Nov. 22, 2013 By Christian Murray
A Woodside bikini bar that wants to have three or more gyrating girls in the club at any one time — received a cold reception from Community Board 1 on Tuesday.
Lisa Piazza, the owner of NYC Gentlemen’s Club, is seeking a cabaret license since the club is only permitted at this time to have two ‘performers’ working at any one time.
Piazza said the two-girl limit stifles business—since if both girls are offering lap dances there isn’t a woman on stage working a pole.
In order to be granted the cabaret license, Piazza’s application had to go before the community board.
The community board was concerned that club, located at 26-50 Brooklyn Queens Expressway, would be a magnet for crime. A police officer for the 114 police precinct said the club was already located at a high-crime address—along with Perfections, a strip club that is located across the expressway.
Piazza felt there her club was different than the other strip-club establishments.
“They are all gentlemen that are coming to my club,” Piazza said, adding that there is a dress code—such as no hoodies, baggy pants or hats. She said that there is plenty of security, including 30 video cameras.
NYC Gentlemen’s Club
Piazza insisted that the women in her club were not topless. However, she did say that the club has a separate lounge area/VIP room “for anyone who feels embarrassed” while getting a lap dance.
A private lap dance with 1 girl costs $60. The club claims on its website that it offers “the hottest private lap dance” in the city.
Community board 1 voted unanimously against permitting the cabaret license. However, the board’s vote is only advisory.
The Department of Consumer Affairs will decide the issue in the coming months.
However, the community board’s voice does matter.
The board gave the thumbs down to the liquor license application for would-be Astoria bikini bar Racks. Between the board, pressure from elected officials and the public, the State Liquor Authority denied Rack’s application in July.
