For a city of its size, Chicago has very few strip clubs. Our directory lists six venues under Chicago: four inside the city limits, from Albany Park on the North Side to the Far South Side, and two in separate suburban municipalities that use the Chicago name in their marketing. This guide sorts them by the town they are actually in and explains why they are placed that way. For the statewide picture, including the Illinois per-customer tax and the cluster near St Louis, see our guide to strip clubs in Illinois.
Why the clubs are where they are
Chicago’s zoning ordinance treats strip clubs as “adult uses” and limits where they can open. Under Section 17-9-0101 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, an adult use may not be located:
- within 1,000 feet of another existing adult use;
- within 1,000 feet of any district zoned for residential use;
- within 1,000 feet of a pre-existing school or religious assembly establishment;
- anywhere inside a planned manufacturing district.
Much of Chicago is zoned residential, so the residential buffer alone rules out large parts of the city. Venues already operating before these rules took effect can continue under grandfathered status. When RCI Hospitality agreed to buy VIP’s on North Kingsbury Street in 2018, its announcement described the club as one of only three gentlemen’s clubs in Chicago, the only one with a full liquor licence, and one with grandfathered use.
The suburbs are separate municipalities with their own zoning and liquor rules, which is why several well-known “Chicago” clubs are outside the city — Stone Park near O’Hare, and Chicago Heights and Harvey in the south suburbs. Chicago also has its own rules on nudity at venues licensed to serve alcohol; in practice some city clubs serve a full bar and others operate as BYOB venues.
Chicago (city limits)
- Admiral Theatre Gentlemen’s Club — 3940 W Lawrence Ave, Albany Park, in a former vaudeville and movie house that opened in 1927.
- VIP’s Gentlemen’s Club — 1531 N Kingsbury St, near Lincoln Park. RCI Hospitality bought the club and building in 2018 and rebranded it as Rick’s Cabaret, which trades at the same address.
- Pink Monkey — 750 S Clinton St, South Loop. City licence records now list a venue at this address under a different name, with a licence issued in November 2024, so check the current name and format before you visit.
- The Factory — 12054 S Doty Rd, Far South Side. The club advertises itself as BYOB and publishes limited opening days.
Stone Park
Stone Park is a small village in west suburban Cook County close to O’Hare, outside the City of Chicago and with its own liquor ordinance.
- Scores — 4003 W Lake St, Stone Park, marketed as Scores Chicago O’Hare.
Chicago Heights
Chicago Heights is a separate city about 30 miles south of the Loop.
- Jimmy’s Gentlemen’s Club — 410 W Lincoln Hwy, Chicago Heights
More south-suburban venues, including several in Harvey, are listed in the Illinois guide.
What to check before you go
- Which municipality the club is in. A club that calls itself “Chicago” may be in Stone Park or Chicago Heights. Local rules differ, and so does the trip — budget for a car or rideshare.
- Whether it serves alcohol or is BYOB. Inside the city this varies from club to club and affects what you can bring, the cover and the entry age.
- The current name and hours. Two of the four city listings have changed name or operator in recent years. Check the club’s own website or phone line on the day.