Two Old Favorites, Reborn on U Street
By Fritz Hahn
Washington Post Weekend Section
Friday, August 8, 2008

In the late 1990s and the early years of this century, there was no hotter nightlife destination in the area than U Street, and Republic Gardens and Bar Nun were two of its crown jewels.

Republic Gardens (or just the Gardens, to its fans) was the glamorous spot with open bars, lavish happy hour buffets, top radio DJs and classy decor. It became the destination during Howard University's homecoming. Bar Nun was its bohemian neighbor, famous for its eclectic mix of open mike poetry, alternative hip-hop nights and, most notoriously, the consenting-adults-only Entre Nous party on Saturdays.

But times changed. Marc Barnes, the man who built the Gardens into the kind of place Prince and Magic Johnson wanted to drop by, turned his attention to his megaclub Dream (now Love) in 2001, and the building sat unused for almost two years. A new ownership team took over in 2003, but their reign ended unceremoniously last year after falling behind in rent, with an eviction notice on the door and the club's possessions scattered on the sidewalk.

Bar Nun, too, began to feel a little too "been there, done that," with key DJ nights slipping away and only the Movement open mike night garnering any buzz.

But now there's new life for old favorites on U, with a fresh set of entrepreneurs taking the helm at the Gardens, which reopened as the Republic in early July, while a year-long makeover for Bar Nun resulted in its recent rebirth as Pure. With one eye on the future and one on the past, we stopped by on a Saturday night to scope out the scene and to get some thoughts from patrons about the new digs.

History casts a long shadow over the Republic. "Everyone knows the place," says manager Lawrenzo Sevilla. "It's challenging to live up to what it used to be but also to take it forward."

As it is, the club seems caught in time. On one hand, the new bosses are attempting to recapture the glory days, offering such specials as an open bar from 5 to 7 on Fridays (the kind of deals that packed the place in 1999). On the other, the unfocused weekly schedule takes a scattershot approach to events, including "international night," targeting a diverse crowd with DJs from radio station Hot 99.5 (Friday) and hosting unknown local hip-hop acts (Tuesday).

The best time to visit is on Saturdays, when WKYS DJ Trini spins a mix of classic hip-hop, recent hits and throwback New Jack Swing. The screams that greet New Edition's "Candy Girl" are louder than those for Lil' Wayne or Rick Ross.

Wander through both floors of the converted row house (each with three rooms and three well-stocked bars) and it all seems familiar: marble accents, fireplaces, the rails along walls so you don't have to hold your drink. There's plenty to look at, too: From stylish shirts to figure-hugging dresses, the Republic's is one of the better-looking crowds in the city.

In the mahogany-paneled lounge at the rear of the first floor, Dianna Campbell and a group of friends are laughing, dancing and sipping champagne at a private table, which they've rented to celebrate a birthday. "I'm happy to say I'm very happy with it," Campbell says. "The crowd is good, the drinks are good. The last owners tried [to get this vibe], but nobody came. This is what Republic was all about."

Upstairs, the large back room has become one giant, seething dance floor, with the two rooms toward U Street offering less-crowded bars and space to chill, as well as a chance for endless people-watching. In the middle, Jeanelle Kemp and two friends are leaning against the wall, sipping drinks and watching the crowd. Her verdict? The Republic is "much better" than its previous incarnation. "The floor plan is better, the ambiance is better. It has more class to it." Kemp says moving furniture and dimming the lights "gives it more of a lounge feel -- it's more social than the normal nightclub."

Back on the ground floor, Tony Jones is getting a drink at the bar. He remembers the old Republic Gardens ("that was a nice crowd"), and his first impressions of the new version are mixed. "It's a small club, but the music at the bar sounds not so good. It's a little distorted. Other than that, it has a nice atmosphere, and it's not hot." He looks around. Tonight, "I don't know . . . I expected more people." He has a point. Although the dance floor is packed, the ground floor is sparsely populated, even after midnight.