Summerside — A local businessman is closing up shop just a week after opening.
After leasing the former Rockin Rodeo location on Water Street in Summerside, P.E.I., Ralph LaForge acquired all the necessary permits to open the Island’s first and only gentlemen’s club, “Anne’s Green Gables,” which featured topless and nude dancing, a local seafood buffet and bottomless P.E.I. craft beer after 12 a.m.
LaForge was inspired after a trip to Angie’s in Moncton, when he noticed there was a vacuum in the exotic dancing industry on Canada’s smallest province. Attendance soared for the first few days as word spread about the club; however, it began to dwindle as people took note of the too-local talent it employed.
The Manatee found some former patrons who agreed to speak with us using pseudonyms. We interviewed “Bill” first.
“I went in to see what the fuss was about on Tuesday after work,” he recalled. “I really liked the ambiance, and the seafood buffet was on point. However, the girls on the stage were all cousins of mine.”
Frank, a 34-year-old patron, had a similar experience. “I loved the local craft beers on tap, and I thought the club was a great idea, but I can see my third-cousin-twice-removed naked any time. It didn’t seem right to have to pay for that.”
The club made enough money to cover the lease agreement for the quarter, but LaForge thought it best to close down when all of the ratings on the club’s Facebook page indicated that patrons were unwilling to pay to see their cousins, sisters and aunts dancing. It was the one-star Facebook reviews that put the nail in the establishment’s coffin.
“I didn’t want to run just another P.E.I. seafood buffet,” lamented LaForge. “My biggest regret is that I won’t be able to fulfill my advertising contract in the community magazine that Jim MacKenzie is publishing this summer… I hope going out of business is an OK reason to void the agreement. Our Canada Day two-page spread was going to be great!”
What’s the problem? This happens in the southern USA all the time. 🙂
Mommy?
Just run an ad off island for girl and don’t hire any local girls……
When we spoke with the owner we raised that concern. He said hiring off island talent would violate the spirit of the establishment.
That’s to bad should have hired outside talent
Just forget about women and nudity and try to find your decency gene back. Male privilege to exploit women needs to stop.
Actually, I think this establishment exploits male sexuality. Even in smaller clubs, successful and hardworking female performers can rip men off and earn $10’s of thousands of dollar a month.
I think you’re forgetting that this was a small businesses owner and people lost jobs.
We did get to speak with dancers of both genders… however their interview didn’t make editing. They felt 0% exploited. Mitch, one of the male dancers mentioned there was an excellent RRSP, healthcare, and dental plan. Also, if I may, women and men are free to use their sexuality for this practice. It is not for us to judge. Unfortunately none of the former female patrons wanted to be interviewed.
Lol these woman weren’t forced to dance. It’s actually empowering for them. All you’re doing is body shaming them for being naked. Shame on you.
So you are saying that women should not be permitted to vaunt their sexuality?
Always remember to punch up, not down. Please don’t make fun of mental health issues.
its the oldest profession in history. Therefor your opinion is not only irrelevant , but also ridiculously misguided and plainly incorrect.
No, prostitution is the oldest progression.
As a former dancer of nearly a decade, I have to say women’s nudity being exploited in this industry is rarely true. Sure human trafficking is a thing, but at least in Canada it’s been cut down on a lot over the years, so most women who do this job get into it more than willingly. It’s one of the few jobs a woman can earn a great living and still maintain a level of control over who she works for and what her boundaries are. And yeah, there’s plenty of ignorant asshole customers as well as bar owners, but you can find assholes in any occupation.
The real problem comes from society looking down on dancers as ‘less than’ and not taking their work seriously. If there’s a problem with a customer or bar owner or manager, you’re on your own. There’s no job safety board that would take a stripper seriously if they had a complaint. Not to mention It’s been tough trying to find a job with a ten year gap on my resume because trust me, people don’t want to hire someone who’s been taking off their clothes for a living, even if they have great skills in sales, time management, customer service, and conflict resolution because of the job.
I SO AGREE I wont even look at a guy who needs strippers and porn they are NOT men in my eyes, Ive had a REAL man married one, he has ALL he NEEDS in one woman and loving me a thousand different ways. Strip joints and pornography come on grow the fk up already. He’ NEVER and yeah I do kow for afact used porn or went to strippers I wouldnt have married him . It has to do with being loyal faithful honest and honorable as a person if the guy dont have that he’s not worth sh^%
I love the comments on here. It adds to impact of the article. Great replies, Josh. 🙂
I was just in Summerside and very sorry I missed this as it sounds very entertaining with great food and I have no relatives there. :).
does nobody realize this is FAKE news
Satire.
There’s a difference.
Maybe they could dispense with the seafood buffet and just go with a box lunch…
OMG!..lol…is this for real?..this is more dysfunctional than my family!!..,
Back to pole dancing kitchen parties with your daddy Uncle cousin?
fuck
you stripers