A Garden Grove coffee shop that marketed itself as a "relaxed" spot for caffeine and sports has been shut down by police after an undercover investigation revealed it was operating as an unlicensed strip club.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Garden Grove Police Department's Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant at DD Café, located in the 10500 block of McFadden Avenue.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 17 people, including the establishment's owners. Officers discovered employees serving customers while wearing bikinis or, in many cases, in various states of undress.
The business was immediately "red-tagged" by city code enforcement, rendering the building legally uninhabitable and effectively ending its operations.
*An "Open Secret" Exposed by Social Media
While the cafe was licensed by the city as a simple coffee shop, its true nature had become an open secret among locals.
The investigation gained significant momentum after a TikTok video from a woman named Paulina Abena went viral.
In the video, Abena recounted how she had unknowingly walked into the cafe for a cup of coffee, only to find the staff performing to a room full of men in a state of total nudity.
Undercover detectives later confirmed reports of erotic shows, private lap dances for cash, and illegal alcohol sales.
The cafe reportedly charged customers a $30 "corkage fee" to bring their own alcohol, despite having no liquor license or permit for adult entertainment.
*Proximity to Local High School Raises Alarms
One of the most concerning aspects for local authorities was the cafe's location. DD Café sits just a tenth of a mile, roughly a three-minute walk from La Quinta High School.
Garden Grove municipal codes strictly prohibit any adult entertainment business from operating within 1,000 feet of a school or park.
Community members had long complained about the business, noting its darkly tinted windows and cash-only policy.
"They just kind of keep it on low-key," one local resident told reporters.
"They want to keep it away from public eyes, but everybody knew what was really happening in there."
*Citywide Crackdown on "Lingerie Cafes"
The closure of DD Café is part of a broader effort by the Garden Grove Police Department to target what are often referred to as "lingerie cafes" or "slap houses."
These businesses are frequently linked to other illegal activities, including illicit gambling and narcotics sales.
Sgt. Nick Jensen noted that the business faced multiple citations for:
- Public Nudity: Violations of municipal codes regarding indecent exposure.
- Unpermitted Alcohol: Serving and allowing consumption of alcohol without a state license.
- Safety Hazards: Code enforcement discovered significant plumbing and electrical issues that posed a fire risk to the building.
The building remains shuttered, and the owners now face administrative fines and potential criminal prosecution for their role in the unauthorized operation.