If you haven't figured it out yet, the granddaddy of all South Beach clubs, Amnesia, is back.
The nightclub, which first washed up on our shores in 1993, brought Andre and Gregory Boudou's brand of hedonism to Collins Avenue. But after five years, the space was cleared, making way for others to try to fill the nightlife void -- including Opium Garden and Privé, and more recently Klutch.
Now, though, the South of Fifth spot is making its grand return with a new co-owner, Bob Sinclar -- as in Grammy-award winner Bob "World Hold On" Sinclar.
But times have definitely changed since Amnesia's heyday. South Beach is no longer the rebellious party playground it once was. And Opium Group, for one, was forced to deal with SoFi's growing pains when it was operating out of 136 Collins Avenue. Opium Garden's open courtyard was a huge source of conflict between the area's residents and the nightclub, causing its eventual closure due to constant noise complaints.
But in speaking with Gianfranco Dossena, the director of marketing for Amnesia, it seems the nightclub has grown up as well. At this Friday's opening party, clubgoers will find a new Amnesia, vastly different from the one described in a 1995 New Times article on sex during foam parties.
"There's a roof now," Dossena explained when we inquired about the space's history of noise violations. "It's one big club with a real dance floor with no tables."
That's not to say Amnesia won't cater to the bottle-service clientele. The club features 70 VIP tables spread out over two areas. But the fact that it will also feature an unobstructed dance floor seems like a novel idea these days when dance clubs like SET and LIV make a killing every night despite a lack of space for, you know, dancing.
Dossena describes the venue as "state of the art," which considering its house- and electronic-heavy bookings isn't surprising. And with capacity for 1,700 people in over 26,000 square feet, this could make for a raging old-school SoBe party.
The raging starts tomorrow with co-owner Sinclar and resident DJ Philippe B. Tickets are available for $50 at the door. However, our favorite part of this whole thing might be the NSFW flyer, which seems to promise a crotch-grabbing good time. Let's hope it delivers.
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