Johnsons Wilton Manors - 24 hr utility shut off notice

[john4112nola]

@MrDakota  Wilton Manors Holdings LLC (owned by Tryst) purchased the Johnsons property along with several other adjacent properties (2320 and 2312) on 4/2/2026.   As one member pointed out, it takes many years for plans, approvals, etc. to get approved.

[Andyj]

Any update? Is Johnson’s still open?

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

5 hours ago, Andyj said:

Any update? Is Johnson’s still open?

Posted yesterday on Johnsons Ft Lauderdale Facebook 

 

[john4112nola]

From Pride Holdings most recent 2Q26 financial report, filed on 8/19/26,  

"The Company sustained net losses of $1,370,755 and $4,073,380 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively, and $1,526,684 and $1,750,921 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively, and incurred negative cash flows from operations of $211,160 for the six months ended June 30, 2026. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $36,556,197, a working capital deficit of $3,438,869 and cash of $78,607. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of 12 months from the issuance date of this report." 

[Atlanta_Guy]

1 hour ago, john4112nola said:

From Pride Holdings most recent 2Q26 financial report, filed on 8/19/26,  

"The Company sustained net losses of $1,370,755 and $4,073,380 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively, and $1,526,684 and $1,750,921 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively, and incurred negative cash flows from operations of $211,160 for the six months ended June 30, 2026. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $36,556,197, a working capital deficit of $3,438,869 and cash of $78,607. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of 12 months from the issuance date of this report." 

Bankruptcy filing coming soon 

[rojjodc]

On 8/22/2026 at 12:31 PM, Atlanta_Guy said:

Your analysis… if I can call it that, is half baked at best.  “Matt hiding something”… “Matt is bored”

Matt isn’t hiding anything.  The article above spells it out.  They gave him stock - not options… actual shares in the business and made grand promises.

He isn’t bored.  He’s broke and needs a job.  And I hope he is able to get a new club started   

Interesting.  I just looked up PrideHoldings for financial info and came to the document below that shows stock issuances.  On 9/5/2025, they issued Matt 22,833,333 shares @ 6 cents per share with various contractual restrictions - the bulk (more than 13 million of the shares) with '2 year contractual restrictions.'    I don't know what that means but perhaps it meant that he could not sell these shares until after 2 years.  The issue is that except for a few brief spikes above 10 cents the stock price has been on a downward spiral and now sits between 2 and 3 cents.  The stock price is down 98% from its inception.

content

PRIDE Holdings Group (PHSE) Stock, Price, News, Quotes, Forecast and Insights | MSN Money

[AtlantaDude]

In other news, I went to Johnson's this past Sunday night.  Not a huge crowd, but it was operating as usual. 

[wsc]

Not that it hasn't happened before, but I would have thought it rather difficult to lose money in a business that's based on sex and liquor. As Forbes observed decades ago, the easiest way to make a small fortune in business is to start with a large one. And being stupid or dishonest has got to help some when it catches up to you.

Just so sad.

[RadioRob]

4 hours ago, AtlantaDude said:

In other news, I went to Johnson's this past Sunday night.  Not a huge crowd, but it was operating as usual. 

Yeah. This is the slowest part of the year for South Florida. Season returns with Halloween and will run through the end of March.  

Nowhere has the “huge” crowds right now.  But yes, they’re hanging in there. I popped in for a cocktail yesterday evening around 6 before going to dinner. 

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

On 8/26/2026 at 11:21 AM, rojjodc said:

Interesting.  I just looked up PrideHoldings for financial info and came to the document below that shows stock issuances.  On 9/5/2025, they issued Matt 22,833,333 shares @ 6 cents per share with various contractual restrictions - the bulk (more than 13 million of the shares) with '2 year contractual restrictions.'    I don't know what that means but perhaps it meant that he could not sell these shares until after 2 years.  The issue is that except for a few brief spikes above 10 cents the stock price has been on a downward spiral and now sits between 2 and 3 cents.  The stock price is down 98% from its inception.

content

PRIDE Holdings Group (PHSE) Stock, Price, News, Quotes, Forecast and Insights | MSN Money

So taking your point to the next logical step, almost 23 million shares at between 2 to 3 cents is around a half a million dollars. That's not a bad pay day for Matt. Of course, that's assuming there is a buyer out there willing to purchase almost 23 million shares of a failing company.

BTC

🤡

Edited August 27 by BOZO T CLOWN

[+ sniper]

On 8/26/2026 at 4:22 PM, wsc said:

Not that it hasn't happened before, but I would have thought it rather difficult to lose money in a business that's based on sex and liquor. As Forbes observed decades ago, the easiest way to make a small fortune in business is to start with a large one. And being stupid or dishonest has got to help some when it catches up to you.

Just so sad.

A bar owner of my acquaintance once said to me " the only way to lose money on a gay bar is to be bad at business."

[MrDakota]

So if the business went bankrupt, how does one go about buying a bankrupt business's assets?

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

10 hours ago, MrDakota said:

So if the business went bankrupt, how does one go about buying a bankrupt business's assets?

Attend the bankruptcy sale. And don't expect strippers in thongs to be available to the highest bidder 😊.

Keep in mind that Pride Holdings owns the contents of the bar and the lease. That's it.  And there is even a question as to whether the name on the lease was actually transferred over to them.

Sale of the business would also likely have to be approved by the landlord, Tryst Hotels. Since Tryst bought Johnsons and neighboring tracts of land with the intent of demolishing them to erect a hotel, it is unclear as to whether they would approve of new bar ownership.

BTC

🤡

[RadioRob]

25 minutes ago, BOZO T CLOWN said:

Attend the bankruptcy sale. And don't expect strippers in thongs to be available to the highest bidder 😊.

Keep in mind that Pride Holdings owns the contents of the bar and the lease. That's it.  And there is even a question as to whether the name on the lease was actually transferred over to them.

Sale of the business would also likely have to be approved by the landlord, Tryst Hotels. Since Tryst bought Johnsons and neighboring tracts of land with the intent of demolishing them to erect a hotel, it is unclear as to whether they would approve of new bar ownership.

BTC

🤡

What's interesting is I don't think even the liquor license has been officially transferred to them.  So it might be the IP of the brand and the physical assets inside the building.   Given how far behind they are on things like utilities and other locations are hitting them over rent, it would not surprise me if they were behind on rent there as well but not far enough yet for the demand to be falling out into the open public.  

If there were to be a sale of the IP, a new owner could in theory go look for somewhere else to operate.  There are a few different places on the drive that could in theory work...  the old Club XTra across from the Shoppes, the old Violet and Zens space, the Execuitive Suites space, etc.  Then if they go off the drive over onto Andrews, there is also space close to Boardwalk, etc.  But I would be more first concerned about that liquor license vs the IP or that little bit of hardware inside the current building honestly.  

[MrDakota]

Tryst is expanding really fast.  I question if its too fast.

The hotel in Puerto Vallarta is really nice, but very expensive compared to the surrounding hotels

Chicago he hasn't even started on the project and it was announced over a year ago.  He opens the existing bar where the hotel is supposed to go on Saturdays and special events - im guessing just to keep the liquor license and insurance active 

I dont think he's stupid by any means and knows that closing Johnsons to build his hotel (without a plan to relocate it) would cause a black eye from the start......

[AtlantaDude]

If Tryst is getting any rent at all from Johnsons, that is better than nothing.  If it evicts Johnsons, it may have trouble renting out the space.  Renovations would be costly.

Seems Pride owns the name Johnson's (as a gay strip joint) and maybe the liquor license (have seen something where the prior owner may have said it has not been transferred out of his name).  If Pride sells the name, how difficult would it be for a new owner to obtain a local liquor license of its own?

Do any locals know?

[john4112nola]

@AtlantaDude  Florida restricts the number of retail beverage (4COP/5COP) liquor licenses per county based on population. Each year, they hold a lottery (which is active now), for interested parties to get a new license. This is the only way besides buying an existing license. Broward currently has 4 available.  You must submit a form and $100 entry fee.  To run a "strip club", you also need to have an Adult Entertainment license. However, be careful. the city of Wilton Manors has restrictions on the distance between new and established businesses, and since it is a small city, you would need to research if an address is available. 

[AtlantaDude]

Thanks, John.  My research shows that most new businesses buy an existing retail beverage license (rather than applying for a new one in the lottery) and the license can cost in excess of $150,000.   A lender may also have a perfected security interest in the license.  

[john4112nola]

@AtlantaDude  Florida records do not show "pride holdings" owning any DBA (such as Johnsons) or licenses.  In fact, Pride Holdings is a Nevada company, which only recently (April 2026)  filed with the Florida secretary of state as a Foreign entity. The name in Florida is Pride Holdings Group Global Inc.  

[RadioRob]

This is the current liquor license for Johnson's in Wilton:

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/portalsearches/VerifyLicensee/LicenseDetail?ID=DE7FD901C42D5AB680EB28C11DFCEE8E

https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResults?InquiryType=EntityName&InquiryDirectionType=PreviousRecord&SearchTerm=BIG KINN ENT LLC&SearchNameOrder=BIGJOHNSONGROUP L190000289040&ListNameOrder=BIGJOHNSONGROUP A170000001630&Detail=FL.DOS.Corporations.Shared.Contracts.FilingRecord

Big Johnson Group shows to be owned by Matt, not Pride or any of the Pride principles.  

Johnson's Tampa:
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/portalsearches/VerifyLicensee/LicenseDetail?ID=4B244C7373C7EF8307EBD2324207C6AA

https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=JOHNSONSTB L220001752090&aggregateId=flal-l22000175209-d3cdbb4a-e07d-4edd-a972-71c6f506fd6b&searchTerm=JOHNSONS - TB LLC&listNameOrder=JOHNSONSTB L220001752090

The record does not show any changes from the original registration.  So neither license looks to have actually been transferred and there is no change to business registration for the holding company.  (Big Johnson Group which owns Wilton... their corporate license is inactive and the liquor license owned by them is active now, but flagged in litigation.)

[john4112nola]

To further muddy the waters about the future of both Johnsons, Pride Holdings does not have  a very good track record with the properties they acquired in 2025:

Stonewall Australia / Stonewall Bali - Acquired 9/25, back to original owners 1Q26

Lucky's Bar West Palm - Acquired  8/25  - Closed

Club one Savannah - Acquired 8/25, back to previous owners 

AquaPlex Key West & Ft Lauderdale  Acquired 8/25, closed/evicted, under litigation for rent due, liquor license held as collateral for $760K loan, , lawsuit for money owed by cleaning company, within last 2 weeks original owners of Key West location have said they will re-open at same address in Feb 27

Lips Chicago - Acquired 9/25, under litigation for $840K owed to previous owner

Johnsons Tampa - Acquired 9/25, under litigation for rent due (latest update is they are now paid through August ), questions about liquor license / lease ownership 

Johnsons Ft Lauderdale,  Acquired 9/25. questions about liquor license/lease ownership, according to the Lips Litigation documents, owe 60K+ to Florida dept of revenue (current status unknown), paid utility bill through mid-sept after shutoff notice

Cincinnati Ohio - They list a venue there but do not list the name.  Google shows it as the Birdcage, although I think that is closed. 

Cheers up Charles, Austin - entered into agreement to buy 10/25; but deal never closed (do not know details).

March 2026, Pride Sued the 2023/24 CEO which resulted in his resignation and return of 300 million shares of common stock. That Stock was then distributed 1 month later to current executives

July 2026, CEO and other officer resigned, announced return of 600 million shares 

August 2026, company announces plan to reduce common stock to 1 Billion shares from 2.3 Billion as of 6/26.  However, this includes a stock swap by executives of common stock for preferred stock.  (Details not announced yet).   Company shows loan amounts of over $1.3 million in its 2Q206 report.  It is confusing because they reduced the Lips amount by $300K, but are still being sued by the previous owners for $840K (original purchase price). 

My predication based on the trends above - Matt ends up taking back Johnsons 

[nate_sf]

4 minutes ago, john4112nola said:

My predication based on the trends above - Matt ends up taking back Johnsons 

I was thinking the same thing. Could he get it back? 

[john4112nola]

@nate_sf I do not know Matt, but the obstacle could be the fact that Matt received only 1/3 of the stock issued to purchase Johnsons.  His Ex-husband and his business partner were the other 2 owners, with the business partner holding around 45% I believe. They most likely have leverage since they still technically own the liquor license, but the law works in mysterious ways. I hope it works out that both Johnsons survive.  

[rojjodc]

1ccc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[john4112nola]

The outstanding claim against Johnson's liquor license has just been declared "pending compliance, default final order" as of 9/1/26.  According to google, this could mean significant fines or suspension of license, although i highly doubt it. 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by john4112nola