Vince Ryan Harris County Attorney wins order closing Northwest Gentleman’s Club

Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan obtained a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, October 24, closing down a Charles Road strip club near Highway 290 in northwest Harris County. Judge Elaine Palmer ordered the Joy of Houston Gentlemen’s Club to cease operating at 7004 Charles Road, in Houston until it had obtained a sexually oriented business permit from Harris County.

The action comes one day
after Harris County revised its sexually oriented business regulations to explicitly ban sex with robots in commercial businesses and to require warnings about human trafficking in all permitted sexually oriented businesses in the unincorporated areas of the County. The investigation into the Club was underway prior to the adoption of the amendments, which take effect January 1, 2019.

According to the County Attorney, the Club’s permit had expired in May but it continued to operate as an adult cabaret. Sheriff’s undercover officers witnessed women exposing themselves and simulating sexual acts on stage during a performance in early October. During that same visit two separate dancers offered to engage in sex for money.

“Our office will continue to work to protect neighborhoods from businesses that flaunt the law,” said County Attorney Ryan. “We will continue to support law enforcement efforts to eradicate these nuisance businesses.”

A hearing on the case has been scheduled for November 2 at 1:30 p.m.