History Main / LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of non-labelled tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that reads, "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. Sometimes, what gives the game away is either the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- for example, what's that [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy doing]] standing in front of a bakery? Other times, it's the total lack of effort given to make it seem like an actual service to the public -- if this bar is closed for the night, then why did those six men walk in, get free drinks, and continue on into the back room?

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of non-labelled tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that reads, "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's such a nice, normal place, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by? As well, why is that Olive Oil Import warehouse surrounded by razor wire and 14-foot fences?[[note]]Vito Corleone has an olive oil importing business in ''Film/TheGodfather''[[/note]]

* Discussed in the ''[[Film/TheBoondockSaints Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day]]'' episode of ''Podcast/WeHateMovies''. The guys, speaking as four New Yorkers, mock the fan hysteria which arises around the mob murders committed by the protagonists, pointing out that most people on the street are ignorant of the presence of organized crime because their business is done behind closed doors at these places; unless you accidentally walk into one, or you're connected or involved in sketchy mob-related business, you won't ''know'' enough to be able to follow the Mafia or the Triads like they're a sports team.

* Discussed in the ''[[Film/TheBoondockSaints Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day]]'' episode of ''Podcast/WeHateMovies''; the commenters mock the fan hysteria which arises around the mob murders committed by the protagonists by pointing out that most people have little interest in mobster-on-mobster crime and violence in the real world and, unless they have mob connections or are involved in sketchy mob-related business, will usually only encounter the mob after accidentally entering a coffee shop occupied by surly, unwelcoming Italian men that never seems to have any coffee.

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of non-labelled tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's such a nice, normal place, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by? As well, why is that Olive Oil Import warehouse surrounded by razor wire and 14-foot fences?[[note]]Vito Corleone has an olive oil importing business in ''Film/TheGodfather''[[/note]]

Despite the trope being referring to "social club," it applies to all thinly-veiled front businesses, such as casinos, import/export firms, warehouse or moving companies and so on. The point of the front business is to have a base of operations for meetings and storing various items, a plausible reason for having twenty 350-pound, [[TheBrute stocky brutes]] on your payroll, access to delivery trucks and warehouses for [[BlackMarket mysterious crates you pick up]], and a way to launder money.

Sometimes non-Mafia criminal organizations, such as bikers or other gangs also employ this trope.

* ''Film/GetShorty'' has two in Florida! Vesuvio is an Italian restaurant where, while it might not be owned by the Mafia, they let Ray Bones do whatever he wants. Rich's Barber Shop has {{the barber}} actually cutting hair, but the back room is a loan shark office. Even legitimate patrons know it's a front, and tip off Chili Palmer when someone is coming by coughing. Bo Catlett runs a limo service that is a front for a small time drug ring. And one could say the point of the movie is that all of Hollywood is a front for organized crime calling themselves Producers.

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of non-labelled tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's such a nice, normal place, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by? As well, why is that Olive Oil Import warehouse surrounded by razor wire and 14-foot fences?[[note]]Tony Corleone has an olive oil importing business in ''Film/TheGodfather''[[/note]]

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of non-labelled tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's such a nice, normal place, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by?

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of illicit tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's such a nice, normal place, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by?

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of illicit tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's not important, why is there a [[{{Bouncer}} scary 350-pound guy in front]] staring at passers-by?

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is Fat Tony and the Springfield Mafia's lair on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', itself a reference to UsefulNotes/AlCapone's famous claim of being just "a legitimate businessman". Compare MostDefinitelyNotAVillain. See also CovertGroupWithMundaneFront, which may overlap with this trope in less parodic cases. Not to be confused with the SmokyGentlemensClub, although it may '''look''' like one, especially if it's the personal hangout of TheDon himself. An OutcastRefuge is a non-criminal version for other "outcast" groups to gather in relative safety.

May overlap with an IllegalGamblingDen. See also CrimeConcealingHobby.

Ah, TheMafia. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, racketeering, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of illicit tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[PaperThinDisguise Legitimate Casino]]! [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of {{Doublespeak}}. In many cases, what gives the game away is the effort put into securing a supposedly legitimate establishment -- if it's not important, why is there a scary guy in front staring at passers-by?

Sometimes non-Mafia criminal organizations also employ this trope.

* The premise of ''Anime/AkibaMaidWar'' is that ''every Maid Cafe'' in Akihabara and some of the businesses that support them are {{Yakuza}} fronts, to varying degrees, and are constantly getting into violent mob wars with each other.
* ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'': The Martillo Family run a speakeasy in Prohibition-era New York City, with a shop selling honey as a front.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' Online allows the player to buy a number of businesses from a non-descipt startup company used to run illegal cargo to a roadside biker bars and nightclubs that also act as hubs for drug and counterfitting businesses.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' Online allows the player to buy a number of businesses from a non-descipt startup company used to run illegal cargo to a roadside biker bars and nightclubs that also act as hubs for drug and counterfitting businesses.

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is Fat Tony and the Springfield Mafia's lair on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', itself a reference to UsefulNotes/AlCapone's famous claim of being just "a legitimate businessman". Compare MostDefinitelyNotAVillain. See also CovertGroupWithMundaneFront, which may overlap with this trope in less parodic cases. Not to be confused with the SmokyGentlemensClub, although it may '''look''' like one, especially if it's the personal hangout of TheDon himself.

* Atlanta drug trafficking organization Black Mafia Family insisted that they were a record label, that only had one signed artist. Similar accusation is central in the trial of rapper Music/YougnThug whose label YSL is accused of being a shelter for Thug's old gang Young Slime Life.

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'': The Team Rocket Base has a sign proclaiming its innocence. It also has a [[IncrediblyObviousBug discolored tree with highly visible antennae sticking out of the top.]] And the shopkeeper keeps telling you that the breeze coming from that mysterious gigantic box in the middle of the shop is just your imagination, and is not coming from any hidden hideout anywhere. It doesn't help that he says it ''every single time you try to buy stuff from him''.
** Parodied when Team Rocket is driven away and the legitimate owner comes back...and the whistling noise doesn't stop, because she's old and her dentures don't fit right.
** [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue The first generation of games]] had the Rocket Game Corner, with the entrance to the ElaborateUndergroundBase below it behind a poster guarded by a guy in ''full Team Rocket uniform!'' Lampshaded by one of civilians you encounter in Celadon City:
-->"Don't look behind the poster! There's no hidden switch behind it!"
** The Game Corner in Veilstone is space-themed, is located in the same place as [[BigBad Team Galactic]]'s headquarters, and [[PaperThinDisguise features Team Galactic symbols as counterparts to triple 7's.]] In fact, the only Game Corner that wasn't once or is an example of this trope was in Hoenn.
* The Umbrella Corporation from the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' is this full stop. Posing as Pharmaceutical Company. What they really deal with is Bio Organic Weapons. Notably their pharmaceutical work is actually ''more'' profitable than their illegal dealings and some members of the group, like co-founder Edward Ashford and his son Alexander Ashford, wanted to [[CutLexLuthorACheck stick strictly to pharmaceutical work]]. [[spoiler:It's ultimately revealed the company's CEO Ozwell E. Spencer is an EvilutionaryBiologist with serious GodhoodSeeker tendencies, and he couldn't care less about all the money Umbrella makes unless it's being used to push him toward his goal]].
* ''Franchise/SamAndMax'' has [[SuckECheeses Ted E. Bear's Mafia-free Playland And Casino.]] Complete with a horribly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6LxcdKfKQI catchy theme song.]]
-->"N-O-M-A-F-I-A! Oh baby..."
* In ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts From the New World'', Al Capone owns a high class club called "Four Deuce" from where he operated until his arrest and subsequent incarceration in [[TheAlcatraz Alcatraz Prison]] some time prior to the events of the game. Now the club is in control of Mao, Capone's DrunkenMaster[=/=][[WaitingForABreak aspiring starlet]][=/=][[MegaNeko giant cat]] of a bodyguard.

* In ''Videogame/StarCitizen'', Drake Interplanetary produces ships with features ''very'' enticing for aspiring SpacePirates. Drake insists that the extra armor, extra large cargo holds and radar intercept stations are for militias and search and rescue. Even their SpaceTrucker offering has boosted armor, additional weapons, and an extra large cargo hold for "[[BoardingParty search and rescue]]". Their ship naming system certain doesn't help, with names like ''Cutlass'', ''Marauder'', ''Privateer''.

* In the ''[[Videogame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series, it's an OpenSecret that the [[OneNationUnderCopyright Teladi Company]] either cooperates or turns a blind eye to the local SpacePirates; their sweatshop shipyards apparently sell directly to the pirates -- as ([[NoseArt modified]]) Teladi ships make up the bulk of pirate squads -- Teladi police generally do not engage pirates, and bounty hunters who destroy pirates do not receive recognition for it.

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is Fat Tony and the Springfield Mafia's lair on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', itself a reference to UsefulNotes/AlCapone's famous claim of being just "a legitimate businessman". Compare MostDefinitelyNotAVillain. Contrast CovertGroupWithMundaneFront. Not to be confused with the SmokyGentlemensClub, although it may '''look''' like one, especially if it's the personal hangout of TheDon himself.

* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'': The Martillo Family run a speakeasy in Prohibition-era New York City, with a shop selling honey as a front.

* In the ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' comics, ComicBook/ThePenguin runs the Iceberg Lounge, a seemingly innocent nightclub, but with areas hidden from the public to deal with things of a more ''illegal'' nature. Batman is aware of this and sometimes hangs around the club in disguise to keep tabs on The Penguin's activities.
* ComicBook/TheKingpin's organization from Creator/MarvelComics used to pose as a normal spice business before being eventually exposed.
* ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'': The branch of the mafia that Henry Aquista ends up running that used to employ Johnny Warren as a hitman is run out of a pool hall with a SmokyGentlemensClub type atmosphere. Most of them ended up killed by Johnny after he got superpowers.

** Donquixote Doflamingo ran one for the [[EvilAristocrats World Nobles]] for a time. It was a huge slave ring centered around selling slaves to the Nobles, so they would ignore almost everything else he did. Such as sell weapons to pirates on the side.

* ''Series/TheSopranos'' features two: The Bada Bing and Satriale's, which are a strip club and a meat market respectively. Both are used as bases of operation for [[Characters/TheSopranosTonySoprano Tony Soprano]] and [[TheMafia his associates]].

* ''Series/TheSopranos'' features two: The Bada Bing and Satriale's, which are a strip club and a meat market respectively. Both are used as bases of operation for [[Characters/TheSopranoTonySoprano Tony Soprano]] and [[TheMafia his associates]].

* ''Series/TheSopranos'' features two: The Bada Bing and Satriale's, which are a strip club and a meat market respectively. Both are used as bases of operation for Tony and his associates.

** Saul has an associate named Ed Galbraith who will give anyone a new, untraceable identity somewhere else in the country within a day for a flat fee of $125,000 per person (and he can raise the fee for more difficult clients). The location he runs this business from is a regular vacuum cleaner repair shop, and the secret code for requesting a disappearance from Ed is to ask for a new dust filter for a Hoover Max Extract® Pressure Pro™ Model 60.