Strip Club Razed to Make Way for LAX Parking Lot

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Last month, Los Angeles city officials announced that The Century Lounge, a long-standing strip club next to the Los Angeles International Airport, would be demolished and replaced by a brand new LAX parking lot. For years, the Century Lounge, with its huge, red and orange "Nude Nude Nudes" sign, has annoyed neighboring establishments who see the strip club as bad for business and enraged city officials who consider the club a moral outrage.

The general counsel for L&R Group of Companies, the corporate owner of the property where the Century Lounge is located, said that the strip club's lease expired at the end of August. The space where the club is will be added to L&R's adjacent LAX airport parking facility. The project will lead to better deals on LAX airport parking.

The general reaction to the news from residents and local business owners has been overwhelmingly positive. City leaders have been fighting to have the Century Lounge closed down for years, arguing that the strip clubs ubiquitous faÃ§ade was harmful for the area's reputation and was a turn off for tourists and other visitors. City officials were particularly appalled when, in 2005, The Century Lounge put up a large 18-foot sign proudly advertising it as "Vaginas R Us".

LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said in an LA Times article that he was thrilled and delighted about the closing of the strip club. "People have a right to be who they are," he said. "But for God's sake, does it have to be in everyone's face?"

Laurie Hughes, executive director of the Gateway to L.A. business improvement district, stated that the issue for business owners in the LAX area was more one of practicality. Appearance matters when it comes to attracting business, and "Advertising nudes does not add to the area," Hughes said.

Howard White, the owner of The Century Lounge, has yet to say anything in defense of his establishment. Long-time club patrons, however, have been busy online expressing their regret at having their favorite strip joint closed down and replaced by a parking lot. One customer who frequented the Century Lounge while on business trips to LA said in one forum, "I have been coming to this place since the early 90s so I'm sad to see it gone. I tried other clubs from time to time but always come back to the Century, despite the sad condition of the club. There was zero pressure, the girls were always courteous and never pushy MUCH THANKS to the Century for all the great times over the years. It'll be missed."