The Forum nightclub reunion is coming up, so let’s go back to 2005 Charlotte nightlife
The year is 2005, and there’s a new nightclub named The Forum opening in uptown Charlotte. Are you and your friends going? Of course we are.
For many of us, 2005 feels like yesterday — just a couple of years ago, right? I’ll pause for a moment while you do the math on that one.
Yeah, sorry for that. But it was necessary to remind you how long it’s been, so you can enjoy how much fun it’s going to be to go back. Ahead of the throwback party for The Forum, we’ve dug back into The Charlotte Observer’s archives to see what the scene was like back then.
The club was an anchor of the College Street nightclub scene, located at 300 N College St., and it held a big place in your memories if you were partying uptown in the early 2000s.
When the club opened, The Observer’s Paid to Party reporter Tonya Jameson was there to capture every moment. Read what she had to say, then don’t forget to get your tickets to the throwback party on March 8.
New nightclub generates buzz
The Forum has uptown excited — with cool ‘metaclub’ concept and hot ice bar
Published: 9/27/2005
Byline: Tonya Jameson
Ever since Mythos closed in the summer of 2004, the once-vibrant intersection of Sixth and College streets has been on a beer-fueled IV supported by Bar Charlotte and Have a Nice Day Cafe.
On Friday, the area gets a breath of funky-fresh air when The Forum nightclub opens in the alley between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Uptown club owners and DJs are excited about the new night spot, pointing out it will draw more customers to the entire area.
“The Forum will raise the overall bar of entertainment,” said Noah Lazes, uptown nightlife staple and owner of N.C. Music Factory. “They’ll set a new standard for nightlife and entertainment.”
The club will also complement the Center City entertainment district, which is gearing up for the opening of the new arena next month, and give the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority another selling point.
“Having another club with more buzz is going to bring more people up from some of our regional cities,” said Michael Smith, president of Charlotte Center City Partners.
The Forum is in the building that housed Mythos for more than 10 years, and former Mythos patrons will be amazed that it’s the same place. Architect Boris Tomic used recycled steel, brick, stone, copper and anything else he found to design the place.
Metallic browns and blues adorn the walls. There’s a steel mezzanine terrace, crushed tile flooring and exposed brick walls. Tomic’s sculptures and multi-media art are sprinkled throughout.
“In the nontraditional design, I hope to achieve something that’s revolutionary for this city,” said Tomic, who also designed Cosmos, the restaurant/art gallery/cigar bar on Sixth Street, the front side of The Forum.
Gus Georgoulias, Andy Kastanas and other investors own The Forum. They’ve been keeping Charlotte hip since 1993, when they opened Mythos. At the time, uptown didn’t have a nightlife to speak of; Mythos opened in an old paint warehouse. The club’s mix of straight and gay patrons who wore everything from khakis to feather boas made it appealing to young professionals and drag queens alike.
The group closed Mythos because, after 10 years, they thought it was time for a change.
“We’ve been very fortunate to be part of the evolution of this district,” Kastanas said. The investment group also leases property to Have a Nice Day and Bar, and it opened Cosmos, Salamandra (with Alan and Larry “The Cellar” Presley) and Aqua.
“We always try to do something different and try to contribute something new and fresh to the city,” Kastanas said.
They invested $2 million into this latest project. It has five themes. The Forum is the overall name and the main dance club. DJs will spin a mix of Top 40 dance, electronica, rock and more. A new $200,000 sound system will mix videos and audio.
Behind the main bar is a reserved seating area called Prive. The mezzanine overlooks the dance floor, and has sofas and a bar. The rooftop patio has a South Beach feel and comes equipped with a bar and restrooms. It overlooks Sixth Street.
To the left of the dance floor, Pravda lounge features an “ice bar” that will keep drinks cold, and a premium vodka menu with such brands as Blavod and Ston. The music in there will be more laid back.
The Forum’s owners refer to it as a “metaclub” because it will be available for business meetings, wedding receptions, luncheons and other daytime events.
In fact, Tomic plans to exhibit local photography and have guest speakers and PowerPoint presentations on fine art.
“I’d rather this place be a meeting place, intellectual rather than a wild place,” he said.
[READ NEXT: Ahead of the Mythos reunion, let’s travel back to 1993 Charlotte.]
