Dancers Strike Over Poor Working Conditions at Popular LA Strip Club Dive Bar | Eater LA

"I've been following a months-long protest at Star Garden Topless Dive Bar, one of the Valley’s oldest 21+ venues, where current and former dancers and supporters are picketing after owners and security were allegedly fostering harassment and neglecting worker safety and cleanliness. The walkout began in March when a customer refused to delete a recorded video of a topless dancer and on-site security reportedly refused to get the customer to comply; a dancer who complained alleges she was fired, which led most employees to strike and present a petition to owners Stepan and Yevgenya “Jenny” Kazaryan demanding an end to retaliatory firings and club policies that put their safety at risk. Dancers also say the club’s security policy bars guards from intervening without management approval, and when they tried to return to work they were locked out and told to schedule one-on-one meetings with co-owner Yevgenya Kazaryan — a lockout that remains in place even as the dancers filed a Cal/OSHA complaint listing more than 30 violations, including broken glass, furniture with bed bugs, rats and roaches, a rusty nail protruding on stage, and a white substance falling from the ceiling. The petition further calls out belligerently drunk customers who are not cut off as required by law, nonconsensual filming of performers, and requests protections like escorted walks to vehicles. Protesters using the Instagram account Strippersstrikenoho and the #GardenLockout hashtag are sharing alleged working conditions and asking customers not to cross picket lines; Eater LA reached out to the Kazaryans but has not heard back. The venue is billed as North Hollywood’s only topless dive bar with 60 beer varieties (30 on tap), a pool table, lap dances, a 2 p.m.–7 p.m. happy hour, and a 21+ policy welcoming women and couples." - Mona Holmes