The Indigo District will be no more after Saturday night, but its replacement, The District, plans to cater to Eugeneans by encompassing the interests of students, dog lovers, coffee enthusiasts, vegans, philanthropists, local talent and an active nightlife.
In an effort to sustain the business and expand its appeal to a more diverse market, The District will be a nearly-24-hour operation, serving coffee and food (including vegan Philly cheesesteaks) by day, alcohol and music by night.
The District will open under new ownership, an LLC group of partners, which includes its original owner, Justin Gibbs.
While the Indigo is known for its dance floor and draws University students for that reason, public relations director Leona Laurie said that when she started going to the nightclub she noticed “it was dead all the time.”
She suspects the club’s market may have become too narrow in recent months. During the past year and half, Laurie said, the club’s emphasis became hip-hop music. While that satisfied some patrons, it didn’t serve the larger audience Laurie believes the space is capable of bringing in.
University senior Chance Rey said he likes the Indigo for its cheap drinks, friendly bartenders and good food.
“I wish there were more people, but at the same time I like that there aren’t a ton of people,” Rey said.
Rey said music is not one of the club’s strengths, describing it as “’80s, hip-hop influenced” music that doesn’t mesh with his more contemporary tastes.
Laurie said music will take on a new focus at The District.
“We’re not having the hip-hop focus anymore – it will be a part of the focus,” she said.
The familiar Indigo that students have come to know will remain at The District, but it will be recast as “The District after dark” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Laurie said. The rest of the week will be devoted to the more diverse interests, including an open mic night for poets, comics, musicians and other performers.
The new club will also make strides to serve the under-21 crowd. With hopes of bringing in more live music, Laurie said, the club will be all-ages until 10:30 p.m.
As venues go, Rey said the Indigo is meant for live bands.
“That would be perfect for that location and would bring in a lot more people,” he said.
For its daytime use, The District will serve Eugene’s Wandering Goat coffee and Portland’s Stumptown coffee with a twist: The coffee bar is non-profit.
Libby Adams, a business partner in The District, calls the non-profit coffee bar her “baby.”
After Adams recently adopted a stray dog, Honey, it contracted parvo. Adams paid $5,000 to save Honey’s life, but while at the veterinary hospital, she witnessed dog owners who couldn’t afford their dogs’ surgeries make the difficult decision to euthanize.
The proceeds will benefit pet owners who cannot afford their dogs’ life-saving surgeries.
Adams said that the community reaction she’s heard has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Everybody is just crazy about the cause,” she said.
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A new District
Daily Emerald
April 8, 2009
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