There’ll be boot scootin’ on the Highland Strip when The Country Club opens Halloween night.
“It’s a country music and line dancing bar,” says Rasmussen, an owner along with Tim Quinn and Corey Likens, of the new bar at 535 South Highland Street.
It’s also the former site of The Bluff, Rooster’s Blues House, and the live music area for Newby’s. Going way back, it was the home of the Normal movie theater.
“It’s a very intimate stage and balcony to see live music. Prince, Creed, Nickelback, and John Mayer have all played inside of the walls of this venue.”
All three owners, who have been friends since they went to Holy Rosary grade school together, are involved with food and drink venues. Rasmussen is an owner of Barons, Quinn is the owner of Madison Tavern, and Likens is general manager of Minglewood Hall and 1884 Lounge.
Now is the time to bring a country music venue to the Highland Strip, Rasmussen says. “Cowboy boots and rhinestone cowgirl hats, those are going across multiple demographics right now.”
And, he adds, “Country music and line dancing right now are the hottest things on the planet.”
The venue is “all wood. It was built for this.” The color palette will be brown and red.
They also are going to feature neon signs and pictures of honky tonks on the walls. And Rasmussen says, “We’re adding a giant hardwood dance floor, putting in a mechanical bull, and a boot-fitting station.”
People can get fitted for new cowboy boots one week and then pick them up the next week.
As for food, Quinn is developing a menu centered around country food classics like “country fried steak, mashed potatoes, and biscuits.”
