Let's face it, the Grand Strand is renowned for a handful of things when it comes to leisure time: miles of sandy beaches, scores of golf courses and mini-golf courses, a gazillion all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, plenty of places to drink a beer and listen to a live band, and an overabundance of beachwear stores.
Add to the list adult entertainment establishments - although local and state government has tried to put the clamp down on the industry numerous times, including the S.C. legislature's recent attempt to pass a bill requiring strip clubs to close between midnight and 6 a.m. and enacting a "no-touch" rule, barring dancers and patrons from any physicality.
Political filibustering aside, you've got to admit there's a certain allure to strip clubs, gentlemen's clubs, titty bars, whatever you want to call them - and somebody's got to be patronizing them or there wouldn't be more than a dozen right here in our little slice of Carolina coast. Supply and demand, it's Economics 101.
You've probably seen the marquees of one of these panty palaces proclaiming that "bikers are welcome'' - so Surge assembled a crack panel to check out the action in the flesh, so to speak, and report how the red carpet is being rolled out for motorcyclists this week during Myrtle Beach's spring rally and what being a local can do for you.
We recently visited 14 area strip revues...ahem, we mean, gentlemen's clubs (and one gentlewomen's club?) to get beyond the neon, silicone and lap dances to offer you a handy, practical guide if you're planning a night "at the nudie bar," as Al Bundy would say.
Tough job, but somebody's gotta do it, right?
Bottoms Up Gentleman's Club
1500 U.S. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach
249-7114; No website listed
From the outside of this place it looks as if it has not been updated since the early '70s. Luckily, the girls inside have been updated since the '70s. The atmosphere inside is very laid back and easy going. This is just a nice, laid back, no frills club to see naked women. The girls are mostly on the younger side, and very well fit and pretty hot. This club seems to be geared towards golfers, complete with a Golden Tee arcade game (although I doubt it gets as much attention as the girls do). This is a good place for locals.
The amenities: There is an ATM on site and a very affordable food menu. Fries are only $2 and chicken wings are $6. There are no pool tables, but there is the aforementioned Golden Tee video game.
Bike rally specials: There are no bike rally events for this place, so if you were looking to get away from all the madness of the week, this would be the perfect place to go.
Pony up: There is a $3 cover for locals; $5 for tourists. No drink minimum. No valet parking. There are plenty of safe parking spots though. Drink prices are mid-range (about $6 for your average liquor drink). Although they do not offer lap dances or table dances, Bottoms Up does offer private dances in a back room.
-Michael Wood, for Weekly Surge
Centerfolds
716 Seaboard Street, Myrtle Beach
916-8580; No website listed
After buying the Gold Club, the remodeling that the Centerfolds Corporation did both inside and out is classy and modern looking. The inside is clean and roomy and there's always at least a dozen hot girls dancing. On the weekends you can usually expect 20-30 girls per shift. I read Playboy for the articles and I go to strip clubs for the music. Centerfolds play a good mix ranging from classic rock to new top 40. Flat panel TVs around the room either play sports or music videos of the songs being played for the onstage performer, which I thought was pretty cool.
The amenities: There is an ATM onsite, but you can also buy Diamond Dollars (funny money used to pay for table and couch room dances). A full bar and dining service menu is available with happy hour from 6-8 p.m. There is valet parking service.
Bike rally specials: The festivities surrounding bike week include a $1,000 Biker Babe contest, late night breakfast buffet and extended happy hour from 4-8 p.m.
Pony up: The cover charge is $5, but the implied but not stated rule is that locals get in free, just make sure you throw the front door girl a tip. Table dances are $10 dollars, couch dances are $20 dollars and VIP booths and sky boxes are available. You can spend as little as $4 dollars for a domestic beer but if you want to be a high roller, there's an extensive vintage champagne selection that can get pretty expensive.
-Chris Raposa, for Weekly Surge
The Crazy Horse Saloon and Restaurant
3102 U.S. 17 S.,
North Myrtle Beach 272-3329;
www.myrtlebeachcrazyhorse.com
This place had me a bit skeptical heading in because the outside was pretty plain, save for some glass on the exterior that was dirty, but this place delivered in bunches. The interior was one of the cleanest I've ever seen and the amount of colored lights was pretty impressive.
This place offers so many different options for food and entertainment beyond just the girls, though they're not bad at all. There were four different stages and more than 100 great dancers with great bodies doing some pretty entertaining things.
There are plasma TVs to watch your favorite team, private rooms for those special dances and the best part - freaking Jacuzzis. The music is definitely geared toward the rock populuce, but that's not a bad thing. Bottom line: for those about to rock the Crazy Horse, good call.
Amenities: There's an ATM inside the entrance so don't sweat it. There's also the aforementioned plasma TVs, Jacuzzis and deep food and beverage menu. Not to mention the valet parking and some pool tables too.
Bike rally specials: Open early and outside, with vendors, beer, food, live classic rock bands, tattoo contests and of course, biker hotties dancing to music by the likes of Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Pony up: If you're 21 and older, it's free from 4-7 p.m. After that it's $10, so really that's not a wallet shot. If you're younger than 21, it's gonna cost you a solid $30. Table dances hit $15 and couch dances are $30. The real dollar bills you'll need for the VIP rooms, which are $300 for 30 minutes or $250 for 15 minutes.
But the priciest attractions are the Jacuzzis, which top at $500, but judging by the looks on some people's faces, it's worth it.
-Kyle Drapea, for Weekly Surge
Derriere's Gentlemen's Club
804 Seaboard Street, Myrtle Beach
946-6411; www.derrieresclub.com
As far as looks go, this place is doing pretty well for itself, both inside and out. It's a little hazy on the inside but that doesn't obstruct the viewing of some pretty attractive girls. For the most part they're younger, but there are a few older girls in the group. All the girls are in pretty good shape. The music is a little on the loud side, but it's a great compliment to the dancing.
Derriere's is also the only club in the Grand Strand area that offers full nudity, so it's hard to pass up. But full nudity means liquor isn't served - you have to bring your own.
The amenities: There's an ATM in the building, as well as a machine that exchanges big bills for small ones. Pretty much the main attractions are the girls.
Bike rally specials: They're not doing anything for the bike rally weeks, but that's all the more reason to hide in there from the madness.
Pony up: $25 gets you through the door, but ladies get in for free. $30 will get you two lap dances and they have private rooms if you want a little more. As mentioned above, Derriere's doesn't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own stuff and they'll even give you a cooler with ice. There are plenty of parking spaces to go around.
-Kyle Drapea, for Weekly Surge
Thee Dollhouse
9179 U.S.17 N., Myrtle Beach
449-3655; www.theedollhousesc.com
The Dollhouse is a staple of the Myrtle Beach strip club scene. With three stages (one main stage and two satellite stages) and two bars, there's always someone to look at and a drink is close by. On average, you will have between 20-30 girls per shift on weekdays and around 50 girls on the weekends ranging from young to old and from hot to who-the-hell-hired-this-beast?.
The amenities: There is no ATM machine on site, so you have to buy their funny money if you're using a credit or debit card. There's a full service kitchen, and the food is actually pretty good.
Bike rally specials: Thee Dollhouse hosts numerous Girls Gone Wild events throughout the course of the bike rally.
Pony up: Cover charge is $10 dollars, but locals get in for free. You only have to be 18 to get in, but younger than 21, admission is $20. There is no drink minimum and you can request European Bottle Service, which basically means you can buy an entire bottle of hard liquor with mixers and all the fixin's, as well as champagne. Table dances are $10, private dances are $25. Happy hour is 7 days a week from 4-8 p.m. with beer and drink specials.
-Chris Raposa, for Weekly Surge
Fantails
3506 Waccamaw Boulevard,
Myrtle Beach.
236-1292; www.fantails.com
Lying just across the street from Nuttin' Butt Horseplay (and just a few blocks down from Tropical Beauties) sits Fantails. The only thing that really distinguishes this place from the other Myrtle Beach strip clubs you're used to is its Asian-American influenced food menu, which features dishes such as beef fried rice and egg rolls (though it also features your more traditional bar-food delights). As far as appearance goes, it's basically Nuttin' Butt Horseplay without the pool table. Expect to find a dark one-room enterprise with carpeted floors, mirrored walls, a large stage with tables and chairs scattered about, and all the other stuff you'd expect to find. Because it was only about 5 p.m. during our visit, we weren't surprised to find only two people present that weren't employees. Again, not surprisingly, both were male. VIP prices range from $130 - $260, while those of the champagne room range from $279.99 to $429.99 (depending on your champagne of choice). Music of the drum-n-bass genre dominated the airwaves during our visit. We only caught a glimpse of two of the dancers. One was hot, the other not so much.
The amenities: ATM machine, food menu, restroom attendant, DJ.
Bike rally specials: Aside from a beer tub, you probably won't find much going on here.
Pony up: $2 cover, no drink minimum, $10 table dances, $30 lap/private dances.
-Christian S. Gore, for Weekly Surge
Hunk-A-Mania at The Masters Club
1901 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach
916-0972; www.showbars.com
Okay, ladies-it's your turn. The Grand Strand may not be bursting with juicy male revues (the guys have the monopoly on that), but how much more do you need when you have the smoking' hot guys of Hunk-A-Mania? The Masters Club plays host every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night to this nationally known troupe of buff and well-endowed young men as they shimmy, shake and strip down in Las Vegas-style choreographed routines that include an homage to firemen, "Top Gun" and my favorite, "Grease." Go greased lightning! While the guys are next door doing their thing, you and your girlfriends can be sipping cosmopolitans while the men of Hunk-A-Mania struts their stuff on stage. Sit in the "Hot Seat" and you will be up on the stage with them, as they bump and grind their way into your heart/fantasies. Got a fave? Indulge yourself in an intimate couch dance that will make your palms sweat and your heart race.
Hunk-A-Mania at The Masters recently premiered its first show of the season, and while the crowd was a little thin, it was all the better to enjoy the show without a lot of other women competing for the dancers' attention. The male bartenders and doormen are every bit as luscious as the dancers, and promise an evening of pampering. These guys really know how to treat a lady.
The amenities: Valet parking, full menu and you can have a picture taken with the guys as a souvenir.
Bike rally specials: N.A.
Pony up: $12 cover, couch dances start at $20; $5 puts you in the "Hot Seat"; bottled domestics start at $3.75, house liquors at $4.75.
-Kimberly Moore, for Weekly Surge
The Masters Club
1901 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach
916-0972; www.showbars.com
And on the other side of The Masters Club, there's an absolutely huge (33,000 square feet) hall dedicated to the fairer sex, a quantity-equals-quality formula that earned the club the 2005 winner and nominated in 1999 and 2000 for Topless Club in the Southeast in Exotic Dancer's Adult Nightclub & Exotic Dancer of the Year Awards. Offers almost 100 girls (sometimes more) nightly, depending on size of the crowd.
Inside, there's The Club House, and all-mahogany wood room with fireplaces, carpeting, white tablecloth-style dining, and a menu heavy on steaks, chops and seafood. Think of a Morton's or other high-end steakhouse with the addition of naked breasts. Again, this place is big: it's the perfect size to get lost in if you're not wanting to be seen. However, there's a flip side to that coin, too: you've got a much larger chance of seeing someone you know, just 'cause there's so many people here to begin with. Seems to be more popular with the golfing, cigars-and-scotch crowd than hip (and hot) young urbanites, but then again, there's probably a reason they're known as Masters. (For you golf neophytes, probably the sport's preeminent tournament.)
The amenities: ATM machine, full menu (appetizers, salads, hot wings, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, entrees, breakfast and dessert), beer, wine and liquor, valet parking, fully-stocked cigar humidor, flat-screen HDTVs. Happy hour 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Bike rally specials: During the spring bike rally The Masters Club features Easy Rider cover girl Prinzzess from May 14 through 17 (6 p.m. and midnight showtimes).
Pony up: $10 cover, various specials and locals' specials offered (half off or two-for-one if you show your golf scorecard, for instance). Drinks average around $5; around $10 for a table dance, $25 for a couch dance. VIP dances available. Open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-3 a.m.
-Timothy C. Davis, Staff Writer
Nuttin' Butt Horseplay
3521 Hard Rock Parkway, Myrtle Beach
236-2691; No website listed
There are no ifs, ands, or butts about it, Nuttin' Butt Horseplay is one of the most happenin' places to watch girls get naked on the Strand. Under completely new ownership and management, this gentlemen's club is everything that one could ask for in a strip club. The overall appearance is nothing different from what you're used to seeing; florescent lights, mirrored walls, and tacky carpet sum up the overall appearance. Still, there are a few reasons why this place is where it's at. For starters there is no cover fee, no drink minimum, and those of you with shy bladders will be happy to note that there is no restroom attendant. In addition, the drinks are reasonably and the champagne room deal isn't outrageous: $180.00 (that includes two rounds of drinks) for 30 minutes. The music is much more diverse here than any other strip club we've visited. We quickly came to this conclusion after hearing tunes such as "Get Ready" by The Temptations. The girls (in case you were wondering) are gorgeous, but one should always remember that there is no sex in the champagne room, according to Chris Rock.
Bike rally specials: During the bike rally you can expect to find a Wet T-shirt Contest, a Strongest Man and Strongest Woman Contest, a Burn-out Contest, Bikini Boxing, and live entertainment.
The amenities: ATM on site, food menu, pool table, DJ, and Silver Strike bowling video game.
Pony up: No cover, no drink minimum. Table dances go for $10, while lap dances go for $25 (plus tip).
-Christian S. Gore, for Weekly Surge
The Penthouse Club
U.S. 501 and U.S 17 Bypass,
Myrtle Beach 626-0192;
www.penthousemyrtlebeach.com
Based on the famed magazine of the same name, you'd expect to find many of the magazine's dolled-up, soft-focus, highly made-up starlets here. And you can. But more often than not, the ladies here have that freshly-scrubbed college look - pretty, athletic, natural-looking, and, well, young.
Perhaps due to the association with the magazine, this isn't just a sausage party. Girls abound, with even some college students in attendance. The strip-club-modernist inside, as with the outside, is done up with the magazine's iconic gold key motif. There are the familiar black lights, but also cushy bucket chairs, tasteful neon (yes, the two words can be used together), candle sconces on some tables, and just enough flat panel televisions where you can check that late sports score but not so many where you feel like you're in a sports bar (you don't go to a strip club to watch TV anyway, right?).
Also on the docket are newly remodeled V.I.P. and champagne rooms. There's also a light show arguably more impressive than those offered by most rock clubs in the area.
The amenities: ATM machine, full liquor bar, bottle service, food menu, and no cover for locals and escorted ladies.
Bike rally specials: Penthouse Pet of the Year 2008 and Easyriders Feb. 2008 centerfold Erica Ellyson on Friday and Saturday; Miss Nude World 2008 Keira Riley through Saturday.
Pony up: $10 cover, but many specials offered (bring in your golf scorecard, etc.) and locals get in free. Private dances (lap dances) average about $25 to $30 a pop. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m., $3 drinks, $2 long necks. Prices slightly higher during peak hours. Open seven days a week; 4 p.m. - 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4 p.m. - 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
-Timothy C. Davis, Staff Writer
The Pink Pony
2851 U.S. 17 Business, Garden City Beach
357-2299; www.showbars.com
As the only gentlemen's club on the south Strand, this place has an iffy reputation, so I didn't know what to expect, but once inside it was pretty much like a standard strip club, not the so-called upscale kind, but the meat-and-potatoes variety - and there's nothing wrong with that.
It looks like the building was once a Ryan's or Bonanaza-type steakhouse, with a high-pitched ceiling, and I checked with a longtime South Strand resident who said it was indeed site of a Western Sizzlin'.
The main stage is front-and-center, adorned with four mirrored columns and two stripper/dance poles, surrounded by seating. I went on Saturday, the second day of the bike rally and there were mostly bikers inside, and quite a few couples, so there were plenty of females in there other than the featured dancers. I.E. it didn't feel like a sausage fest.
The dancers ran the gamut, from rather young and innocent looking to a Goth chick who danced to Marilyn Manson tunes to a big ol' girl that would make Sir Mix A lot proud. Honestly, the beer tub, bartenders and shot girls were catching my attention more than the girls on stage.
While seated at the bar, I chatted with a dancer who said her name was Trouble from New Jersey. She professed to being completely bored. In truth, it wasn't packed, but there was a decent sized crowd. A dancer had chosen to execute her strip tease to the plodding Eric Clapton tune "Pretending," and the music kind of rubbed off on the atmosphere, as it seemed like more folks were chatting with each other, watching the NASCAR race on a large screen TV, ordering drinks or text messaging on their cell phones. It was more laid back than a rah-rah, rile-you-up atmosphere - and again it was relatively early, around 9:30 p.m. so perhaps things picked up a bit later.
The amenities: ATM machine, a few pool tables in the back, cigarette machine, cigar case on the bar, full food menu, several TVs. There's a VIP room, denoted by neon lights, and near the front a Champagne VIP room, also with neon beckoning, and outdoor deck.
Bike rally specials: The parking lot is roped off specifically for bikes, so finding a place to dock your ride shouldn't be hard. Eazy Rider magazine centerfold Prinzzess is appearing here through Saturday.
Pony up: At the front desk, I asked the girl working if there was a locals' discount. I showed her my driver's license, and she said if I took care of her, then there's no admission charge. I put a $5 in her fish bowl/tip jar and was on my way. Officially, there's no cover charge before 7 p.m., but after 7 it's $10, but ladies get in free. You have to be 21 to get in. A Miller Lite bottle was $3.50 and a sugar free Red Bull ran me $4.
-Kent Kimes, Editor
Pure Xtasy
4707 U.S.17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach
293-9303; No website listed
The last time we visited Pure Xtasy was during July for our Happy Hour Heaven critique. Word on the street is that the club is under new management, but we didn't note any drastic changes. The appearance is the same as the other places we visited, but on a scale that's just a little smaller. Contrary to what you may be thinking, the smaller size of the place is actually one of its finer qualities, as it helps to create an atmosphere that's a little more intimate. This, combined with the lounge-style chairs, creates a very relaxed and almost homey atmosphere. There were a total of about five guests in attendance during our 7 p.m. visit, all of whom appeared to be twenty-something males mingling over adult beverages at the bar. The girls were friendly, and we can confidently state that the ones we saw were all lovely specimens of eye candy. The music playing was your traditional strip-club music - expect to hear mainstream rock, rap, and club tunes. Champagne room prices vary according to the champagne you purchase, and you must also include a tip.
The amenities: ATM machine, food menu, restroom attendant, DJ, and a vendor selling Steelheart clothing.
Bike rally specials: Wet T-shirt Contest, Dunking Booth, BBQ.
Pony up: $3 cover fee, $30 lap dances, $15 table dances, and a two-drink minimum.
-Christian S. Gore, for Weekly Surge
Secrets Cabaret
9734 N. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach
497-6600; www.secretscaberet.com
Secrets Cabaret is an up-scale strip club. When I walked in, I noticed right away a very exciting atmosphere. The music was loud, the
lights were intense, and the place was packed. The crowd was diverse, and so were the girls. You got anything from ghetto booty to the '80s stripper look, and then just some all around hot girls. The music was primarily modern R & B, but threw me off when a Phil Collins song came into the mix. I would recommend bringing enough cash for drinks or visiting the ATM machine (there is a very long transaction process for credit cards that involves leaving three fingerprints and signatures). By the time I was done paying for my drink I was ready for another, and had missed some valuable naked time.
The amenities: There is an ATM inside, and three ATMs outside for the bike rally. There is a full food menu (see web site). There is also valet parking service and a bathroom attendant.
Bike rally specials: The Dog House North, located next door to Secrets, is teamed up with the club and has a huge outside stage and numerous performers and live music.
Pony up: Cover is $3 for locals, and $5 for out of state. Drink prices are mid-range (about $5 for an average liquor drink).
-Michael Wood, for Weekly Surge
Tropical Beauties
3158 Wacammaw Boulevard,
Myrtle Beach
236-9636; No website listed
Our journey to Tropical Beauties felt like a nostalgic journey back to the late '60s. The small vintage tables and old fashioned chairs combined with the red lights and barren floor made us feel like we were in the strip-club where Jenny was singing folk songs on her acoustic guitar in "Forrest Gump." Not only were all the girls we saw here extremely hot, but many were also foreign, and everyone knows that there's nothing hotter than a beautiful girl in a thong that speaks Portuguese with a Brazilian accent. Because our visit occurred shortly after the doors opened, we weren't surprised to find that we were the only guest present. While the appearance of the place and the ethnicity of the females was an unexpected pleasant escape from the much more common scenario we'd seen at many other clubs this week, the music and the prices remained about the same. Expect to hear all your loud rock, rap, and club favorites; and don't expect to get a table dance for less than $10.
The amenities: ATM machine, food menu, DJ.
Bike rally specials: Not this year.
Pony up: Locals, bikers, and golfers get in free; $5 cover for tourists,; $10 table dances, lap dances vary by the girl; two-drink minimum.
-Christian S. Gore, for Weekly Surge