Minneapolis outlawed bath houses during the AIDS epidemic as well--any MSP locals, correct me if inaccurate, but some of the buildings in which they were located were demolished--there's been no talk of opening a new one anywhere in the MSP metro (certainly not in the "twin" city of St. Paul--and definitely not the suburbs). One must drive approximately 150 miles north to the Lake Superior Port City of Duluth for a bath house experience--they bill themselves as a "Sauna" which is technically accurate as there are sauna facilities. I think they can get away with it because there are two levels. The top level is private rooms & private saunas and can be reserved for 2 hour intervals by either men OR women, but the lower level is men only with communal sauna & showers, common areas, and private rooms. And really, sitting in a wet style sauna after a day walking/biking the trails of Lake Superior is heavenly.
The area around the bath house was always considered the seedy part of town, but now everything seems to be gentrifying around the location. Hopefully the bath house and the book store & theater around the corner from the "sauna" are able to hold on & stay open. Fingers crossed. I love visiting just for the relaxing sauna experience--getting off is just a bonus.