Willamette Week reports on America’s apparently first vegan strip club, where the chow is cruel-free, the air is smoke-free and the girls are discouraged from wearing snakeskin boots.

Our stripper-happy city’s new joint is owned by Johnny Diablo, a 44-year-old Los Angeles transplant. He opened a vegan restaurant in September 2006, Pirates Tavern, in the same building that now blends strippers and soy. Pirates Tavern went out of business in December 2007, Diablo says, because most vegans live at the poverty level or below.

But Diablo, a self-described “ethical vegan” of 23 years, thinks Portland will support veganism and vaginas in part because Casa Diablo is Portland’s only smoke-free strip club.

Sexy carnivores are welcome to dance on his stage, although Diablo says most of his strippers are vegans or vegetarians. He says he tries to convert the meat eaters by offering them free vegan food and preaching his vegan ways.

The club’s main claim to veganism seems to be that strippers cannot wear any leather, fur, silk or wool. If a dancer slips up and sports snakeskin heels, Diablo says he pulls the woman aside to talk about “not bringing murder victims into the establishment.”

Visit Casa Diablo and top-heavy top friends at this Myspace (or visit Casa Bonita at this Myspace) for strident communique via Diablo on his most righteous arsenal of American nubiles:

What is Casa Diablo Gentlemen’s Club all about? It’s about dispelling the myths and lies that permeates human existence. It’s about grabbing God by the balls and saying, “Hey, I’m not taking anymore of your shit, asshole!” There is a new king in town and we are taking over. We do things a little differently around here. Number one of which is that we don’t murder innocent creatures. That’s right. Casa Diablo Gentlemen’s Club is the world’s first and only vegan strip club. Don’t be fooled by the political correctness posers out there. We aren’t feminazis. We are femi-libertarians! Creatures, human and non-human, should be allowed to do what ever they want as long as they don’t step on someone else’s hooves. In this Universe that is virtually impossible but we mean to change all that … eventually. In the meantime during our battle with God while we are trying to save all creatures from pain and suffering why not come down and have a look see. Casa Diablo Gentlemen’s Club brings you the finest exotic dancers from around the world giving you a healthy dose of cruelty free pleasure … because we can.

Johnny Diablo
Lord & Master

Also note they are now booking bands, if you’re booking tours.

Tags: casa bonita, casa diablo, club, Music, portland, psychedelic animal nudes, strip, vegan