Behind closed doors

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 22, 2003 by Ric Anderson Capital-Journal

Not in my back yard

Snafu's may be quiet now, but it opened in controversy.

In response to a public outcry by residents who lived near the business, Shawnee County commissioners adopted a resolution in July 2001 that would have prohibited sales of liquor or cereal malt beverages at all exotic dance clubs and barred any to be built within 3,000 feet of any pre-existing residence, church, school or park.

But Snafu's opened four months later when District Court Judge Nancy Parrish issued a temporary injunction against the resolution. In May 2002, Parrish struck down the resolution as unconstitutional.

Despite the concerns of Snafu's neighbors and people like McHenry, Topeka police Lt. John Sidwell said exotic dance clubs aren't a particularly serious problem for city law enforcement officers.

"We don't see a lot of things come out of those particular locations," he said. "They have a tendency to handle their own problems themselves because, of course, they have their bouncers."

Incidents such as the Wild Cherry shooting and Carlton's death did little to stem the popularity of nude dancing in Topeka.

"I drive by the place off of I-70 (Club Orleans) when I go to and from Topeka, and it seems like there's always a pretty big crowd there," said McHenry, who lives in Maple Hill. "Sometimes I'll find myself thinking, 'Boy, if we could get that many people in church every day ... ' "

Closing time?

Britney follows her performance with a dance to another Hendrix song, "Foxey Lady."

In six other locations --- Baby Dolls, Sasnak North, Wild Cherry, Town & Country Bar, Club Orleans and Teezers --- women are doing their best to empty customers' pockets, folded dollar bill by folded dollar bill.

For opponents of nude dancing, though, there is good news. The national economic slump has filtered into local establishments, meaning fewer customers, fewer pockets, fewer bills.

"The past year, it's been really slow everywhere," Starr says.

Topeka lawyer Jerold Berger, an investing partner in Baby Dolls, says the once-booming business has gone into hibernation. The flat economy, an influx of casinos in the region and oversaturation have idled what was once a free-flowing river of commerce.

Asked how the market still supports seven clubs, Berger said: "In actuality, it doesn't support seven places. None of them are doing well because there are so many."

On a recent Friday night, though, the parking lot at Snafu's is nearly full.

For one more night, anyway, Topeka's strip-club culture remains alive and well.

Ric Anderson can be reached at (913) 796-6352 or ric.anderson@cjonline.com.

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behind closed doors

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

="Come on, guys, let's get some money up here for this lovely lady. Amazing how this works. You give 'em money, and they get naked. Beats buying them dinner."

All eyes on the stage

BY RIC ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTHONY S. BUSH THE CAPITAL- JOURNAL

Please see STRIPPING, Page 8F

Continued from Page 1F

Stripping: 'I'm performing. I'm there to get paid'

Managing partner Jim "Bubba" Bogner is looking forward to another busy night at Snafu's, 4216 N.E. Seward, one of the newer additions to Topeka's lineup of exotic nightclubs.