Tri-Cities’ only strip club will not reopen. Owners blame coronavirus pandemic

The Tri-Cities’ only strip club will not be reopening after it had to close this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We were hit hard by COVID-19,” City Stars Gentlemen’s Club posted on social media over the weekend.

The club opened at the end of December 2017 in the former Lucky Bridge Casino at 101 S. Gum St. near the cable bridge.

It was a limited liability corporation owned by Octavio Rodriguez and Jennifer and Hector Salgado, who also own the building.

Before City Stars opened Kennewick had not had a strip club for 21 years. Exotic City opened on Kennewick Avenue in 1996 but closed a few months later when the club lost its lease.

The city of Kennewick cannot legally ban strip clubs, but it can regulate how and where they operate, according to city officials.

The city of Kennewick prohibits adult entertainment businesses within 500 feet of a residential zone, any public or private school, church, park or within 1,500 feet of another “adult concession.”