After Bringing Back Nudity, Playboy Plans on Reintroducing the Clubs

After Bringing Back Nudity, Playboy Plans on Reintroducing the Clubs

CHICAGO — Cooper Hefner isn’t just bringing nudity back to Playboy magazine. The clubs are next.

“We are planning on reintroducing the Playboy Club in the near future,” Hefner told an audience today at the Chicago International Television Festival.  

Hefner, Playboy's chief creative officer, revealed the news while speaking about a new 10-part docudrama that chronicles the life of dad Hugh, “American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story.” 

Hefner was instrumental in bringing back nude shots in Playboy magazine starting with its March/April 2017 issue. It had excised them out for two years.

Hefner did not elaborate any timetable or mention where the first U.S. club would be located. But he said the time is right for the Playboy Club to sprout up across the country because there’s “an obsession” with the 1950s-1970s among those aged 18 to 34.

“It excites me to imagine a time in the next few years of having Playboy clubs back and having young and old react to the brand in ways that we haven't seen since the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s," Hefner said.

Hefner noted that hid dad Hugh’s original vision of the clubs could be compared to Walt Disney’s view for his own brand.

“I think that the brand strategy that was implemented is certainly similar to Disney,” Hefner said. “You are a kid you want to go to Disneyland; when you grow up you want to go to the Playboy Mansion.

“The reality was that there was an understanding that the magazine communicated a particular lifestyle and told a specific story, and that the clubs would be introduced in order that readers and subscribers could go out and in real life and in real time to interact with what they could only find in the pages of [Playboy].”

The Playboy Club, a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises, started up in 1960 and cost magazine subscribers $25 a year to join.

The first club opened in Chicago, followed by those in Miami; New Orleans, New York; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Detroit; San Francisco; Boston; Des Moines; Kansas City, Mo.; Phoenix; Baltimore; Cincinnati; Denver; Dallas; Buffalo; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Lansing, Mich.; San Diego; Columbus, Ohio, Lake Geneva, Wisc.; and St. Louis.

Each club featured a living room, a Playmate bar, a dining room and a club room. Members and their guests were served food and drinks by Playboy Bunnies, some of whom were featured in Playboy magazine.

In 1991, the Playboy Club chain folded. However, new clubs came in to play in 2006 in Las Vegas, Macao and Cancun, but they became defunct in 2010.

In the past five years, the Playboy Club has opened up in London and several locations in India as part of licensing agreements. 

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Honey Play Box Debuts 'Tressa' Vibrator

Honey Play Box introduced its new Tressa multi-stimulation, app-enabled vibrator.

XBIZ Miami's Host Hotel Sold Out, General Registration Now Open

Guest rooms at XBIZ Miami’s exclusive conference venue, Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hotel in South Beach, are now completely sold out.

Blush Debuts 2 New Glass Plugs From 'Oh My Gem' Collection

Blush has introduced two new glass plugs, Lustre and Prestige, from its Oh My Gem collection.

EP Products Founder Don Wilson Passes Away

Don Wilson, the founder of EP Products and a notable figure in Canada's adult retail community, has passed away.

Orion Debuts 'Your Strap-On' Collection From 'You2Toys' Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced the Your Strap-On collection from its You2Toys line.

Leana Lovings, Aria Banks Front Latest From Reality Kings

Leana Lovings and Aria Banks star in the latest release from Reality Kings, titled "Synchronized Scissoring."

Penthouse Names Lennon Elizabeth April's 'Pet of the Month'

Penthouse Magazine has named model Lennon Elizabeth as Pet of the Month for April.

Bella Spark, Kelly Collins Star in Finale of VMG Cross-Site Feature 'Bang and Burn'

Bella Spark and Kelly Collins star with Vixen Media Group exclusive Jason Luv in the final installment of the cross-site spy feature "Bang and Burn."

Stephen Colbert Takes Aim at Texas' Crackdown on Sex Toys

Stephen Colbert is cracking up over Texas lawmakers’ crackdown on sex toys in the state.

Jade Kimiko, Cecelia Taylor Headline 'Women Seeking Women 199'

Jade Kimiko and Cecelia Taylor topline “Women Seeking Women 199” from Girlfriends Films.

Show More