Ron Jeremy's Club Sesso may ride again. But maybe without Ron this time.
Happy Valley residents Charles and Holly Redeau have filed for a liquor license to reopen former sex club Ron Jeremy's Club Sesso, at 824 SW 1st Ave., as an "upscale lifestyle club" called Club Privata.
The pair were also managers at Club Sesso, which closed down in June amid legal difficulties and attorney fees.
The swingers' club owner, Paul Smith, had been implicated in improprieties involving Portland Assistant Fire Marshal Doug Jones, who was alleged to have protected the club from citations for fire code violations concerning club capacity and continuing renovations of the space.
A regular patron, Sergio Meadows, told WW he'd overheard Smith bragging about bribing the Fire Marshal's Office.
"What will be different?" write the Redeaus on their Facebook page, CH Happyplace, about the planned Club Privata. "New owners, new management and a business that will be run like a business. We want our members to walk into our establishment and be floored by what they see, hear and experience."
The pair had started a Gofundme page to fund the club—and, presumably, to complete any additional renovations still needed. They asked for $200,000 in August; so far, they have received a little over $2,000.
Here's what they had to say on their Facebook page:
On behalf of Charles and I and our business partners we are very happy to announce that we are one step closer to opening Portland's hottest upscale lifestyle club on First Avenue in downtown Portland – CLUB PRIVATA!
The application for our OLCC liquor license has been submitted and we are well on our way to making this a reality. Please keep your fingers crossed and hope the rest of this part of the process goes quickly and smoothly.
We realize that everyone is excited to get a new lifestyle club and want to help get it up and running. Charles and I will let you know when the time is right to contact us to offer your help and assistance.
Thank you everyone for being patient and encouraging us to make this happen. We couldn’t do this without your support and encouragement.
Watch for more exciting news to come!
C & H
Willamette Week