Maine has very few strip clubs, and the ones in our directory are spread far apart: one in Bangor, one in Portland and one in the small town of Jay in Franklin County. The key thing to know is that the rules on alcohol and nudity are mostly set by each town, not uniformly across the state.
The rules: state liquor law, local permits
Maine’s liquor code, Title 28-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, lets a municipality require any venue licensed to serve alcohol on site to hold a separate permit for music, dancing or entertainment (28-A M.R.S. § 1054). The permit must list which activities are banned on the premises, based on local ordinances. The state list of banned entertainment that used to be in that section was repealed in 2017, so today each municipality mostly decides what a licensed bar may put on stage. A town can suspend or revoke the permit after a public hearing if the entertainment is found harmful to public health, safety or welfare.
Bangor is the best-documented example. A 2005 ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Diva’s Inc. v. City of Bangor, set out how the city code worked at that time:
- Venues offering nude entertainment could operate only in certain zones, needed a certificate of occupancy, and could not be within 500 feet of places such as churches, schools, parks, residential zones or other liquor-licensed venues.
- Nude entertainment venues were not allowed to serve alcohol.
- At venues that did serve alcohol, dancers had to keep the buttocks and the breast at and below the areola covered with opaque material.
Those rules come from a court record, and the ordinance may have changed since, so check with the city for the current version.
Bangor
- Diamonds Gentlemans Club — 190 Harlow St, Bangor, ME 04401
Portland
- PT’s Showclub Portland — 200 Riverside St, Portland
Jay
- Hour Place — 1158 Main St, Jay
What to check before you go
- Call ahead to confirm the venue is open. With only a handful of clubs in the state, one closure can mean a long drive for nothing.
- Don’t expect the same rules everywhere. Because each town sets its own entertainment rules, dress rules and alcohol service in Bangor may differ from Portland or Jay. Ask the venue what applies.
- Plan how you get home. Jay and Bangor are far from the southern coast, and late-night public transport is limited. Arrange your ride before you start drinking.