Club Harem

Located on Lee Road, Club Harem’s double breasted architectural style is unmistakable. I decided to sketch this establishment after a day of work at Full Sail. When I started the sketch there wasn’t a cloud in the sky but as I worked storm clouds quickly formed and rolled over me.
There is a long history between Winter Park and Club Harem. The Winter Park police department has targeted the club in the past with the obvious goal of putting it out of business. The club has been raided multiple times but has always reopened for business. Club Harem is nestled on the edge of a quiet suburban neighborhood. A woman jogged by several times as I sketched and a man rode through the empty parking lot on a red bicycle.
Many years ago the bar was known as “The Booby Trap”. From my casual observance on a hot Wednesday afternoon, Club Harem looks to be a well maintained thriving business. It continues to be Winter Parks only adult entertainment establishment, and in my mind an Orlando landmark.

4 thoughts on “Club Harem

  1. You can eliminate the “apparently” from it being labeled “The Booby Trap.” When we moved here in 1982 we thought it was one of the funniest buildings around. There was no mistaking what one might find inside.

  2. And the pink paint had sparkles in it, when it was painted pink. And the little sun domes on top were clear tan plexiglas (painted over now). The effect was really campy and funny. One of my high school friends did a scavenger hunt and we had to knock on the door and get a book of matches. Each “dome” had a small stage in the center. We ran away giggling.

  3. Hi, I’m here by Megan’s blog (she’s my sister). I totally remember driving by “The Booby Trap” as a kid. I had no idea the building was still there!

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