The Queen City’s electronic dance music community has a new club to call their own –flashing lights and electronic dance music came to Franklin Street in Downtown Buffalo last week.
LiFT is a 21-and-over bar with an EDM atmosphere opened Oct. 17. It will showcase renowned DJs such as EDX, Electric Area, Jay Flip and Pierce Fulton throughout the year, according to employees.
The LiFT nightclub officially opened with a show by Audien, a 22-year-old EDM DJ and producer. LiFT is located two floors below Sky Bar on 257 Franklin St.
The owner, Mark Croce, who owns 257 Franklin St. and multiple other properties downtown including Buffalo Chophouse, the Curtiss Building and the Statler City building, changed former club Rendezvous’ name to LiFT to refresh the club’s image, according to Nikki Butchart, the club liaison for DJs and VIP clients.
Rendezvous struggled because it lacked an intimate atmosphere – it had enough space to accommodate 1,500 people, but only 500 people regularly came. In addition, it was located on Delaware Street and distanced from the bustling activity on Chippewa Street.
“On Chippewa you’re going to see a lot of pubs, just random bars,” she said. “Here, girls can feel comfortable coming in their little black dresses, [and] guys can wear button-down shirts.”
LiFT is an intimate, comfortable club, looking to cater to a new crowd of clubbers, Butchart said. Attendees paid a $23 cover charge to get into the sold-out opening.
Samantha Robbins, a UB graduate rehabilitation counseling student, said she had a great experience at the opening and enjoyed the décor and outdoor patio at the bar. But she wasn’t a fan of the dance floor’s layout.
“I did not like the dance floor and how it had different platforms, or steps,” she said. “It’s a bit dangerous and it made it difficult to dance with all the people who were there.”
Still, Robbins said she was excited to attend more LiFT events, especially their EMD Fridays.
By next Friday, LiFT will have a multicolored dance floor, Butchart said. The bar – made of an opaque, black marble lined with steel – is situated within three gridiron pillars and lit by an intricate set of crystal chandeliers. The bar is stocked with a variety of drinks and cocktails and the average drink costs $4 to $5.
Christopher John, a 25-year-old resident of Cheektowaga, preferred the atmosphere and setup of Rendezvous to the new LiFT.
“LiFT leaves you scratching your head wondering why they chose to put the bar in the center of club,” he said. “It detracts from the performer, and as somebody who doesn’t drink, it’s just annoying to wade through drunk people.”
He said LiFT is a “Vegas-style nightclub” and lacks the “private underground feel” Rendezvous had.
He, nonetheless, enjoys the energy of the club and EDM shows.
LiFT plans to bring some of the most famous DJs to Buffalo and aims to give local DJs the opportunity to perform, such as Nick Styles and Jesse Aaron.
LiFT is currently preparing for next Friday’s Halloween event, 98 Nightmares. Early-bird tickets are $15 and there will be more tickets sold at the door.
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