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While dives like The Power House are turning into mixology bars, there's one Hollywood spot that's turning from a speakeasy into a grungy dance party.
The old Writer's Room, tucked beyond a parking lot off Las Palmas, is now Golden Box. It soft-opened on this past weekend, but will be open to the public this Friday. A new concept from Jeremy Fall of Genesis (that's the new dance spot on top of Sassafras that looks like an attic), the Golden Box draws its inspiration from '80s disco clubs in New York.
"I want people to walk into Golden Box and feel like it's been there forever," Fall said. "I think it can be easy to get gimmicky sometimes when trying to design a space inspired by another decade because we tend to create based off of aesthetic highlights of that era versus the emotion found during that time period. My biggest nightlife inspirations have always been clubs like Limelight, Area and Studio 54, so creating something inspired by that time period has been one of my biggest passion projects so far."
The floor is done in magazine covers lacquered flat into a dance floor, gold disco balls hang from the ceiling and the walls are exposed brick and graffiti. A neon sign reads with no small amount of innuendo, "eat my golden box." The bar is relatively small, which provides for an immediately intimate dance party, with couches surrounding the floor and DJ booth. There's also a long, open patio, which has plush seating for those who are looking to have a conversation.
Once inside, expect to hear a lot of '80s hits, though certain nights will cater to a more underground selection of retro cuts. The bar will also be collaborating with band Semi Precious Weapons and other artists to come up experimental music concepts for the bar, but they won't be stock club nights. "Any artist that I bring in as a resident is collaborating with me to curate something special that they don't do anywhere else," Fall said.
While Fall recognizes that the word "nightclub" usually comes with a particular connotation these days, he's hoping haunts like Golden Box and Genesis can serve as a place for people to feel at home and let loose.
"I want people to get inspired to keep creating and add more culture to this city. Los Angeles has such a short shelf life for everything, especially in Hollywood, and I know it may seem like an uphill battle, but adding the right things to this city will help move it forward," Fall said. "We all work so hard all the time, we deserve a time in the week to let go and not feel like we're going to be judged for it," he said.
Beers will typically run you about $7, wells are $10 and premium pours are $11-12. However, from 9 to 10 p.m., there will be $5 beers and $7 Ketel One, Beefeater, Bacardi, Don Julio, Jack Daniels and Famous Grouse. And for those of you that have trouble planning ahead, there will be vintage-style cigarette girls selling cigs, gum, mints and, naturally, condoms. They'll also be taking Polaroids.
There's no dress code, except flip-flops. No flip-flops.
Golden Box is located at 6685 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. It's open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
