WHEN MANAGERS AT THE former dance club Jungle considered changing their format in 2007, a country-themed gay bar was not a thought that had crossed anyone’s mind.
But after Hoedowns closed unexpectedly last year, Jungle owner Brad Williams and his staff rethought their plans and realized there was an opportunity. They opted to provide a new home for gay country western fans, and then decided to toss in some variety throughout the week.
Next weekend, the Wild Mustang celebrates its first anniversary, complete with a mechanical bull, a line dance competition, a two-step contest, a $500 balloon drop and door prizes.
“We bring the mechanical bull in every so often, every few months or so,” says Cam Murphy, the club’s booking manager. “It’s something different. It takes up space, so we can’t do it all the time, but everyone seems to enjoy it when it’s here.”
THE CHANGE IN FORMAT came when Jungle management saw “the whole scene” changing, Murphy says.
“We got a sense that people wanted fun, not big entertainment, not something that was hit or miss,” she says. “We were looking for a format change, and this sort of fell in our laps.”
The staff turned the place around pretty quickly, installing a wood dance floor and changing the decor. At the time, no one knew that a new establishment, 3 Legged Cowboy, would open at the former home of Hoedowns a few months later. But Murphy says having two bars with a country western flavor in town is not a deterrent, noting that each seems to have found their own crowds and niches.
“It’s healthy competition,” she says.
Murphy notes that while the Wild Mustang is most known as a country western bar, the club has “events for all groups.”
“We are not country western 100 percent of the time,” she says.
ON FRIDAYS, THE CLUB FEATURES a popular Latin Night with DJ Carlito, who spins high-energy dance music. On Mondays, the Wild Mustang is home to the Stars of the Century, an African-American drag show that has been performing locally for more than 15 years. During off days, the bar hosts events such as fundraisers and pageants.
Still, Murphy says that “Saturday is our country night, and it’s the biggest night.”
She feels the club found its niche for several reasons.
“We don’t get into a lot of mudslinging here,” she says. “Everyone is welcome. There is a lot of diversity. Everywhere you look here, there are smiling faces. It’s really about coming here and having fun.”
The club has its fair share of both men and women, she says.
“Thursdays is called Ladies Night, but to be honest, we have women here almost every night,” she says.
The Wild Mustang is happy to be one of the few establishments in town where gay men and lesbians can co-exist and intermingle, and proud to offer a certain intimacy as well.
“We have places here where you can just hang out, sit and talk, play pool, and escape the craziness of the dance floor,” Murphy says. “These spaces have a sort of pub appeal.”
WETbar to close
ThunderFlower, the conglomerate company that owns the pub Blake’s on the Park and dance club WETbar, confirmed to its employees on Sept. 4 that WETbar’s last night will be Saturday, Sept. 27.
Management confirmed the closure on Tuesday, saying that Blake’s will continue unfettered by the decision to close WETbar.
Until then, WETbar continues its format of special guests, with plans set for international DJ Gomi on Sept. 13 and Samantha Ronson on Sept. 26.
The venue went through other gay club incarnations, including club Blu. It re-opened as WETbar in 2005 after $900,000 in renovations. WETbar was one of the few gay dance bars in Atlanta after the ballyhooed closure of Backstreet in 2004.
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PrestonB
0
I don't want to use this as that forum, but I'm sure that I am not the only person in Atlanta to read their site!
Posted 9/14/08 - 12:50 PM
ForWhatItsWorth
0
ah, but has anyone other than yourself read it? :-(
Posted 9/13/08 - 11:59 AM
PrestonB
0
WETbar closing is old news. www.OutAtlanta411.com has had this on their site since 9/4/08.
