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Big Boys Q'n has transformed into Club 51 North in an effort to fuse food and entertainment together.
New manager and chef Dan Jones has worked at Club 51 for about a month and a half, and he has already revamped the long-time barbecue joint. By constructing a new stage, demolishing an old wall and turning the buffet area into a second bar, Jones has begun to give Club 51 a reputation of it's own, separate from the rambunctious past of Big Boys.
Club 51 won't drop Big Boys' renowned barbecue menu, though. Club 51 is keeping the old menu and actually expanding its selection to include more gourmet type foods, such as steaks. Jones also added a horror themed late-night menu with items such as 'Texas Chainsaw Chicken Tenders' and 'The Hills have Fish and Fries.'
"We were weighing the options of food versus entertainment, and I said you really need to meld it together," Jones said.
Jones, a former guitarist and singer in the band Poor Kings, has also taken over the entertainment end of Club 51. He said the bar used to book bands that were very similar, but he has taken it upon himself to put together more showcase events with headliner bands and mixed groupings.
Owner Don Urberger said the biggest change at the bar was a change in attitude and approach.
"It wasn't a revolution, it was an evolution," he said. "We already had the bands, we already had everything in place, and it just became a point that the entertainment center became more and more predominant versus just walking into a bar where you just drink."
Urberger said the entertainment center has become a bigger and bigger part of Big Boys, so it only made sense to book diverse acts and seek out better quality entertainment. The move has already paid off and Jones said there was a packed house Saturday night when O'Fallon, A.I.R., Omnipresent and Hybrid Theory played a showcase.
Jones has already been revamping the inside of the bar, and said there are more changes in the works. He said he is trying to pattern Club 51 after nightclubs he has visited in major cities. He plans to black out the ceiling and paint the walls with dark colors to create a cavernous feel that won't make patrons feel confined. By revamping the floor plan, capacity has also increased from 80 people to 150 people.
Jones said he has tried to bring more consistency to the bar so that patrons and bands alike will have an enjoyable time at the bar. He said the bar had its ups and downs in the past, but with a new image and a new approach - including a whole new staff - he said he hopes the bar will be a more customer friendly establishment.
"Keep you comfortable in here, keep a fun attitude for everybody," he said. "The more the bartenders are having a good time, the more the bands are having a good time, the more the people are going to have a good time."
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