Monday, February 17, 2020

[EXCLUSIVE] Male Strip Club to Replace Midtown Furniture Store

A new gay strip club is slated to open later this year in a former midtown furniture store.  "Johnsons" will open in the former Domestic Comfort Furniture store in Ansley Square along Piedmont Avenue near Ansley Mall.  Domestic Comfort closed last year after about a decade in business. 
Johnsons owner Matt Colunga 
The new club, an offshoot of a similar club by the same name in Ft. Lauderdale, is being opened by bodybuilder, DJ, model, and entrepreneur Matt Colunga.  Johnsons will span about 8,400 square feet, reportedly a bit smaller than west midtown hotspot Swinging Richards, but does size really matter? 

Colunga is no stranger to the gay community in Atlanta, as for more than a decade, he was the manager and DJ at Swinging Richards.  Colunga left Atlanta several years ago to open a Swinging Richards outpost in south Florida before eventually branching out on his own to open Johnsons in Wilton Manors, a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale, in 2017.  (Swinging Richards relocated from North Miami Beach to Pompano Beach, but closed permanently in 2015.)

"All Male, All Nude: Johnsons,” a documentary that was released last year, featured Colunga and his employees.  The title is seemingly misleading as according to those who have seen it and visited his Florida club, unlike at Swinging Richards, his dancers strip down to basically nothing, but do not get completely nude.  Culunga reportedly sees his club as sexier and more tasteful than others. (Playboy thought sexy [not nude] could sell in 2016, but by 2017 they had returned to their naked ways.) 

In Atlanta, Johnsons will nonetheless compete with both Swinging Richards as well as BJ Roosters on Cheshire Bridge Road.  Johnsons will likely benefit from its proximity to the heart of the "gayborhood" and Colunga's ties to the area.

With a former furniture store now on its way to becoming a gay strip club and a neighboring former Pier 1 Imports becoming the new home of Richard's Variety, it will be interesting to see what other big box retail spaces become as this year of closures progresses.  

Are you pleased to hear that a third male strip club is coming to metro Atlanta?  Have you been to Johnsons?  What big box chain retailer do you think will be next to close stores?

Please share your thoughts below.  

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yummy! Sounds hot! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

It is interesting to note that there is currently not sufficient parking at that location for the existing bars, and this new business is being announced as if it does not have to apply for permits/licenses to open in this already challenged location. I am pretty confident that Ansley Park (which is a very gay-friendly neighborhood, that is not the issue) will have a lot to say about this new development given the existing noise issues they are dealing with for the current bars already who generally ignore the fact that they are adjacent to a single family neighborhood. The owner of this complex could care less (this is the one part not owned by Selig), but I am a little surprised the new tenant did not do their homework a bit more before signing a lease...

Anonymous said...

Even if Ansley doesn't object (which I'm sure it will), this property is zoned C-1 and "adult establishment" is not a permitted use. Even if the zoning district was right, it is within 1000 feet of a park and would violate that zoning rule. I hope he didn't sign a lease.

Anonymous said...

Never gonna happen at this location

Anonymous said...

Leases can have contingencies.

Tim Evans Promotions said...

I like the way everyone wants to turn into a building and zoning official. Why not promote new business or you could be complaining that it dries up and the single family homes will be your only tax revenues and drive to buckhead to go shopping. Some of you are really stuck in 10th grade. Other than that good luck MATT!

Anonymous said...

So excited! Bring on the entertainment!! xoxox

Unknown said...

Honestly this is super gay

Anonymous said...

I live right behind there. I heard about this but didn't believe it. Talked to my attorney today and he is getting in touch with the NPU, Licenses and Permits for the City, and I am calling my councilman tomorrow. There is NO parking as it is. It TOO loud as it is, and you cannot open a "gogo" bar legally in new locations. I am not putting up with this crap. Especially if it is illegal.

Anonymous said...

You guys sound fun. You live in the City! Move to a cul-de-sac in Alpharetta if you don't like noise.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous. You sound like you are the life over EVERY PARTY. Said no one ever.. Get the stick out of your ass and enjoy life.

Anonymous said...

Awwwww, suck it up ( not literally) you big baby!

Anonymous said...

Gay -no problem,Bar:no problem
STRIP CLUB in Ansley- BIG PROBLEM
Low class, sleazy strip clubs bring crime, prostitution,noise and parking issues for the business next door

Take your strip club to a industrial area, not a family neighborhood.

perimeter285 said...

The NIMBY comments crack me up. Seriously, go live in the suburbs if you want to be sheltered.

The zoning comments have a point. I'd be very surprised if this type of use is permitted in this location, especially directly on the Beltline and across from a future expansion of Piedmont Park.

I couldn't care less about the parking whine. People need to take rideshare to bars and nightlife or park in Ansley Square and walk over.

Anonymous said...

Are they hiring?

jealously at its finest... said...

Truly sounds like some business owners are coming on here anonymous and posting hateful comments. This bar is complete in compliance and I know Matt knows all the rules and will be in compliance. Maybe if the neighboring bars should step up like the other bars on the city. There are a reason people dont go there often....

jealously at its finest... said...

You sound like a jealous business owner in the strip mall. I would truly hate to be your bitter self. Good luck trying to get this stopped. I’ll make sure and my councilman in support of this since I know him quiet well. See you there

jealously at its finest... said...

Family neighborhood? Where??? I didn’t know this would bother you being such a distance away

Anonymous said...

"Domestic Comfort" is a terrible name for a furniture store but it would be a pretty good name for a strip club.

Skrybe said...

That's exactly what I was thinking reading this article!

Anonymous said...

So glad that I moved two time zones away from the cesspool that is Atlanta.

Unknown said...

Matt, Atlanta is in need of “hot” male go go club! I think that the idea is brilliant and can’t wait to be a patron! Great job and welcome back to Atlanta!!

Unknown said...

Oh, stop complaint! You’re such a dramatic queen! As long as it’s a professional establishment - what harm can it bring?!?! Why can’t people have a good time?!?! You’re just jealous!!! Get over it!!

Unknown said...

Matt has clearly stated that this is NOT a strip club! Stop with all of the unnecessary antics! He is a very professional business owner. Please give him the respect that he deserves!

Unknown said...

What’s wrong with super gay! We’ve had to deal with super straight for centuries. See you there, girlfriend! Lol

Unknown said...

From my understanding, a go go bar is NOT adult entertainment!!!

Anonymous said...

17.10.040 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are prohibited in the C-1 zone:

A. Industrial and manufacturing uses;

B. Kennels and keeping of livestock or poultry;

C. Adult entertainment establishments. (Ord. C-675 § 132, 2008

Anonymous said...

The city councilman for zone C1
Your friend "you know him so well" he is a she. And she knows this
17.10.040 Prohibited uses.
The following uses are prohibited in the C-1 zone:

A. Industrial and manufacturing uses;

B. Kennels and keeping of livestock or poultry;

C. Adult entertainment establishments. (Ord. C-675 § 132, 2008

Anonymous said...

Anyone citing zoning code 17.10.040 should recheck their source. If you do a Google search using the search term "Zone C-1 17.10.040" it will point you to the zoning guidelines for Airway Heights, a city in Washington state. The restrictions listed for 17.10.040 are not from the Atlanta Zoning ordinances and do not apply to Atlanta.

Anonymous said...

Seems like their are kennels in that exact same shopping center at the pet place down on the end. So how did those get by the zoning

Anonymous said...

You are not missed. Stay away. Good riddance.

Anonymous said...

Wow, lots of PPL freaking out. Drive by Swinging Richards--you cannot hear the music even in the quiet parking lot and the gayelles are not going to negatively impact the gay neighborhood. Matt's a good guy, too.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...