Recently reports started circulating that the the infamous Eden Club in Bangkok was shut down by police. The place which was a sort of landmark for randy foreign guys in the Thai capital city operated for decades more or less openly.
Legitimate information is always difficult to gather about this kind of thing for any number of reasons. One is that the rumor mill loves to churn. Another is closed door practices that don’t necessarily bring things out into the open for the public to mull over. Sometimes that seems to be the intention as things that can be handled with a gentlemen’s agreement don’t ever need to the see the light of day. For most people involved that exactly the goal.
Even after doing some limited digging I am left with more questions than answers. But I have spoken directly to someone with intimate knowledge who says that the Eden Club was visited by law enforcement and shuttered. From what I hear it was a “big problem”. I can neither confirm or deny that. I can only report what I have heard though I do consider my source in this case to be very reliable.
I first reported on the Eden Club on this website was back in the beginning of 2013. At the time I noted that the place seemed to be in a sort of decline from its most popular days but that was based purely on my subjective view. A lot of regulars seem to think that the place has — or had — its ups and downs.
As stated the Eden Club was been open for many years and it developed a real customer base. Although it apparently went through some ownership changes over time the place more or less stayed the same and continued to operate as it had from the onset. I don’t know if the current closure of Eden will be permanent or not. All I know is that the doors are closed, the lights are off and the website is down.
Bangkok observers will remember that some other businesses on the same street as Eden such as Dr BJ’s and Dr BJ’s Nuru Massage were suddenly closed in the past. Little news was released of those events either but as I reported here.
Perhaps Sukhumvit Soi 7/1 is a bad place to run an adult oriented business. Then again maybe it isn’t. There are now new shops located in the places that were once called Dr BJ’s and Dr BJ’s Nuru Massage. They have different names but run on the same business models and even have the same people on staff! Maybe Eden will reappear too.
In other somewhat related news the National Police have announced that they will inspect several soapy massage parlors in Bangkok on January 27. During their visits to the soapies they will be checking for things like ground water violations and licenses.
This was apparently prompted by the aftermath of the recent Victoria’s raid where police allege they found illegal activity. Warrants were issued for the official owners of the place but they have still not been found.
Not long after the Victoria’s raid, some evidence of ranking visitors receiving special services at the place for free emerged.
A lot of people have weighed in on the case including former soapy massage parlor kingping Chuwit Kamolvisit who has stated that the real owner of Victoria’s remains free as a bird.
After leaving the soapy industry behind Chuwit moved on to other things like a political career. He also lectured students at a university in southern Thailand on the ways police make money from massage parlors. As the Bangkok Post noted at the time, it was “a subject not normally taught in university courses”.
Note: As of October 1, 2018, the Eden Club is open and operating with no apparent change or reduction in service.
What a pity, was looking forward to visiting. Any other places that followed the model of two girls that would actually be into each other?
The previously reviewed Devil’s Den in Pattaya is quite similar and in fact the two shops share a kind of common history going way back. Many say the Devil’s Den became the better of the two at some point in recent history. Cheers.
I’m not sure that it’s closed as I should have heard something about it elsewhere.
Still it doesn’t matter much, I hear a lot of complaints from visitors that the service levels have really dropped in the years since the french manager Marc left.
I haven’t seen the new reported elsewhere either. But the shop was definitely closed and I was told by people on the scene that this was the story. Cheers.
I went to go the Lord last night it was closed as well, someone at the door told me they were closed for “renovations” and offered to drive me somewhere near Pha Ram 9, I declined and walked back to Emanuelle and there were good options. In fact the girl mentioned she came from the Lord and it was in fact shutdown but would not say why, but they do plan on reopening in April and may have to change the name.
Thanks for the report. That is news to me. It may be a result of the recent investigations of many soapies in the area. Cheers!
Went by today on it was open!
Thanks for the update. Cheers!
Any update on Eden? Has anyone tried to visit lately? Is it really closed?
Thanks.
The word is that it is now open again. Cheers.
Anybody visit it recently? Would be great to read an updated review
Eden is up and running again now as indicated in the first line of the post that reads “Note: As of October 1, 2018, the Eden Club is open and operating with no apparent change or reduction in service.” Cheers.
Oh, how I wish the latest information (as of October 2018) were still true. For anyone reviewing this page, Eden is actually closed.
Really miss this place. I was there in the early 2Ks and the idea of how Eden operated was amazing. Yes modern ideas have come up since then, but Eden was a simple/perfect concept.
I still recall some EXCEPTIONAL service given by Dao. In fact there was a time I came to pick her up to come back to my room. I got in an interesting conversation with the owner, while waiting for Dao and then lost track of time. She then comes up to me and says “I have the heels with me.” Sorry sir, salute, but duty calls. I’m sure others have great memories of this place. That is definitely not my only one.
I’ve walked down Soi 7/1 many times this year (2023/24). Eden is definitely closed, and appears to have been closed for a long while. Does anyone know if there is a place in Bangkok with a similar incall service menu as Eden? If so, kindly share.
Thanks for the comment Jay. I covered the closing of Eden elsewhere on the site. The owner was killed in a shootout. Another place called Red Fern opened in its place. But that shop too has shuttered. Cheers.