Despite the name, memories of Amnesia — the once-popular gay
club near Poplar and Tillman — live on nearly 10 years after the
club closed its doors.
That’s because Senses — the hip (and primarily straight)
nightclub that opened in Amnesia’s old space several years ago —
is bringing back the club’s gay glory days with Retro Amnesia Nights on
Thursdays and Saturdays.
Last Saturday, nearly 500 people — mostly gay men —
crowded the dance floor, the Orange Room, and the outdoor beer garden.
That’s the largest crowd Senses has seen in a while.
“It was fabulous, like being reborn,” says owner George Mironovich
of the turnout on the first two Saturdays of Retro Amnesia. “It’s a
breath of fresh air.”
Back in the day, the building at 2866 Poplar housed lively drag
shows, amateur strip nights, plenty of dancing, and even a patio pool.
It also featured some particularly filthy unisex bathrooms, most
without stall doors.
After Amnesia closed, the property was remodeled into a dance club
with chic space-age décor and gender separations (and stall
doors) for restrooms. In a wise insurance liability move, Senses
removed the pool from the patio.
Retro Amnesia Thursdays feature a $5 beer bust and karaoke from 10
p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday nights boast a drag revue and music by DJ’s
Record Player and Wolfy. Both events are 21 and up.