After being closed for more than a quarter of the calendar year, one Las Vegas adult club is back in business.
Partially, at least.
The well-known Palomino Club, on Las Vegas Boulevard North near Lake Mead Boulevard, opened Monday after being closed since St. Patrick’s Day.
Normally, the club features totally nude dancers, but since strip clubs technically aren’t allowed to be open yet under the state’s phased pandemic reopening program, the business has had to adjust.
Palomino is now essentially a bikini bar, complete with social distancing protocols and, of course, strict rules against lap dances for customers.
“We opened back up as a bar with very limited services,” said Adam Gentile, the club’s owner. “We’re following the spirit and the letter of all the restriction laws. We’re not allowing anyone within 6 feet of each other and, as of (Thursday) night, all customers have to wear masks, just like our staff.”
As for the Palomino club’s talent, Gentile said a “skeleton crew” has been working, though he’s limiting the number of customers to 25% of building capacity.
“We allow the entertainers to come in,” Gentile said. “Like any other bar, if the girls want to come talk to somebody, well, they’re allowed to. The girls are on one side, the customers on the other and, if the girls want to dance around or prance around, that’s up to them.”
While a small number of gentlemen’s clubs around town are open now — some hold gaming licenses or restaurant spaces — most remain shuttered.
With COVID-19 cases spiking in Nevada in recent weeks, it’s anybody’s guess when Gov. Steve Sisolak might allow strip clubs to reopen in their pre-coronavirus states.
Having nude or scantily clad strippers being in close proximity to patrons clearly isn’t the best way to curb the spread of a highly contagious virus.
“It’s been slow this week, but it’s getting better,” Gentile said. “The reality is that everyone has been trapped indoors and people want to get out, but nobody wants to be the first person at the party. We looked at what was being allowed and not allowed, and we figured there’s nothing wrong with what we’re doing right now. Pool clubs are open and churches are open. We’re not trying to upset anyone or throw anything in anybody’s face.”
Despite a rough several months for adult clubs in Las Vegas — a city that prides itself on a vast array of entertainment options — Gentile expects the industry to come roaring back. Eventually, that is.
“I think we’re going to make a comeback,” Gentile said. “Las Vegas is known for our type of entertainment, along with the casinos and the shows. Will we be allowed to have wall-to-wall people like we used to? Probably not, nor do I think we should. Not just adult clubs, but nightclubs in this city have had some bad habits. I think, with general precautions, we’ll come back.”
Gentile said he’s been frustrated that strip clubs haven’t been given a green light to open.
“The only things left now that aren’t allowed open are brothels and adult entertainment,” Gentile said. “I don’t know why they’re not including us, but it has been really tough. It’s been tough for the girls in particular. The entertainers, most of them can’t afford to take one quarter of the year off.”