Owner takes shot at new strip club in Windsor

Despite Windsor's efforts several years ago to reduce the number of strip clubs in the city, a new bar recently set up shop.

Playhouse Gentlemens Club opened its doors on Wyandotte Street Feb. 8 after taking over the business license from the previous owner.

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Several years ago, the city decided not to issue any new licenses for adult entertainment parlours, but owners can start a new club by using an old license, according to Craig Robertson, Windsor's supervisor of licensing.

"Once you give up an adult entertainment parlour license in the city and that use changes, then it cannot go back to that use and that was a decision that was made by council some time ago," he said.

The city still has seven strip club licenses operating in Windsor. Only three have changed in the past eight years.

Playhouse owners recognize strip clubs in the city may not be a viable business option, but they're giving it a shot for now.

Co-owner Tony Whynder told CBC News he wants to open a respectable bar where anyone is comfortable visiting.

"I'm nowhere near a hustler or whatnot," he said.

"I have very good morals. I'm not trying to do anything wrong here."

He considered other types of bars, but decided to take a chance with a strip club because the license was available.

"I would have turned it to something else like a lounge as well, but since I had that opportunity to turn it to a strip club I want to do that," Whynder said.