If you’ve been following news about last month’s closure of Jakarta’s infamous Alexis Hotel (and we wouldn’t judge you if you have been, since shutting down the alleged high-class brothel was one of Governor Anies Baswedan’s most publicized campaign promises), you might have heard the rumor today that it reopened under the blatantly sleazy name ‘4Play’.
Even Vice Governor Sandiaga Uno was taken aback by the rumor, seemingly showing a kind of childlike innocence by failing to grasp the adult nature of the name.
“Huh? Seriously? (Alexis turned into) 4Play? Is 4Play like a co-working space?” Sandiaga said, responding to reporters’ queries with one of his own, as quoted by Kompas today.
Sandiaga went on to say that the administration will verify if the nightlife establishment has reopened, and, if so, if they have the necessary permits to do so.
But long-time patrons of Alexis (not us, of course, but we hear things) could tell you that this was not really the case, since the only part of Alexis that was effectively shut down by the government (through denying an extension of its business license) was the hotel’s infamous 7th floor “spa”. 4Play is the name of a bar and lounge that has long operated on the first floor of the hotel.
“It’s not true that (Alexis) changed its name,” Alexis Group Legal and Corporate Affairs officer Lina Novita clarified to Detik today.
“Alexis had six permits, including for its bar, hotel, restaurant, karaoke. 4Play’s permit is still valid. The permits that haven’t been approved are for the spa and hotel.”
The Alexis Hotel had long been rumored to be Jakarta’s most luxurious brothel, with even its own website declaring it the “pioneer that sets the benchmark for adult one stop entertainment hotel” and “the dreamland for men”. But the dream officially ended when recently inaugurated Governor Anies fulfilled his campaign promise to shutter the alleged prostitution palace by not renewing the business’ spa and hotel licenses.
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