Rick’s Opens Black Club in Houston

(HOUSTON, TX) — Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. (NASDAQ: Rick), a publicly traded corporation operating gentlemen’s clubs around the country, said today it will convert its original nightclub in Houston into Club Onyx, an upscale venue catering to black professionals, businessmen and professional athletes.

“We are taking our highly successful Rick’s Cabaret format into one of the fastest growing demographic segments – the universe of highly successful and increasingly affluent African-American males,” according to Eric Langan, CEO of Rick’s Cabaret. “Up to now, this has been a woefully underserved market in Texas and we’ll change that overnight. We are continuing to grow our traditional Rick’s Cabaret and XTC Cabaret business, but we also expect to do very well with this additional concept.”

Club Onyx will be located in the site of the original Rick’s Cabaret at (3113 Bering Drive at Richmond) in Houston’s Galleria district. The club was completely remodeled recently, with new sound systems and state-of-the-art lighting.

“We expect to have over 100 entertainers of all races and national origins on staff and we will feature the latest in hip-hop and R&B music. Our target audience is primarily to the African-American executive and professional, business travelers, local athletes and those who are visiting Houston for ball games, conventions and other activities,” said Mr. Langan.

Mr. Langan noted that Houston’s black middle class has been growing in recent years. The city has benefited from what demographers say is a broad movement of northern black professionals to the South. “In Houston this has been part of what has fueled the redevelopment of downtown and the accompanying rush of interest in urban life. Club Onyx will be a very classy, enjoyable part of that transformation,” Mr. Langan said.

Since the 1980s Rick’s Cabarets have enjoyed a reputation for offering high quality entertainment for gentlemen at upscale nightclubs, featuring beautiful women and fine restaurant service. Anna Nicole Smith met her wealthy husband while dancing at Rick’s Cabaret in Houston. Thirteen performers from Rick’s have become Penthouse Pets (three have been named Pet of the Year) while three have become Playboy Playmates. Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. went public in 1995. Mr. Langan joined the company in 1998 and has led it since 1999. He has steadily expanded Rick’s operations, adding new club formats and growing revenues and profit.

About Rick’s Cabaret

Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. (Ricks.com) owns and operates upscale adult nightclubs serving primarily businessmen and professionals that offer live adult entertainment, restaurant and bar operations. The company owns and operates seven adult nightclubs under the name “Rick’s Cabaret” and “XTC” in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, licenses Rick’s Cabaret in New Orleans, and owns an adult-themed club called “Encounters” that serves the couples or “swingers'” market and a sports bar called the “Hummers,” both in Houston. No sexual contact is permitted at any of these locations. Rick’s Cabaret also owns two adult Internet membership Web sites at CouplesTouch.com and XXXPassword.com that contain content acquired from wholesalers, and a network of nine online auction sites under the flagship site NaughtyBids.com. These highly automated sites provide a sales platform for adult products and services in an auction format and generate revenues through transactional service fees. Rick’s Cabaret common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Small Cap market under the symbol Rick. For further information contact IR@Ricks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involves significant risks and uncertainties, and is subject to the safe harbors created by this section. Important factors that could cause actual results for Rick’s Cabaret to differ materially from those indicated in this press release include the risks and uncertainties as to the future operational and financial results of our Web sites, the future operational performance of our partners, the laws governing the operation of adult entertainment businesses, competitive and economic factors, dependence on key personnel and the ability to manage operations. Rick’s Cabaret has no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances. Please refer to the documents Rick’s Cabaret files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB and annual report on Form 10-KSB.

Contacts

Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc.

Allan Priaulx, 212-338-0050 IR@Ricks.com

At a Glance

Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc.

Headquarters: Houston, TX

Website: Ricks.com

CEO: Eric Langan

Employees: 70

Ticker: Rick (NASDAQ)

Revenues: $15 million (2003)

Net Income: $.4 million (2003)

Source: via Business Wire.

Updated 12/29/2003 by company.