Special Report: The Decaying of America — This Week: San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA — Across the nation, cities are grappling with rising crime, homelessness, and a creeping sense of disorder. Many long-time residents fear that urban America is becoming less livable, less safe, and less reflective of the values it once held dear.
This week, a new case study has emerged—not in the struggling downtown core, but in the quaint, family-friendly Kensington neighborhood of San Diego.
In what some see as a sign of cultural decline, a high-end “gentlemen’s lounge”—a polite euphemism used on city permits—has opened its doors on the 4444 block of El Cajon Blvd and Copeland Ave, just steps from quiet streets known for their well-kept bungalows and walkable charm.
The establishment, called Les Girls DeuXXX, is the second venture from notorious, Parisian entrepreneur Jacqueline Follet, who is expanding after what she describes as the "runaway success" of her first club, Les Girls, in the Midway District.
“I’m thrilled to bring our services to a community that values safety, walkability, and a certain sophistication,” Follet said at the club’s soft opening. “We’ve done the market research—they want this, even if they don’t know it yet.”
Locals Less Than Thrilled
Reactions from Kensington residents were swift and sharp.
“This is the beginning of a slippery slope,” said Paul Harrison, a 27-year Kensington homeowner. “You don’t put a place like this here unless you’re expecting everything else—the crime, the noise, the characters it attracts—to follow. I didn’t sign up for this when I bought my house.”
Others pointed to the mixed message it sends to young people.
“We tell young girls they can be doctors, engineers, or scientists,” said Miriam Escobar, a local elementary school teacher at nearby Franklin Elementary. “Then you open this two blocks from their neighborhood and expect them not to notice. This isn’t just a business—it’s a statement. And I don’t like what it’s saying.”
“Sex Work is Work,” Says Local Supporter
Not everyone is against the club. One man, who asked only to be identified by his initials, KP, was interviewed outside his Kensington home while surveying some damage to his chimney.
“The business provides financial independence and empowerment for the women that work there,” KP said, whipping soot from his hands after adjusting a loose chimney brick. Additionally, KP argued that the club’s presence could attract more visitors and increase local commerce. "The club could increase land values in the community.
More To Come?
Despite the neighborhood’s protests, Follet appears undeterred.
“People always push back at first,” she said, adjusting a rhinestone blazer. “But soon they realize we’re part of the fabric of the modern city. This is just the beginning.”
At press time, the Kensington Neighborhood Association was reportedly drafting a petition, while Follet was busy scouting new locations—including one rumored to be even closer to a highly regarded elementary school.
