Sarasota has a checkered past when it comes to nightlife. Through the years, there have been bars, lounges, and clubs. But none have endured for very long and many have become infamous after their demise, and a few even during their short reigns in the limelight.
It seems everyone has an opinion on what's missing, what's wrong, or what's happened in the past. So when rumors of a new club started circulating in 2010, many held their breaths in anticipation, and many more started to hope and pray that it would become a reality and Sarasota's woes would finally come to an end. Over a year after the rumors began circulating, those prayers have been answered, and Throb Nightclub is now open for business.
With 12,000-square-feet, a capacity of 1,000, upscale VIP lounges and bottle service, Throb is everything Sarasota has wanted and more.
“Throb is a new creature for Sarasota County”nothing like this exists,” said Ronny Barnett, the VIP Services Manager at Throb. Located in an industrial area of North Sarasota off of U.S. 301 (North Washington Blvd.) at 2201 Industrial Blvd., Throb isn't what you'd expect to find nestled in the midst of construction businesses and bike shops. “We were going for what we call an “edgy elegance' kind of a vibe,” Barnett said. “You know, you pull up here and it looks industrial, and then you walk in and you have soft pink walls and chandeliers.”
The name, Throb Nightclub, also seems to be somewhat edgy, but Barnett points out: “Throb clearly goes with the beat of the music, and that's what we are going to be known for”the music. We have a sound system that will blow your mind. Be prepared to blow your socks off! You'll hear this building a mile away.”
The first year of business will be instrumental for Throb, and special events include appearances by famous drag queens, live performances and celebrity host DJs.
“There are a lot of things coming,” Barnett said, “and we have the facility to do it, and we can do it on a grand scale and do it well!”
On New Year's Eve, Carmen Carrera from Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race made an appearance and hosted a meet-and-greet before her performance.
“At the moment we have two VIP suites,” explained Barnett. “The maximum capacity for our large VIP suite is 23, and the other VIP suite has a maximum of 10. The private booths out in the lounge seat anywhere from four to six.”
Barnett expects the club's VIP bottle service to be very popular and details are available on Throb's new website, Throb.me.
“Anybody who wants to have a fabulous time can do that here,” Barnett said. “If you want to celebrate your birthday or anniversary on a large scale, instead of having a bunch of people traipse in and out of your house, destroy your carpets, and walk out with your stuff, why not have it in a fabulous location like this? Have a great time without having to worry about it. Let us worry about it!”
Throb Nightclub's lounge area is for a 21-year-old and up crowd and is open from 2 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. A $5 cover is required on the weekends.
More information is also available on a Throb Nightclub app available on Android devices.
