District Gets Restraining Order Against “Men’s Parties” Sex Club was originally published on The Sexist on Oct. 21, 2009, at 4:41 pm
Today, the District of Columbia secured a temporary restraining order against “Men’s Parties,” the underground sex club operating out of 1618 14th Street NW. The District filed suit against the owner of the property (1618 14th Street LLC), the club’s manager (David J. Butler), and its nonprofit front organization (the D.C. Wrestling Club, Inc.) on Oct. 14.
For now, the D.C. Wrestling Club has been ordered to stop partying, stop advertising, and replace its purposefully nondescript business entrance with some interesting signage:
The party’s over—temporarily. “Defendants DC Wrestling Club and David J. Butler may not operate or allow to be operated at 1618 14th Street NW Washington DC any business until such a time as they obtain from the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs a certificate of occupancy for such activity and all required licenses for any other legal business activity.”
The weekly Washington Blade ad revenue is over, too. “Defendants must immediately cease promoting any services or events at the Property in any medium, including, but not limited to, newspaper, radio, television, or internet advertisements.”
But the D.C. Wrestling Club is alive and well! “Defendants must immediately place a sign stating ‘D.C. WRESTLING CLUB, INC. REMAINS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, HOWEVER THERE WILL BE NO MEN’S PARTIES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE” on the front door of the property at 1618 14th Street NW, Washington, DC in a spot that is immediately visible to anyone who attempts to patronize the ‘Men’s Parties.’” According to the court order, “the lettering on the sign shall not be less than 1 inch tall and the sign shall be affixed directly to the door,5 feet from the bottom.”
That last item contains an interesting little business development for the club. The D.C. Wrestling Club filed for domestic non-profit status with the DCRA in 1994. But last I checked with the agency, the club’s charter had been involuntarily revoked sometime between 2004 and 2009. Now, the club again appears to be active. Nonprofit organizations (if they’re legit) are required to make their tax forms publicly available. The tax forms would shine some light on the amount of “donations” the club has been reporting for tax purposes, and where the money has been going. I haven’t been able to track any forms down yet, but now that I know that the club is back in business, I’ll ask for some copies.
