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The Ugly Stepsister

I'm guessing most Club St. Louis reviewers haven't seen a lot of other bathhouses. This place is dingy by comparison to those in the rest of the midwest as well as bigger cities like San Francisco. Ohio's batthouses sparkle compared to this place, even in Cleveland. Club St Louis looks like it hasn't been renovated in many years, and does nothing to bring in an attractive crowd. They still allow smoking but the ventilation isn't adequate and I ALWAYS leave with my clothes smelling like an ashtray. It goes without saying that "clean" towels also smell like cigarettes. This facility doesn't spend anything on basic necessities. The soap dispensers in the showers are frequently unfilled or clogged, the toilets aren't mopped on any regular basis, and the carpet is older than most of the patrons, and that in itself is a problem on top of a problem. I don't expect hotel comfort in the private rooms, but the mattresses have been flattened down to two layers of vinyl, and the pillows are similarly neglected, smelly and non-functional. The sheets are thready and see through, not to mention frequently stained. A gallon of bleach costs about $1 and would do so much. On a nice note, the club does have a Sunday lunch which is free, but it turns out to be a double edged sword. The food is generally fried and/or otherwise unhealthy, and it's all-you-can-eat. Sadly it seems to attract a Sunday crowd that's comprised primarily of, "enthusiastic" eaters. I think the free lunch is attracting the wrong kind of patron. Which brings me to the other patrons. Of course I have met some interesting and attractive guys, but generally the crowd is older men who aren't fit. the only time people under 40 are there is after 1am on Saturday nights. Club St. Louis could take a hint from New Orleans and offer a monthly gym membership. I'd be glad to see younger and fitness conscious members outside of the graveyard shift. In a nutshell, it's a bathhouse, so no one should expect luxury. But this club is behind the times, overpriced compared to what's being offered in most cities, and it reeks like the bottom of an ashtray. I know some other clubs still allow smoking, but this club's ventilation isn't sufficient, and one drunken patron with a cigarette in the playroom can suffocate everyone else. Stay away unless you just can't help yourself. And let's pressure this place to up their game.