(NOTE: This story appears in the May 2025 issue of ED Magazine.)
Don Kleinhans, the longtime owner of Tampa’s iconic 2001 Odyssey club, recently expanded his empire by entering a ‘hybrid acquisition’ with the Odyssey’s famous competitor, Mons Venus. Kleinhans, known for his entrepreneurial versatility and distinct management style that blends innovation with tradition, has built a diverse portfolio that includes adult businesses, restaurants, and various mainstream ventures.
In this insightful interview with ED Legal Correspondent Larry Kaplan, Kleinhans reflects on his three decades at 2001 Odyssey, including its landmark rooftop UFO VIP lounge and strategic approach of remodeling annually. He also candidly discusses his long-standing relationship with industry legend Joe Redner, highlighting the mutual respect and cooperative rivalry that benefited both establishments.
Additionally, Kleinhans shares details of his recent acquisition and revitalization plans for Mons Venus, emphasizing the modern upgrades introduced to maintain and grow its global reputation. This conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at operating world-renowned venues, preserving legendary brands, and adapting to an ever-changing adult entertainment landscape.
ED: Tell us a little bit about your back story. In addition to 2001 Odyssey and the Mons, you’ve also held a stake in several other ventures, including a restaurant, RIVETERS, adult retail stores, and mainstream businesses. What’s your secret to managing several businesses simultaneously?
Kleinhans: We have a great group of current investment partners in our parent holding company, which is key to our success and our capability to own and simultaneously manage many adult and non-adult businesses of all different types. We use the Outback Steakhouse method, which gives proven managers sweat equity so they run the business as if it’s their own, freeing you from daily operations.
ED: 2001 Odyssey is almost as famous as Mons Venus, partially due to its distinction of the UFO structure on the roof that serves as your second-floor private dance area. How long have you owned such a landmark and what changes have you made to the building since you became the owner?
Kleinhans: We purchased the Odyssey in 1995, so we’re at 30 years. Regarding changes to the building, one of the keys to our success is that we do a refresh or basic light remodel annually. And we’ve been doing that every year for the 30 years we’ve owned the club. One key to that is that some people don’t even realize we remodel because if a certain finishing, carpet, appearance, or surface works well for us, we simply replace it every 12 months, sometimes with precisely what was there previously.
ED: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Kleinhans: Yes, sir.
ED: Tell us your thoughts about Tampa Bay’s reputation as one of the leading strip club markets in the US. Do you find that label a little misleading?
Kleinhans: It’s incorrect; although we have popular strip clubs, primarily because of Joe Redner, there’s a huge misnomer that we are the strip club capital and have more clubs than anywhere. Even within Florida, Miami has many more clubs than Tampa Bay.
ED: How many entertainers and employees does 2001 currently have?
Kleinhans: At 2001, we have about 300 entertainers on the roster. And around 45 paid employees.
ED: Would you consider yourself an owner/operator?
Kleinhans: That’s a tricky question. I like to consider myself just an owner, but I find myself participating in operations every week.
ED: It sounds like that’s not necessarily by choice.
Kleinhans: That’s correct.
ED: For many years, 2001 operated in the shadow of the Mons, even though they’re practically right across the street from each other. Recently, however, 2001 began to eclipse the Mons as the go-to destination along Dale Mabry Highway. To what do you attribute that shift?
Kleinhans: The shift was due to our systematic modernization program. Joe was set in his ways, and until January of this year, the Mons was the same Mons that it had been since 1982. We at Odyssey steadily grew our business annually and ended up doing better than the Mons because of the constant refreshes of the facility.
ED: Can you tell us your thoughts on Joe? While somewhat of a folk hero to Tampa locals and an ED Hall of Famer, he was your main competitor for decades. How has your relationship with Joe changed over the years?
Kleinhans: I never really treated Joe as a competitor. I have always greatly respected and admired Joe for being the leader and the man he is. We have enjoyed 30 years of great success at 2001 Odyssey, directly across from the Mons. I hold Joe in high regard and thank him for paving the road for that success by being the backbone of keeping our industry alive during many difficult political and law enforcement times. I am extremely grateful to Joe and his right-hand person, Toni Derby, for offering and facilitating our new arrangement. Our entire group is laser-focused on providing the world-renowned Mons Venus the modernization it so richly deserves. It’s interesting that, even now, many people still think Joe owns the Odyssey. I never correct them; I just smile. We’ve helped each other, as far as being across the street from each other, by drawing more patrons to both clubs.
The new Mons will be a modernization of the old Mons. It will offer the same activities, just with a more modern interior and a more modern business approach, including adding the DJ and the dance areas.
— Don Kleinhans
ED: How would you classify your acquisition of the Mons? From what I understand, it’s more like a management agreement than an out-and-out purchase. Is that correct?
Kleinhans: Yes, I like to call it a hybrid acquisition. It was the same situation at the Odyssey in 1995 when the previous owner, Pat Matassini, brought it to me to purchase; we set up something for his family trust to lease the premises and fixtures. So it’s a quasi/hybrid blend of a purchase/acquisition lease where, with the Mons, we leased the business from Joe, including the naming rights, the trademark, fixtures, and the facility. So, our legal entity owns and operates the business, but it’s structured through a lease agreement that also includes leasing the business.
ED: Tell us your thoughts on the Mons over the years; we tend to overuse the phrase world-famous. But in the case of the Mons, a small, full-nude, no-alcohol club is known all over the world. What did you like about Mons when you took over?
Kleinhans: We made this move for two reasons: to preserve what we have at the Odyssey and to protect our business across the street. And it made sense for us to take over the Mons. It’s a world-famous landmark with unmatched notoriety—Joe created that. Everywhere I go in the world, whenever I mention I’m in the strip club business from Tampa, they always say, oh, Joe Redner or Mons Venus.
ED: Moreover, when the opportunity presented itself to run it, what was the first thing you wanted to change?
Kleinhans: Replace the jukebox with a DJ. The Mons was one of the last adult clubs left in the US, still using a jukebox instead of a DJ. [ED Note: Cafe Risque just north of Tampa in Miconopy, Florida also runs on a jukebox but the differences between both locations are vast.]
ED: You’ve mentioned the annual remodel at 2001; I assume you’ll do that with the Mons. But beyond that, when you were handed the keys to the Mons, what were your plans for revitalization?
Kleinhans: We’re just about finished with the Mons remodel. We completely freshened the entire interior of the building. Besides the new DJ booth, we added modern carpet, all-new upholstery, dance booths, private dance stations, great sound, and interior lighting. This week, we’re adding a pretty amazing lighting system to the entire exterior of the building, so it’ll light up like something in Vegas.
ED: As you mentioned, the Mons and 2001 are across the street from each other on Dale Mabry. Both are full nude juice bars. How are you going to avoid cannibalizing like-minded clientele?
Kleinhans: That’s a great question—it’s like a balancing act. We don’t want to cannibalize Odyssey’s success, but we believe the market can support growth at the Mons. Our aesthetic and physical upgrades should help attract a larger clientele.
ED: I remember Joe telling me years ago that the Mons doesn’t have a schedule for entertainers. They just show up, and it works. Is that still the way it’s been?
Kleinhans: Yes, sir, and the Odyssey also has no schedule. All entertainers at the Odyssey and the Mons can come and go as they please. And we have no dress codes for them at either club. They lease space, set their hours and pricing, and choose what to wear.
We made this move for two reasons: to preserve what we have at the Odyssey and to protect our business across the street. And it made sense for us to take over the Mons. It’s a world-famous landmark with unmatched notoriety—Joe created that. Everywhere I go in the world, whenever I mention I’m in the strip club business from Tampa, they always say, oh, ‘Joe Redner’ or ‘Mons Venus’.
— Don Kleinhans
ED: You’ve partially answered this already regarding the changes you’ve made recently, but for decades, the Mons has been successful solely based on reputation. Today, it’s harder for any club to exist entirely on that basis. What will the new Mons be like?
Kleinhans: The new Mons will be a modernization of the old Mons. It will offer the same activities, just with a more modern interior and a more modern business approach, including adding the DJ and the dance areas.
ED: Tell me about your management team.
Kleinhans: Critical to our success at Odyssey over the past thirty years and our future success at the Mons is that I’m surrounded by a great group of partners. Dennis Sonnenschein was a founding partner; he has been a constant over the years and is like a father to me. The management team includes my brother, Jim, and others, who all have vested ownership.
ED: What’s Jim’s role with the businesses?
Kleinhans: Jim is our corporate liaison; he oversees the general managers. He handles the late-night side of our operations while I focus on the daytime business. It’s been incredible to share this journey with such a great brother and build our success together throughout our entire adult lives. We’ve got an amazing general manager, Todd Trause, who’s been with us for almost 25 years at the Odyssey and has vested ownership. More recently, we have Emily Hart, also known as Bambi Wilde, the current Miss Exotic Nude Universe, former Miss Nude World, and 2X Miss Nude USA. She’s our GM at Mons Venus.
Larry Kaplan has been the legal correspondent for ED Magazine for 24 years. Mr. Kaplan is a broker in the sales and purchase of adult nightclubs and adult retail stores and the Executive Director of the ACE of Michigan adult nightclub state trade association. Contact Larry Kaplan at 313-815-3311 or larry@kaplanclubsales.com.
