The US does seem to have a cultural thing about strip joints/topless bars, hence them being a staple venue on police procedurals. You don't see Inspector Morse popping into Spearmint Rhino to meet an informant.
On my first trip to the US with work back in the very early 90s, I went into the office on arrival and then everyone went out to the Golden Banana in Peabody for the evening, which was a bit of an eye opener. Turns out that was a very regular thing - just like in the UK we'd pop into the local pub, they'd head off to the Banana. These were well educated and well paid engineers and chemists, not blue collar workers.
It did confirm that it really isn't my thing. Never even seen a Hooters, as far as I know.
