Twice-moved adult expo kicks off in Houston The embattled TEXXXAS expo opened its doors on Thursday

After two venue changes and a whole lot of national attention an adult expo in Houston finally opened its doors on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at an area gentlemen's club. After two venue changes and a whole lot of national attention an adult expo in Houston finally opened its doors on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at an area gentlemen's club. Photo: John Gray Photo: John Gray Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Twice-moved adult expo kicks off in Houston 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

After two venue changes and a whole lot of national attention, an adult expo in Houston finally opened its doors on Thursday at an area gentlemen's club.

TEXXXAS is being held at Cover Girls near U.S. 290 and Beltway 8. After kicking off Thursday at noon, it runs through Saturday and is open until 6 p.m. each day.

RELATED: TEXXXAS adult expo coming to Houston in August

The event, featuring appearances by adult stars and adult-oriented vendors, takes place on the second floor of Cover Girls across nearly 9,500 square feet of space, all separate from the stages downstairs.

On Wednesday night, organizer John Gray told the audience on the "Outlaw Dave Show" on KPRC-AM in Houston that the expo will be not unlike the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas that brings out thousands of adult-movie fans. This one is on a smaller scale, of course.

"I've received emails from women's groups and marriage counselors about group rates even," Gray said Wednesday night.

Gray said that books like "Forty Shades of Grey" that deal with bondage and sadomasochism have brought the industry he's highlighting a bit more attention over the past few years.

RELATED: Upcoming Houston adult expo booted from hotel venue after advocacy group pressure

Since the expo was first announced in mid-July, TEXXXAS was booted from two different local hotels due to concerns raised by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, an advocacy group that speaks out against pornography in all forms.

The group also said the event would create an atmosphere conducive to sex trafficking, a point that Gray has always flatly denied.

Both a Hilton and a Holiday Inn location on the southwest side canceled planned bookings for the expo before Gray and Cover Girls came to an agreement just two weeks ago.

The New York Post and two adult-film-industry trade papers covered a press conference on the venue change two weeks ago.

RELATED: Adult expo slated for Houston once again loses its venue

Adult star Katie Morgan, who was featured in a series of porn-centric specials on the decidedly mainstream HBO channel, was recently added to the long list of actors and actresses making appearances.

Morgan joins adult stars Ron Jeremy, Nina Hartley, Evan Stone, Mia Vallis, Aysia Garza, Cherie Deville, Olivia Austin and Dillion Harper, among others who will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs -- fully clothed -- Gray says.

One of the major sponsors of the expo is adult toy outlet Adam & Eve, which is due to have a strong presence, along with a handful of Houston-area strip clubs and adult-themed businesses.

Tickets for the event range from daily passes set at just $20 to three-day VIP passes which grant holders access to after-parties for $125.