Angelwitch Cabaret

The co-owner of ED Magazine’s 2024 Small Club of the Year West, Angelwitch Cabaret, reveals the reasons why they’ve enjoyed success in Lubbock.

(NOTE: This story appears in the January 2025 issue of ED Magazine.)

After working in adult nightclubs for years, Dan Nelson and his business partner Jamie Booterbaugh introduced Lubbock, Texas to Angelwitch Cabaret, providing an experience that sets them apart in the industry. Not only do they strive to provide excellent customer service from the moment guests walk through the door, but their entertainers amaze audiences with larger-than-life performances each and every night.

“I think a lot of Gentlemen’s Clubs have gotten away from the actual pole dancing show atmosphere that dominated the industry not too long ago,” Nelson explains. “We want people to be amazed and awed by the stage shows that our entertainers do.”

As the club’s focal point, featuring two 18-foot floor-to-ceiling spinning poles, the stage is impossible to miss. Angelwitch Cabaret tailors to skilled entertainers from around the world who hypnotize the crowd both on and off the pole.

“The entertainers can sit there and hold an intelligent conversation with our customers and make them feel like they’re the only person in the world,” Nelson shares proudly. “Everyone leaves with a smile on their face.”

angelwitch cabaret

Described as an upscale club, guests appreciate Angelwitch’s refined atmosphere, setting them apart from other clubs in the area. For Nelson, however, success didn’t happen overnight. His journey began in 2004 when he started working at Baby Dolls in Dallas with Burch Management. It took a turning point several years later when he partnered with Booterbaugh, his good friend and industry DJ. Together, they shared a bold idea: to open a club with a distinct personality and atmosphere.

Their first venture, Lubbock Gentlemen’s Club, opened in 2013 but was quickly sold to Jaguars. Using that profit, Nelson had the means to expand into East Texas, where he operated several successful clubs that are no longer in business. During this time, Nelson and Booterbaugh hoped to return to Lubbock.

“We always knew we wanted to come back to the Lubbock area and build another club one day,” Nelson recalls. “We spent a long time researching and finding the perfect piece of land that was as close to the city as we could get. Then we spent four years buying the land and developing the building. We were finally able to open the club in October of 2020.”

Inspired by a club they stumbled upon during a trip to Thailand, the duo named their club Angelwitch Cabaret, aiming to bring the same energy to Texas.

“We visited a few of their clubs, and one stuck out to us: Angelwitch,” reflects Nelson. “The intensity. The presentation. The energy. The atmosphere. It was everything that we both thought a club should be.”

Their trip has certainly paid off. Angelwitch Cabaret was awarded ED Magazine’s 2024 Small Club of the Year West, reflecting years of dedication and vision.

“It feels good to be recognized,” Nelson expresses. “This win isn’t just about one year. It’s the culmination of several years and several clubs, trying things that worked and didn’t work until we perfected it.”

Their win is a testament to the club’s outstanding customer experience, and Nelson credits his team for their commitment to excellence.

“We have a great staff that truly believes in what we’re doing,” he adds. “This award shows we provide a top-notch experience to our customers and the community. When our staff walks in the door, this award is the first thing they see. It’s a reminder to them that even though we won this year, we can always strive to do better and hopefully win again next year.”

While Angelwitch is already making waves in Texas, Nelson has big plans for the club’s future. He envisions the Lubbock location as a flagship club—a perfect model of what the Angelwitch experience can be. Over the next 10 years, Nelson hopes to expand the brand to new locations, both within Texas and beyond.

“We want to bring that Angelwitch experience to other parts of the country,” Nelson reveals. “We feel like a lot of the clubs are run almost like machines. There is no personality left in these clubs, no individuality. We want our customers and the community to know that the money they spend here stays here, and goes back into the community.”

For more information, visit Facebook.com/AngelwitchLBK.

 

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