Jersey Mike

Well, thanks to an unauthorized information release from the Mayor’s office and a swift little blurb on PennLive from everyones favorite “writer” John Luciew, the cat is officially out of the bag about the forthcoming Upscale Gentlemans Club being built on 10th Street in Harrisburg.

Luciew  “broke” the story that some of us have known about for well over a year now by writing six or seven sentences about the project and, as predictable as the flooding on Front Street, the comment section of the site has lit up like a cheap Christmas Tree.

Ghast! A strip club?? In HARRISBURG?

“FABULOUS!! some one is creating jobs well atleast for the girls who can’t afford college!!” wrote cc1976.

hbg123 says “Let’s open something that is decent anymore.. I hope it burns to the ground.. All this will create is more drug sales, DUI’s, fights and domestic violence.. Let’s try a little hardier to make jobs in Harrisburg. Atleast the Gov has somewhere to go now..”

And probably the funniest poster said: “Calling it an “Upscale Gentlemen’s Club” is just a way for the operators to charge more for admission, food and drinks to the losers who can’t get a date any other way.”

To which I must respond: Quit your whining and get back to work, people.

A well crafted, incredibly detailed and securely run Upscale Gentleman’s Club is far from the biggest of Harrisburg’s problems.

If you’ve traveled to any city (in Pennsylvania or beyond) you would know that Gentleman’s Clubs are a huge draw for nightlife wherever they’re constructed. Not many people spend the entire night at an establishment like this. It’s normally a pregame or post-game spot for people to congregate.

And the people who believe that only men will patronize it? WAKE UP! It’s 2008 and many women and couples patronize strip clubs.

Don’t be fooled, Harrisburg. This venue is being established by some serious players- all while fabled Second Street establishments are on the chopping block. Rumor has it that Red Door, Ceolta’s, The Quarter and Level 2 are all for sale. Ko-ko-mo’s pulled up stakes a year ago and has left an empty storefront in it’s wake. There are more vacant commercial spaces on Second Street now than I’ve ever seen before (in the past five years).

Ironically, this story of Luciew’s “broke” two days before a major hearing regarding the Sports Hall of Fame (tonight at 5:15).

Pay no attention to the man behind that curtain, Harrisburg.

And break out your one’s. We’ve got a fun new venue being built.

Enjoy the progression.