CHIberia

I always admired the Polish kid who slept at Thermas every night. Sort of like hard-working executives who sleep on their office sofa........ Or something like that.

I was there last August. Visited twice. Was not nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. There was a noticeable dropoff, but instead of finding 5-6 guys I was interested in, it was more like 3-4. So there's definitely still fun to be had, and it's super clean. My only issue lately has been finding a hotel for a relatively reasonable price. I can't justify $500 USD a night for a suite that went for $300 pre-pandemic.

Daniel Perez is NOT the person that applied to Johnson's Chicago for a job. Daniel Perez was the leader of the petition drive.
The person that applied to dance at Johnson's was Nathan Summers aka Lux Filler, who decided to throw a public temper tantrum when Matt rejected him, and told him that Johnson's only hires "the best". 
Nathan Summers (@lux.filler) • Instagram photo
WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 151 likes, 7 comments - lux.filler on April 27, 2024: "Just a reminder!!! You are beautiful!!! Dont let anyone say anything they want to you… only you can let those... When Bozo was turned down by the CW network for "America's Next Top Model", Bozo moved on. No whining, no crying, no petitions...... just two years of therapy 🤡.
BTC

From what I'm hearing the plans were in the preliminary stages, and initial discussions were still being made. No concrete plans were set. But Matt was not the person that ever said they were taking over the Berlin location. If you scroll through this thread, it was always speculation. The only thing Matt did was confirm he was planning on opening in Chicago and was looking for talent. He may have put the cart before the horse by saying he was opening this month, but there was never confirmation of venue or neighborhood.
He was in talks with the couple that are planning on buying the venue, per the article.
With that said, these activists are very witch-hunty. I suspect they never even bothered to talk to him about their reservations. They made quite a few libelous/slanderous claims about him, and decided to essentially cancel him because he "may be this or that." This all seems very personal, and I suspect there is more to the story.
Regardless of the behind-the-scenes stage and plans for the venue, the fact that these guys were able to shut down any prospects so easily is troubling

According to the Windy City Times, Johnson's will NOT be replacing the Berlin Night Club on W. Belmont Ave.
Johnson’s strip club no longer planning to replace Berlin Nightclub - Windy City Times
WINDYCITYTIMES.COM Johnson’s, a male strip club from Florida that stirred controversy after announcing plans to expand into Chicago, is no longer in talks to replace Berlin Nightclub... A victory for mob mentality? Perhaps. However, according to the WCT, Matt was never in discussions to purchase the lease.
Very strange.
BTC
 

Good riddance.

Jesus, the Chicago gays are annoying.
But it's all noise. They've tried to cancel other bars the past few years and they're all still standing.
But ironically the guy that started the petition has an onlyfans and he ONLY fucks cis male muscle guys

Jesus, the Chicago gays are annoying.
But it's all noise. They've tried to cancel other bars the past few years and they're all still standing.
But ironically the guy that started the petition has an onlyfans and he ONLY fucks cis male muscle guys

Jesus, the Chicago gays are annoying.
But it's all noise. They've tried to cancel other bars the past few years and they're all still standing.
But ironically the guy that started the petition has an onlyfans and he ONLY fucks cis male muscle guys

The petition is indeed an interesting read.
Matt Colunga, who is a successful gay business owner, doesn't meet the petitioners' expectations of how a gay entrepreneur should be conducting his business practices. Practices which have been proven as a successful model in many business ventures.
The origin of their objections to Matt's application to purchase the bar seems to be his rejection of an application of employment. 
“If all else fails, we want to at least educate the community about the questionable business practices and discrimination that occurs there,” Perez said. “There’s a lot of unanswered questions about their hiring practices and we don’t want to support a business that discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community and women.” 
Lux Filler, who dances professionally in Northalsted, said he messaged Johnson’s Chicago to inquire about dancing at the club after Colunga tried to recruit him in person at another club, Filler said.
Johnson’s later rejected Filler due to his appearance, according to Facebook messages Filler posted online that were widely shared. 
“We only hire the best guys,” Johnson’s said in a message to Filler. “If you wanna work for us, I suggest fighting up some, hit the gym a little harder.”
“I’ve been told ‘no’ in many ways, but I’ve never been body shamed or judged like that or told I didn’t fit the cut,” Filler said in an interview with Block Club. “Clubs usually say ‘no’ in a more professional way, and it’s as simple as that. There’s no need to bring personal opinions into it. I’m not the only dancer who’s gotten a response like this. I’m just vocal about it.”
So Matt didn't hire this guy as a dancer because he was fat. What is the problem? We don't pay good money to see the Rockettes and expect to see a bunch of 250-pound flabby females prancing around the stage. And when we go to male strip clubs, we want to see young, handsome, in-shape guys. This is not rocket science.
Matt told the guy to go to the gym if he wants to work at his club. A very reasonable response. Matt added that he only hires the best. Bozo knows for a fact that Matt often tells his boys at his other clubs that they are looking a little paunchy, or out-of-shape, and need some more gym time. That is NOT body shaming. It is good business practice. 
The second major objection seems to be Matt's admission policy:
“Moreover, their policy requiring women to be escorted by men within their premises perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and promotes for toxic masculinity — this is simply unacceptable in today’s society where we strive for equality,” Perez’s petition said. 
How does requiring women to be accompanied by men "promote toxic masculinity"? And what exactly is toxic masculinity? Trying to keep the gay male clientele happy? Maintaining a "gay" vibe at the club by not allowing the club to be overwhelmed by packs of screaming women? That is toxic? Under whose definition? And how does this "perpetuate harmful stereotypes"? What exactly are the harmful stereotypes? 
These guys simply don't want Matt to succeed because they don't like his politics. Period.
Bozo could expand, but doesn't want to violate the forum rules.
Bozo hopes Matt is able to open his club, and it flourishes. He also hopes that Lux Filler follows Matt's advice; goes to the gym, and reapplies for a dancing job. 
Over the years, Matt has donated tens of thousands of dollars to gay causes. His clubs have hosted numerous LGBT charity events.
Matt has done more for the gay community than these useful idiots will do in their collective lifetimes.
BTC

A Johnson’s Tampa staff member just told me the proposed Chicago location will be at the former Berlin site.  We’ll see if it happens!

I stayed at Hotel Scheuble last summer, based entirely on the recommendations from this thread.  I enjoyed my stay.  Housekeeping was provided daily and the room was comfortable.  I paid approximately $250/night for the smallest room, and it was very nice except no view.  (The $500 per night suites are not in my budget)
This year I'll be staying at nearby Hotel Wellenberg when I visit Zurich in October, because I found a rate lower than Hotel Scheuble for a larger King Size bed.  Both last year and this year, I booked these hotel rooms at least 9 months in advance.

I fully understand what you mean.  I can afford those prices buy I hate paying them.

Thanks for the help. I actually usually stay there (along with Sorell). It's literally around the corner from the sauna. Not the best breakfast, and they do a pretty bad job of air conditioning (all the souvenir chocolate I bought melted!). But I like the location, and not just for the sauna.
Those might be last-minute prices, but pricing is different if you're planning ahead. The suite prices are a lot more, and I can't do those tiny standard rooms at starting prices. Booking a month out is over $500 a night right now.
For me, it's not about affordability. I can afford the room at $500 rates. It's about the principle. The idea that I can pay half as much for a suite in Barcelona with a comparable sauna makes my decision a lot easier. Instead of going 2-3 times a year, I'm probably going to visit once this year.
 

just to save my fellow forum members a few minutes of their lives, none of the several links in this thread work anymore......there is apparently no current profile for him - as of this minute...............

We chatted a few months ago, he reached out when I added him to my favorites, but I wasn't planning a trip to NY for a few months. I still have his number, but I'm worried about texting because his account is down. Tried to see if he just rebranded but I didn't find anything on a quick search.

I’m pretty sure I see him on the regular online dating apps so he’s around 

We chatted a few months ago, he reached out when I added him to my favorites, but I wasn't planning a trip to NY for a few months. I still have his number, but I'm worried about texting because his account is down. Tried to see if he just rebranded but I didn't find anything on a quick search.

iirc a friend mentioned traveling to Cuba and using Canadian prepaid debit cards and things went pretty smoothly

I heard he's working with the owner Bobby Love's. I'm pretty sure this is accurate. He's also just moving to Chicago as we speak.

I heard he's working with the owner Bobby Love's. I'm pretty sure this is accurate. He's also just moving to Chicago as we speak.

The way we're positioned, I think a nearby suburb could also be an option. Boystown might not work, but who knows?
I'd actually be very willing to invest/partner with Matt. If anyone has his contact info, please let me know

The way we're positioned, I think a nearby suburb could also be an option. Boystown might not work, but who knows?
I'd actually be very willing to invest/partner with Matt. If anyone has his contact info, please let me know

Atmosphere has no lap dances at all. I don’t think there’s anything that could be called a “strip club” in Chicago at the moment. 

I have such a hard time categorizing the Horseshoe and @mosphere as strip clubs. They have Gogo dancers. No nudity, no private areas. Very public "lap dances"