New Room Nine night club aims to get Asheville dancing

When Room Nine night club opens downtown Saturday, expect disco balls, bright, flashing lights -- and even colored light sculptures in the shape of the the roman numerals for "nine."

But general manager David Chi doesn't want to ever see one sight: Wallflowers.

Chi, a dancer, wants everyone to join him on the floor of the College Street night club, which will open with a soft opening event Saturday.

"We want everyone to be happy," he said. "We want everyone to be dancing."

That's one of the reasons why Chi hired dance instructors for a couple of the themed dance nights -- Latin music on Wednesday, and line dancing on Thursday.

"I told my dance instructor to find those people (who aren't dancing) and get them out on the floor," Chi said. "I don't want to see anybody there lonely."

The owners spent the last several months transforming the former City Billiards parlor, which closed in March, into what they say is a high-end dance spot with bottle service and VIP booths.

For Chi, Room Nine fills a niche in Asheville's active bar and nightlife scene.

Something like this "has never opened in Asheville," he said. "This will bring Asheville up to the level of New York, Atlanta, Charlotte."

Room Nine, 124 College St., will debut with a Top 40/EDM dance party with Dj Lezlie Snipez and Harry Darnell Saturday.

The space is only about a block from the old Cinjade's dance nightclub, which closed last year and is now home to the Off the Wagon Dueling Piano Bar.

From 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesdays, the club will host Fuego Wednesdays, featuring Latin music and dancing. On Thursdays, Room Nine will host line dancing. But don't think country line dancing -- it's more like the Wobble.

Line dancing, Chi noted, is popular around the country, and Asheville doesn't have a dedicated spot for it yet.

On Saturdays, expect a 1980s DJ set from 6-10:30 p.m., and then Top 40/EDM the rest of the night. The club is closed Sundays and Tuesdays.

The club is membership only; memberships cost $2. Because it is a private club, it can offer a full range of alcoholic beverages under North Carolina law .There is also a dress code that prohibits clothing such as baseball hats, athletic shoes and "unfashionable" T-shirts.

The dress code, Chi said, is to ensure customers "dress properly for going out."

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