Electric Avenue was a dance club that existed during the 80s on West 28th St. between Kalamazoo and Breton. I try to mostly post about things that I remember well-- so that I can have maybe some interesting stories to tell at least. Honestly though, I only went to Electric Avenue one time, sort of dragged there by a girl I was hoping to get with (didn't happen!) though we got to slow dance and make out to The Cure.
I remember the place being quite busy and full of flashing neon hanging all around the ceiling. It had a two-level setup, similar to Top Of The Rock, where there was sort of the "dance pit." I also remember them playing some music videos, including Bronski Beat, "Hit That Perfect Beat." ...Actually, how did they spin videos back in those days? From VHS tapes?? Wow.
I think at some point in the early 90s, it became "Dick's Resort," then sat vacant a bit, then got demolished. Currently, "Xtreme Car Audio" sits on the spot it used to occupy. Actually, an exclusively car-audio business still being around is kind of impressive.
Here's the tiny handful of photos I could find of the goings on at Electric Avenue (click on them to get a larger view).
If you used to go there and have any stories, please share 'em in the comments!
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| DJ Mark McConnell, Danny Douglas (KLQ, Pepsi Dance Traxx), and--some guy |
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| Maybe this is Halloween. I prefer to think people just dressed crazy there all the time. |
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| Shit gets crazy when Spuds McKenzie shows up! |
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| Party in the front AND party in the back, ladies! |
Hey, Jef! Loving this blog! Brings back tons of GR memories.
ReplyDeleteI do have 2 questions for you.
Near the site of Electric Ave., do you remember a gaudy-looking sign that had (and this is a fuzzy memory) a picture of a lady and an alien-looking creature, and it was all lit up. I know for certain it was between Kalamazoo and Breton in the 80s, and then I don't remember seeing it in the 90s.. By any chance was that sign for this place? Would you have a photo of what I'm remotely talking about? It scared the crap out of me as a kid when we drove by it at night.
#2 Do you remember a show on GRTV back in the early 90s that came on Friday nights where it was a call-in program, and the main host sat in front of a green screen that showed random images from other cable channels while they just talked about whatever? I loved that show, but cant remember the name of it at all. If you have video of it, it would be totally awesome if you could post part of it to YouTube!
Yeah wow, the sign you're talking about does not ring a bell - anybody else know about this??
DeleteThe show you're talking about was "Going Critical." I saw bits of it but didn't really see a whole show, though I knew everybody involved in making it other than the guy who was usually the host. There may be some tapes around of it I can find...
Was that 'Musicscuse'? Late 80's early 90's?
DeleteWHOA. Flashback...that sign was golden yellow with black outline drawing, right? I'm going to call my mom. In the morning, because it's too late to call my mom about an alien sign tonight.
ReplyDeleteI still have a Bronski Beat album. Still hitting that perfect beat, boy.
I went to EA once as well, but for some reason, spent most of my night laying on the hood of my friend's car, alone, and then crossing 28th to sit at the diner while she finished slutting up the dance floor. I think we were fighting about something. It's really fuzzy.
This blog is stupendous! Thank you for bringing back these memories. I think.
Hey that spud pic is mine....great time there... look for our facebook site.
ReplyDeleteFYI - An ALDIs sits where Electric Avenue use to be. Before it was Electric Avenue, It was Coral Gables.
ReplyDeleteFyi, ALDIs sits in the back parking lot of EA, I used to valet there when it was Dicks
DeleteFYI And before it was Coral Gables, it was The Grotto!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember the Grotto. I fell in love with a girl from Grandville.
ReplyDeleteDisco & lit dancefloor was a big deal back then. So was loud music.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember what year it was open.
ReplyDeleteI used to dance all night at EA before I moved to NJ and discovered real dance clubs in NYC. Nothing beats The NY club scene of the 1980's!!! Before Electric Ave it was Coral Gables Point After. My parents used to go there for dinner and caught my older sister on the dance floor when she was underage! Too funny
ReplyDeleteTrying to figure out the name of the piano bar at Eastbrook Mall in the early 1970s. Very cool place at that time, Anyone remember this?
ReplyDeleteI think you might mean Roaring Twenties? That was a little ways East of Eastbrook Mall.
Deletewhat was the previous name of the Orbit Room ??
ReplyDeleteClub Eastbrook, before that it was the Eastbrook movie theater
ReplyDeleteI went to Electric Avenue in the 90s it was so wild we went there every Saturday Friday and Wednesday it was the most fun I've ever had
ReplyDeleteFOCSEL FOCSLE lounge used to be where sensations is in eastbrook?
ReplyDeleteWho won the contest that they had at electric Avenue, in grand Rapids, Michigan in 1987
ReplyDeleteWho's UP for a Huge Electric Ave Reunion JAM ??
ReplyDeleteWant to know the name of person that took first place in 1987 at electric Avenue on 28th street. (Hawaiian tropics) ?in grand rapids Michigan.
ReplyDelete10 cent draft beer on Tuesday nights
ReplyDelete