Are Toronto's strip clubs in trouble?
Strip clubs are a dying breed in Canada according to a recent article by the CBC. While there were 63 a decade ago, the number of strip clubs in Toronto have dwindled to just 14.
According to Tim Lambrinos, the director of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, the cause is changing tastes, with millennials far more interested in entertainment pursuits that involve digital and re-world games like e-sports and archery tag instead of objectifying women (and men) around a dance pole.
For those seeking sexual pleasure rather than entertainment there are also a number of less public alternatives including mobile apps, rub 'n tug massage parlours, easy to find escort and sex services and newer, cryptic offerings such as cuddle services.
There's also the issue of strip clubs like the now shuttered Jilly's choosing to sell their prime urban real estate to eager condo and hotel developers. Since city by-laws currently prohibit new strip clubs from opening this means it's only a matter of time until Toronto strip clubs number in the single digits.
It remains to be seen if the few strip clubs left standing will stick to their traditional model or evolve to offer additional products and services such as bespoke cocktails, TV sports programming and various forms of digital entertainment.
What do you think? Will you be glad to see Toronto's remaining strip clubs die-off?
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