Joe Redner, a prominent figure in Tampa's adult entertainment industry known as the city’s "strip club king," died on October 16 at his home in Tampa. He was 86 and had been battling metastatic lung cancer, according to his son, Joey Redner.
Over a career spanning five decades, Redner built a substantial enterprise of strip clubs in Tampa and its surrounding areas, a city known both for its vibrant adult entertainment scene and its conservative opposition. His most notable establishment was Mons Venus, which opened in 1982 on Tampa’s west side and quickly became one of the region’s leading adult venues, regularly featuring dozens of dancers.
Mons Venus drew frequent protests from religious groups, including vigils held outside the club and a provocative billboard sponsored by a local faith organization that read, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” City officials also mounted a sustained effort to restrict his business through zoning laws and public nuisance regulations.
Redner responded firmly to these challenges. He was known to be present during police raids, ensuring that he was arrested alongside his dancers and patrons—a practice he said resulted in his being jailed approximately 150 times. His operation ran in shifts, with multiple groups of dancers and staff prepared to step in when others were detained, viewing enforcement efforts as a contest of endurance and strategy.
Legal battles were a constant part of Redner’s career. He covered legal expenses for those affected and worked closely with a bail bondsman business partner to expedite releases. Despite not completing high school, Redner devoted significant effort to studying First Amendment law and collaborated for years with his attorney, Luke Lirot, to contest municipal ordinances restricting nude dancing.
A political independent who embraced civil liberties causes, Redner campaigned multiple times for Tampa City Council, the Hillsborough County Commission, and the Florida legislature. While he never secured elected office, he notably forced a runoff against a sitting council member in 2007, losing with 44 percent of the vote. His political efforts were motivated by a desire to defend not only adult performers but also women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and freedom of expression.
Born Joseph Richard Redner on July 2, 1940, in Hackensack, New Jersey, he moved with his family to Tampa as a child after his father left. Redner left high school at 16 and worked various jobs, including time with a traveling carnival, before managing a go-go club in 1972. He expanded the club’s offerings and, inspired by Supreme Court rulings affirming nudity as protected speech on film, tested those legal boundaries in live performances.
Throughout his life, Redner positioned himself as a vocal critic of local government, frequently exposing perceived corruption and hypocrisy, including pointing out politicians who frequented Mons Venus during public hearings.
He is survived by his son Joey Redner; daughters Teresa Redner, Joy Lynn Redner, and Angela Smith; longtime companion Edie Burns and her son Kyle; and 11 grandchildren. His marriage to Lorelei Jackson ended in divorce, though they remained close.