Here we go!
***
Dr. E,
This is the best information I have Doc. It was posted to the APV Yahoo group, as a group posting.
Went up to Seattle today for a conference, and decided to stop by Secrets today on my way home. I had not been there for over a month and wanted to see how things were going. I met and talked with the new manager "Paris," a very personable, friendly, attractive and slender black woman who readily told me that "she was a male transvestite on hormones for her breasts and....," as our discussion digressed from my police concerns about Secrets to who was attending. The topic of "transvestite" arose when in response to my question about couples and clientele, Paris told me that Secrets is now drawing a large transvestite and transgender crowd. Not my thing, but that information might be of interest to others in the Group.
Paris also advised me that the owner has a court date upcoming, not for anything dealing with allowing public sex to occur within the theater, but for transforming the back area adjacent to the restrooms into an additional video room with out the proper permits and approvals from the city code enforcers. She was quick to show me all of the different licenses and permits posted on the wall adjacent to the counter and to let me know that all was legit!
When asked about the police presence, she said that they have stopped by about three times, in each instance the PD have seen patrons indulging in public sex and no one has been charged - because, according to a discussion between the owner and the Des Moines PD and City Prosecuting Attorney, the sex was in a private setting and between consenting parties. No longer have names taken when the PD stopped by on the other occasions. The same went for APV II.
Further, the owner has taken
the following steps in order to increase patronage and as applicable, make sure
that the City Code Enforcers are happy:
- No longer can single women get in free. This change was made in order to avoid prostitutes from entering. Hetro couples still get in free and single men are charged $10 for a weeks worth of unlimited access. The young white hooker who was always in the theater has been banned.
- They have added several outside cameras to monitor and help mitigate the homeless and drug dealers who were in the area. Agreement with the PD that they will respond when called.
- Fixed the fences adjacent to the parking lot so that no one can easily get in and out from the parking lot. I verified that the owner also owns the carwash adjacent to the theater.
- They have removed the theater adjacent to the restrooms, but have applied for a license to again turn it into a theater sometime in the future. For now, they have instead placed twinkling colored strobe lights in the area with music. They do allow couples and others to go there for some private fun, though there is not longer any furniture there. Also, once the Des Moines permitting department allows, and everything (wiring, heating, etc.) is up to code in that area, they want to make it into a couples only area, with possibly a large cage and different types of furniture.
- Routinely, 1-2 times daily, they wipe down the furniture, especially the vinyl or leather seating areas with antiseptic wipes and mop the floors at closing with bleach.
- They have changed the hours. They open around Noon daily weekdays, earlier on weekends and close around 2:30 or so in the morning.
- The counter staff, all female, make quick walkthroughs every couple of hours to make sure that all is well, with a special eye to anything illegal, e.g. drug use. They were clear that consenting sex is not illegal. I was told that quite often they will stop and watch the fun but never interfere.
- They want to begin having specialty nights, e.g. couples night, BBC night, transvestite night, school girl night and so forth.
- The restrooms are kept clean, always with soap, toilet paper and paper towels in place and more available upon demand. Further, there are several hand dispensers of free hand sanitizer located throughout the theater for use as needed.
- I was also advised, and surprised to hear, that one of our members has really impressed both counter staff and a number of those who regularly attend Secrets. Impressed to the degree that she is being asked back by popular demand. It was also mentioned that they would be willing to have a specialty night just for her. I am going to email her directly and pass on the offer to her and her partner.
- They want to hear thoughts from patrons as to how to make the place better.
Lastly, on a topic near and dear to me, Paris showed me the daily attendance logs regarding the number of couples attending. On average, it is about 3-4 couples a day, with weekends, especially Saturdays going as high as 6-7. The logs times show couples arriving at all times. As early as 10:30 in the morning, mid afternoon, early evening and late night.
Am I still wary - yes. Will I again start going to Secrets - yes, I think so, for several reasons. Closer to Tacoma. The price is right. The place is clean. The setup is much better than most and management is concerned. But that is me, your decision to do or not do so is yours.
***
Doc here again... Many thanks to Thumper for this update. Please keep The Journal aware of the latest updates from Des Moines, and it's impact on Secrets.
Thanks,
Doc
- No longer can single women get in free. This change was made in order to avoid prostitutes from entering. Hetro couples still get in free and single men are charged $10 for a weeks worth of unlimited access. The young white hooker who was always in the theater has been banned.
- They have added several outside cameras to monitor and help mitigate the homeless and drug dealers who were in the area. Agreement with the PD that they will respond when called.
- Fixed the fences adjacent to the parking lot so that no one can easily get in and out from the parking lot. I verified that the owner also owns the carwash adjacent to the theater.
- They have removed the theater adjacent to the restrooms, but have applied for a license to again turn it into a theater sometime in the future. For now, they have instead placed twinkling colored strobe lights in the area with music. They do allow couples and others to go there for some private fun, though there is not longer any furniture there. Also, once the Des Moines permitting department allows, and everything (wiring, heating, etc.) is up to code in that area, they want to make it into a couples only area, with possibly a large cage and different types of furniture.
- Routinely, 1-2 times daily, they wipe down the furniture, especially the vinyl or leather seating areas with antiseptic wipes and mop the floors at closing with bleach.
- They have changed the hours. They open around Noon daily weekdays, earlier on weekends and close around 2:30 or so in the morning.
- The counter staff, all female, make quick walkthroughs every couple of hours to make sure that all is well, with a special eye to anything illegal, e.g. drug use. They were clear that consenting sex is not illegal. I was told that quite often they will stop and watch the fun but never interfere.
- They want to begin having specialty nights, e.g. couples night, BBC night, transvestite night, school girl night and so forth.
- The restrooms are kept clean, always with soap, toilet paper and paper towels in place and more available upon demand. Further, there are several hand dispensers of free hand sanitizer located throughout the theater for use as needed.
- I was also advised, and surprised to hear, that one of our members has really impressed both counter staff and a number of those who regularly attend Secrets. Impressed to the degree that she is being asked back by popular demand. It was also mentioned that they would be willing to have a specialty night just for her. I am going to email her directly and pass on the offer to her and her partner.
- They want to hear thoughts from patrons as to how to make the place better.
Lastly, on a topic near and dear to me, Paris showed me the daily attendance logs regarding the number of couples attending. On average, it is about 3-4 couples a day, with weekends, especially Saturdays going as high as 6-7. The logs times show couples arriving at all times. As early as 10:30 in the morning, mid afternoon, early evening and late night.
Am I still wary - yes. Will I again start going to Secrets - yes, I think so, for several reasons. Closer to Tacoma. The price is right. The place is clean. The setup is much better than most and management is concerned. But that is me, your decision to do or not do so is yours.
***
Doc here again... Many thanks to Thumper for this update. Please keep The Journal aware of the latest updates from Des Moines, and it's impact on Secrets.
Thanks,
Doc
