RCI Hospitality Holdings
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Adult entertainment, Hospitality |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Robert Watters |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Eric Langan (CEO), Bradley Chhay (CFO) |
| Products | Strip clubs, nightclubs, sports bars/restaurants, media and convention services |
RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (previously known as Rick's Cabaret International, Inc.) manages a portfolio that includes strip clubs, nightclubs, sports bars/restaurants, along with media and convention services dedicated to the adult entertainment sector. Since its initial public offering in 1995, RCI has been traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol RICK.
History
Established in 1983 by Robert Watters and based in Houston, Texas, RCI combined forces with Taurus, Inc. in 1998. Taurus, which owned the XTC Cabaret chain, was headed by Eric Langan, who assumed the role of president and CEO of RCI in 1999. Langan entered the gentlemen’s club industry at age 21 by purchasing his first club in Texas using $40,000 earned from selling his baseball card collection. Over time, RCI broadened its footprint beyond Texas into states such as New York, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, among others, while also expanding into sports bars/restaurants and nightclub operations.
Nightclubs
RCI operates more than 55 strip clubs across various brand names catering to a wide range of audiences. In 2007, the company acquired Tootsie’s Cabaret, which is now recognized as the largest strip club globally.
The firm has been featured on Forbes magazine’s list of the 200 best companies and has received coverage in leading business outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and MarketWatch.
Rick’s Cabaret in New York City has earned accolades from Zagat's New York Nightlife guide and was included in Time Out New York’s TONY 100 list highlighting premier dining spots in Manhattan.
Numerous entertainment publications such as Gothamist, Thrillist, Complex, Miami New Times, Broward New Times, Southflorida.com, and Timeout.com have consistently ranked RCI’s venues among the top strip clubs. The company also secured several honors from Ed Publications, including the 2019 Club Chain of the Year award.
In August 2023, all four Miami-based RCI clubs were recognized on Time Out’s list of "Best strip clubs in Miami." In August 2024, Scarlett's Cabaret Miami was awarded Overall Club of the Year at the Annual Gentleman's Club Expo held in Dallas.
Restaurants
Subsidiaries under RCI operate Bombshells Restaurant & Bar, a military-themed sports bar concept launched in 2013. With 14 locations predominantly in Texas and one in Colorado, Bombshells is distinguished by its servers known as “Bombshells Girls,” who wear military-inspired uniforms.
In 2018, Restaurant Business magazine named Bombshells to its "The Future 50" roster highlighting rapidly expanding restaurant concepts.
2025 Indictments
In September 2025, five executives from RCI were charged by the New York Attorney General concerning a bribery scheme spanning from 2010 to 2024. The allegations claim that RCI provided a New York State tax auditor with travel accommodations and complimentary club services in exchange for favorable treatment during sales tax audits that led to approximately $8 million in tax savings.
Daniel J. Horwitz, legal counsel for the company, commented: “We are disappointed by these charges and maintain that the accusations lack merit. Both RCI and the individuals involved are presumed innocent and intend to contest these claims through legal proceedings.”
According to RCI’s SEC Form 8-K filing, those indicted include:
- Parent entity: RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc.
- Subsidiaries:
- Peregrine Enterprises, Inc., operator of Rick’s Cabaret NYC
- RCI Dining Services (37th Street), Inc., operator of Vivid Cabaret NYC
- RCI 33rd Street Ventures, Inc., operator of Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar NYC
- Company officers:
- Eric Langan, Chief Executive Officer
- Bradley Chhay, Chief Financial Officer
- Three additional unnamed employees from subsidiaries