga shared an image of the “thin blue line” flag used by the Blue Lives Matter movement, which was founded in direct opposition to Black Lives Matter.
Colunga also replied “Yep” to a 2020 tweet asking if the hundreds of thousands of deaths among COVID-19 patients was funny.
“Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community was very vocal during 2020 and held a lot of businesses accountable for their discriminatory practices,” Perez said. “If we allow this establishment to open in our community, it sets back that progress.”
In a statement May 7, Colunga said he made the posts during a “crazy unprecedented time” when his “only concern at that point was figuring out how to keep my business while it was shut down and supporting my staff in any way possible.”
“I think we all would have done some things differently looking back, but I chose to continue to grow and learn and always move forward,” Colunga said. “We’re excited to open here and look forward to welcoming everyone.”
Perez said he’s also concerned because Colunga hasn’t apologized personally to Lux Filler, the local dancer who was turned away from working at the bar due to his physique.
Filler had messaged the business on Facebook after seeing a post it was recruiting dancers, but was turned away and told the bar “only hire[s] the best guys.”
“If you wanna work for us, I suggest fighting up some, hit the gym a little harder,” the business replied to Filler on Facebook.
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.”
Perez is organizing a group of people who oppose Johnson’s to attend the May 15 meeting of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, where he plans on speaking against the business’s opening.
“We want a peaceful discussion and dialogue to discuss this,” Perez said. “And if it does open, what measures can be in place to make sure it doesn’t have any discriminatory practices? How do we know they won’t treat women and other groups poorly even if the policy is reversed?”