Quest Club becomes Epic, still sucks
Remember the Quest Club? Opened by Prince in 1992 as “The Glam Slam” (named after the song), the downtown Minneapolis nightclub was later sold and renamed the Quest Club. As late as Oct. 2005 you could sense the club was failing. Then they lost their liquor license, then there was a Lil’Flip concert shooting AND THEN a fire in its building back in late July 2006 flooded the newly renovated club and closed it for good.
Now it’s coming back as Epic Nightclub: “The Twin Cities premier concert and special events venue.” Yes, it’s an incredibly generic name shared with Epic Nightclubs across the world. And one doesn’t become a premier venue just by stating that you are.
Slated for opening in mid-November, the new owners (real estate guys, according to the PiPress) hope to attract some bands who don’t exactly think gigging in a Toys R Us parking lot in Maplewood is rock and roll.
As you can see from the photos on the new Web site, the renovation is quite extensive. No Brian Canfield Mitchell blacklight designs on the wall. The bars are updated, fancy ottomans line the dance floor, there’s a walk-out on the upper level for smokers, and the Ascot Room no longer has a creepy, stinky fountain. It’s a VIP room now.
However, they’ve compounded the already poor sight lines of the club by adding a giant staircase — further blocking views from anyone not standing directly in front of the stage. This is idiotic.
To find out more, I tried contacting the club. Of course, just like the good old Quest Club, I called the number on the site and reached only an answering machine with extensions that didn’t go anywhere.
If the sole purpose of the club is to be a “premier” music venue, why bastardize any chance of your customers getting a good look at the stage? Hate to say it, but Myth’s no-pillars design just looks better and better.
Looks like they’re taking the Querst, making it more upscale, and not making it any easier to see the band? Not for me, although I admit their private 2nd floor seating looks kinda’ cool.
I’m just thankful for the First Ave.
That PLACE SUCKS!! Not to mentioned CURSED!
I emailed ‘John’ at Epic… Interesting reply, which shows the ignorance that is this new club…
Check it out.
>>>
I wanted to express a dislike of the staircase you added.
Does anyone working on this project attend shows? The staircase
is blocking sight lines of the stage. Thats not too smart people.
Whats so premier about this club? You cannot be premier
just because you call yourself that. How crazy is that…your
not even open yet and apparently its so great — that staircase
does more to ruin the venue than it does good.
Just some constructive ideas for ya — no need to reply … especially
if the reply is rude and a waste of time.
hide details 4:25 pm (8 minutes ago)
to Jeremy Hop
date Sep 13, 2007 4:25 PM
subject Re: Epic Nightclub
signed-by gmail.com
mailed-by gmail.com
Blow me
Sent from: John R.Barlow
epic entertainment
612 490-7656
>>>>
There ya go folks… This is the guy behind this new club. Funny, it sounds like hes got others who hate the staircase as much as I do… gotta love the ‘blow me’ comment though… classic ignorance.
Wow. Just wow.
If I received an email like that, I would probably think the same thing. But I wouldn’t actually send that reply.
i give the club 18 months, 2 years tops
anyone remember Trocaderos??