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Downtown club to close on May 31
Owners of The 88 Club at 112 North Main St., Dayton say they will be closing their doors at the end of the month.
Owners Esther Keyes and Rick Krohn who opened the club on March 10, 2006, say that the clubs last day open in the current location will be May 31 due to the lease not being renewed.
“It’s just a shame … I have no idea what the plans are for the location at the Fifth Third Center,” says Keyes. “We’ve worked very hard to establish our name and our reputation and we’re going to keep doing it because we love it.”
Although disappointed with the decision Keyes says this hasn’t dissuaded them. She and Krohn are currently looking for other potential properties downtown to open the club back up in and are working with the Downtown Dayton Partnership to explore their options. They have refunded all special events, private parties and wedding parties that were booked through 2008.
“We’ll go forth, we’ve found a niche that is needed,” said Keyes.
Downtown arts patrons are likely familiar with the 88 Club thanks to a relationship the owners carved out with the Victoria Theater Association hosting cast parties and other pre- and post-show get togethers at the club.
Although the next spot that The 88 Club will call home is uncertain, one thing is not: There will be a party. May 31 the club will be open from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. for a “final blowout” to celebrate the clubs time there and the hopes of a new downtown location to call home. Check their myspace page as the time gets closer for more details.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: News
Comments
By Hugh
May 22, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
All we hear about is how ‘weak’ downtown is, and how the businesses need our support. However, if landlords are perfectly willing to kick out thriving tenants, why should we care about the property owners?By Bill
May 22, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
The Dayton Gym Club building is for sale…By painfultruth
May 22, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
There is still a downtown in Dayton? I’ve driven through there recently but must have missed it!By Jennifer
May 22, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
How many clubs that are safe to go to are left in Downtown Dayton? It’s like dayton public schools shutting down the only ones cranking out good scores. Dayton is becoming a place only fit for those uneducated, violent, low-income trashy people, and the higher-ups wonder why.By Daytonatti
May 22, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
Hey Painfultruth. You’re a d*head. And that’s putting it lightly.By Eve
May 23, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Jennifer, the answer is: 11.By Amy
May 23, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Jennifer - I live downtown and I doubt I fit your “description” of the people who live in Dayton. My neighbors are all doctors, lawyers, business owners, teachers and artists. Try getting to know a place and the people who live there before making such rude and ignorant comments. If you’re too scared to go to a downtown club then you really are sheltered and should stay home.By Anon
May 23, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Funny how this article doesn’t mention that “refunding all parties” meant only sending out a letter once someone from that party left three messages. It took an inside source to tip me off that the 88 was closing, then I had to call three times with no answer to my messages, AND send emails in order to get a straight answer that they would be shutting their doors. No up-front courtesy here. Maybe if the 88 had better customer service, their renewed lease would have been more desirable to the leaser.By tree
May 24, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Downtown Dayton is depressing. Even the old Oregon area looks like the lady in her 60’s who spent too many years in the sun: dried up and haggard looking. The city crumbles, yet they spend money and give tax breaks to the new hip development in the suburbs.By Downtowner
May 30, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Bill said the Dayton Gym Club is for sale. That is true. It is also true that all of downtown is for sale. Move south of town or take it to the Greene and you will do fine.