Jeff Lowery has a simple message for partygoers wondering what his new Dammit Janet club is all about:
"We want to be the opposite of EpiCentre."
The new '70s dance club -- think more David Bowie than David Cassidy -- officially opens June 5 on North Davidson in the space once occupied by Eclipse.
Longtime Charlotteans might remember Lowery as the former owner of the Milestone, the '80s club Pterodactyl and most recently of Jeff's Bucket Shop on Montford.
He's been out of the club scene for awhile, but thought the dance club addition to the NoDa neighborhood would be a good fit.
He says he's tired of the cookie-cutter clubs uptown ("I'm not into dressing up and taking yourself so seriously"), the one-word names and the monotonous beat of techno music. ("It just sounds like you listened to same song all night.")
Instead, expect to hear a mix of '70s music from classic rock and disco to Motown and P-Funk.
And he's not ruling out throwing in some old Pterodactyl '80s playlists in there either. He kept records of songs he played at the old club on Freedom and Morehead and says, "You can walk in and hear an exact playlist from 1989."
And keeping with the '70s theme, Lowery promises '70s prices: $1.50 domestics and $2 imports all day every day.
Details: 3746 N. Davidson St. Capacity: about 500. Smoking allowed until ban takes effect. Open Tuesday-Sunday until 2 a.m.
(Update: Based on feedback, Lowery plans to make most of the club non-smoking while reserving a small area for smokers.)
43 comments:
Sounds like it could be fun.
He says he's tired of the cookie-cutter clubs uptown ("I'm not into dressing up and taking yourself so seriously"), the one-word names and the monotonous beat of techno music. ("It just sounds like you listened to same song all night.")
amen brother
nice sounds good
I LOVE 70's music! I might just check it out after the January smoking ban is in effect.
Not really NoDa... more sugar creek.
sounds lame. thought i'd post a positive comment.
Damnit Janet, I like trance (techno)! Seriously, this club sounds like fun. When the smoking ban goes into effect I'll go for a visit.
It will be private...smoking allowed. Stay at home if you do not like smoke! Your perfume and cologne makes me sick, that should be banned.
4:33 - Where does it say "private"?
Mr. Lowery, since you'll have to go non-smoking in January, how about OPENING as non-smoking to show that a non-smoking club CAN succeed in the free market (and so there's not 7 months worth of smoke still festering when the ban takes effect).
As a NoDa resident I hope it works out, but I wouldn't bank on it. Bad location and bad idea.
I knew I shouldn't have shaved my pornstache.
Dean and Mr. Lowery are gonna make this place happen. I am tired of cookie cutter clubs. Specials of 1.50 domestic and 2.50 import sound a lot better than over priced down town places. if you want to hang and have a drink this is a lot better than paying to people watch
My kinda dude, I look forward to not taking myself so seriously and just going out to have a good 'ole 70's time. I will be there with afro in full effect.
groovy baby
The reason I don't go to the Double Door, et al, is because of the disgusting cigarette smoke. Why not open this place without the nasty smell?
can't wait to hear the spins from the the old 'dactyl- was there in '89 when it was the coolest place in town, in a bad location, in a bad part of town- it rock'ed!
If this guy owned the Pterodactyl, he knows how to run a night club. I can't help but laugh at those who think this is a bad location. It makes some some of his other locations look like Southpark. Also, non-smokers don't stay up late and drink too much. He's just being a good businessman.
Give me some Van McCoy..."Do The Hustle"!
January will be the coming out for all of us that detest arrogant smokers.Charleston SC is a great example of how much better night life will be as soon as all of you walking fire pits are put out to pasture where you all belong. Suicidal losers can hang out on the patio in the cold and rain and look stupid together.
I've never taken myself seriously, and neither has anyone else. I might fit right in here.
Anonymous 10:54pm, I could not have put that better myself.
Sounds like fun! We'll be there after the smoking ban goes into effect. (And we're not fans of the government banning much of anything, but we hate the smoke more!)
Ditto to all the other folks who will wait until January. Cigarette smoke makes me physically ill. I hope his club can hang on until January. I will be there!
Wow! 2 pieces of good news. Jeff is recreating the pterodactyl atmosphere and CLT going non smoking. Having grew up there "the bird" was a hot spot in a "bad" location but you could not stay away. It should work in NoDa.
As for non smoking-it only helps business (don't let the bitchin' fool ya) Having left CLT for Boulder, CO and now Charleston, SC (both clean air cities) the bars, pubs, restaurants, etc are as busy as ever. The jackass smokers in CLT will have to learn to carry a jacket and umbrella with them when they go out. Welcome to present day and good bye to the stone age!!
Rocky Horror Picture Show's Dammit Janet.
It's sounds like it'll be something fun for the summer but I doubt it'll last very long. The anti-EpiCentre crowd they are targeting want to go somewhere they can chill out, discuss things and not have to feel like they need to be clubed out. Besides if this Jeff guy wants to be the opposite of EpiCentre why was my car covered in flyers for this place when I was leaving EpiCentre?
Hello!!! Thank God there are other people in this city who are tired of the "Hey i have a $1000 blazer on, and I think I'm the shiznit" typical d.b. who frequents
SUITE and the EPICENTRE!!!!/ALONG SIDE the "Hey Im a Stuck up Chick who works at the mall, spends my whole paycheck on an outfit, so I can pretend to be someone!!!!!" No wonder Suite just remodeled, the investers were already not recieving their all so important splits (yes folks, the new has worn off)!!!!!! hahhahahahahahahaha
Sounds Fab !
Just dump the smoking ahead of time and I will be there. If not, I wont.
Thanks for making it primarily non smoking !! Good for you and us !
But that small section that you are going to have for smokers, please be sure that it is totally self contained and sealed off from the rest of us. Let them puff away in a room so filled with smoke that they can't see their hand in front of their face. That ought to make them happy.
Seriously, make it a separate room with serious ventilation or make it an outdoor patio away from everyone. Please no smoking/non smoking like in restaurants. It doesn't work, the smoke drifts right over. If it's going to go smoke free 100% in 6 months then why even bother, go smoke free right now.
It is disturbing to see that you guys are more interested in smoking/non-smoking issues than the opening of Jeff's new club. This is really messed up. I was one of the people that frequented his old club and loved it. I look forward to frequenting this club - whether I decide to smoke or not to smoke. I think it's a great idea and I can't wait to be able to sling my hair to "Head like a hole" and having a change will from the norm will be nice. In case you guys have never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show - get ready for a little "Goth" cause that's what its about!
Sounds like it definitely won't be disco, but more alternative 70's. As for "monotonous beat of techno music", this guy must be a clueless.
Yes, the disco club thing has already been done.......and then killed by the very company that started it. Sounds like this guy is going alternative, which definitely ain't disco.
You guys "non-smokers" kill me. Here we have a nice guy, trying to do a nice thing by opening up a different kind of club and all you guys can think about is whether or not it will be smoking or non-smoking. You are so vain, you think he will cater to what you say. You already have the non-smoking section laid out for him and you don't even know this guy.
For those of you who do not smoke - STAY AWAY! If I'm not mistaken, I believe Dammit Janet smokes herself and I am certain Dr. Franken Furter smokes too - really l-o-n-g cigarettes.
This WILL NOT be your typical club. Please watch the Rocky Horror picture show - it might help and by all means, if you like the cookie-cutter clubs and can't handle people who might look like Sid Vicious then I don't think this club would be for you.
I'm afraid this might be a little disappointing...why not just reopen pterodactyl in this new location? Thinking it would go over so much better!
And Jeff is not a 'nice guy trying to do a nice thing,' he's trying to do a profitable thing! He's pretty cheap, from what I remember.
Hey Jeff, how about a Rocky Horror Picture Costume Party??? We just got back from Ft Lauderdale, went to the Fetish Factory Fetish Party, over a thousand people there, no trouble, people had fun!!! They'd love a club down there like your opening!!! We'd love to come to the VIP party Thursday, how about scoring us a couple tickets??? Used to come to the Pterodactyl, loved it!!! Email me at michaelkrzr@yahoo.com. So refreshing that you are going to get away from the Forum and Alleycat, etc mentality and play some real rock and roll, funk and alternative just like the good old days....how about some Cult???? Can't wait til Friday, rock on!!!!
And by the way, if Jeff isn't profitable, this place won't be here for long for us to enjoy. Make lots of money Jeff, you deserve it by taking a chance "in these tough economic times", as every damn commercial that is out there says!!! And please Jeff hook us up for Thursday!!!!
And Jeff, we're having a pre Dammit Janet Party at our house on Friday, complete with the last copy of Rocky Horror Pic Show DVD Blockbuster had playing, so we'll bring a bunch of people out, we got the cabs set up, so we can take advantage of your drink specials and all.....how about those tix for Thursday...please....
To the owner: Epitcenter does not play "techno" as you incorrectly label it, or any type of decent house music at all. They only play gangster rap and hip hop all night and call it 'Top 40'. Surprised more people haven't fallen from balconies there. All that rap would make me want to jump too.
I think it's a great idea. Go Jeff! All you "non-smokers" (which I am one) don't worry so much about if it is smoking or not. Don't go!!!! If are so worried about a smoke, stay holed up in your little homes and become old people nice and quitely. We people that like to have a good time will be at Dammit Janet!
ditto
I thought the smoking ban in NC will only apply to bars and restaurants, not private clubs. In NC, because of our very modern ALE laws, you must be a private club in order to have a liquor license without food being served, no? So, would this not wipe out the whole point for a smoking ban in NC? Only restaurant bars would be affected, and not the stand alone bars and night clubs, correct? What a waste.
We were so excited about the opening of Jeff's new club, we decided to have a pre Dammit Janet party. We invited about 50 people who were all excited about coming as well only to see that due to popular demand, this will be a non-smoking club. We had to call all of our friends and cancel as most of them are smokers and do not like hanging outside in the rain to smoke. It's really a shame. I guess we will be at our regular bar scene instead.
Sounds like a good place to go remember the fun times many nights at both the milestone and the pterodactyl both in bad areas but drew the crowds and were always fun. Does anyone know how the smoking ban is affected by that little NC law (bar owners could never get lifted may now be a blessing) about any establishment that did not do more than 50% in food sales had to be a private club? Will that still apply after january 1st?
Yes, probably a good idea that your 50 smoking friends stayed home if they couldn't be respectful enough to go outside and smoke away from others. People who don't like rules or the law should stay isolated to themselves so that way they can only offend themselves. Besides, more room for the rest of us to have a good time and not get the black lung! Amen.
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