The Seville, a decades-old downtown Minneapolis strip club across from Target Center, abruptly closed this week, blindsiding dancers and staff who suddenly found themselves out of work. Employees say they were told the venue was shutting "indefinitely" and had only hours to clear out lockers and grab whatever personal items they could carry.
According to Bring Me The News, staff members were notified on Monday and given until midnight to vacate their lockers. A fundraiser started by Caroline Wilson on GoFundMe says employees received a message at 4 p.m. on March 30, and that 19 donors had pushed the page to about $730 of a $2,800 goal as of Thursday. The organizer wrote that all proceeds will go directly to dancers and staff to help cover rent, bills and job searches while they scramble for new income.
Club Ownership And Last-Minute Notice
The Seville’s official homepage now shows a blunt status update, "TEMPORARILY CLOSED," along with the club's longtime downtown address at 15 Glenwood Ave. RCI Hospitality, the Houston-based parent company that bought the venue in 2015, still lists The Seville among its properties, according to PR Newswire.
Legal Backdrop
RCI has been under legal scrutiny. In September 2025, the New York Attorney General unsealed a 79-count indictment accusing RCI and five executives of conspiracy, bribery, and criminal tax fraud in a scheme that allegedly avoided more than $8 million in sales taxes, according to the New York Attorney General's office. National outlets including AP reported that prosecutors say executives provided trips and private dances as part of the alleged bribery scheme.
Worker Fallout
For employees, the shutdown was abrupt and deeply disruptive. According to Bring Me The News, RCI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the meantime the GoFundMe campaign has become a lifeline to cover immediate expenses while staff search for new jobs.
Community members and former coworkers have started sharing leads and tips for affected performers and service staff, trying to plug at least a few of the financial holes left by the closure.
We will update this story if RCI issues a statement or if city agencies weigh in on permits or the building's future. For now, downtown nightlife has lost one of its best-known spots, and local workers are left trying to rebuild their income practically overnight.
