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| Quick trip to Gainesville where I used to live back in the day. Unfortunately no time to go clubbing last night but I did have some time today to check out the club options. Gainesville nightclub action is centered downtown and this block of Main Street contains what appear to be derelict buildings. And from Main Street they are. But go around back which is 1st Street and you'll find the rear of these buildings host a whole block of clubs including............ |
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| Status Night Club featuring DJ-driven Top 40, Dance and Hip Hop. |
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| Costa Lounge. You never know how long a club is going to be around when their only sign is made of vinyl. Only thing I could find out about it was that they offer Latin nights on Fridays and Saturdays. |
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| Crush Lounge is in a place formerly occupied by Plasma. Prior to Plasma I believe this is where Simon's used to be. Then-owner Simon Semrani used to bring in big name DJ's from all over; I can recall Paul van Dyk and Sasha & Digweed playing in here! This was the home of club kids, purple hair, pacifiers and and superflares. Ignore that vinyl sign. Simon's didn't even have a sign, it was that popular! When Orlando passed it's anti-rave law, the parties came here! I recall you had to go down a narrow alley to find the entrance. |
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| Which is why I'm wondering if the entrance to Simon's used to be down this narrow alley that takes you to Moonshine. I guess since this is a college town, why invest in an actual lighted sign! |
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| Over on the next block is Main Street Bar & Billiards. Apparently not a club anymore, back in the day this was home to Animal House which was a small dance club most famous for dwarf tossing.The Florida legislature made dwarf tossing illegal in 1989. |
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| I was surprised to see that Market Street Pub had closed down about a month or so ago. The live music club had opened 22 years ago and was thus one of the oldest continuously open venues in Gainesville. Was also surprised to find the very new American Apparel store across the street from it already closed! If AA can't make money in a college town, how can they make it anywhere? |
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| Sharab Lounge is one of the more upscale clubs in downtown Gainesville now, with it operating mostly as a restaurant but also opening the upstairs dance club on Th-F-Sa nites featuring Top 40 & Dance. |
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| Finally, have to mention Lillian's Music Store which originally was a music store but converted to a bar/club back in 1974. They're still open and still catering to live Rock and Classic Rock music. Will try to make it back to Gatorland to check out the insides of these clubs asap! |
Other Options Not Pictured include: The Vault (Hip Hop), Fubar Gainesville (Top 40/Dance) , :08 (Country), Gainesville Ale House (Top 40), Double Down (Live Bands), Florida Theater (Hip Hop, R&B),Sweet Mel's (Multi).
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ReplyDeleteNice to see that you were able to make it to G-ville. There are a couple of other good spots not mentioned here. 101 Downtown (hot girls and prepie guys crowd) is a restaurant but they turn it into more of a lounge (sort of like Rix)on Thurs. - Sat. nights with a DJ playing top 40. It's pretty good. Also the University Club (mixed gay/straight crowd) plays a lot of the Mannequins type of music Thurs. - Sat. as well. Both of the above mentioned places are best arrived at early. After 12 a.m. they are PACKED! I live within two blocks of all the places you mentioned and it does get crazy on the weekends (unless we loose to LSU). Hope you enjoyed your trip. Come back again!
ReplyDeleteJeff, I looked for University Club since I was at that corner by Sweet Mel's but I didn't see it over there; figured it was gone. I'll try to find 101 Downtown if and when I get back there. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMarket Street Pub closed down well over a year ago. In the old pub side of the building, Loosey's Longshot opened last November. Loosey's features all domestic craft beer as well as a full bar, and some pretty good pub grub. I know they have live music a couple of nights a week as well as an open mic night. The dance club side of the old Market Street remains vacant.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteSimon's was a great club in the day! I saw Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Doc Martin, Paul Van Dyk and Josh Wink there! I believe that was the alley Bob.
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