Everything You Need To Know About Cure Nightclub

Last Sunday, Charleston's largest dance party Club Pantheon shuttered its doors. After over 30 years of being in the nightlife business, owner John Clarkin hung up his hat and with it, the keys to 28 Ann St. But as had been common knowledge for some loyal attendees for months, come Friday, the doors of the venue will be open again. This time under a new name: Cure Nightclub.

Now under management and ownership by the team from Dudley's on Ann, only a few buildings down, this new dance club will be familiar to most — at least at first. "For the first month, we're going to have the same hours as Pantheon did," owner Daniel Brinker told Eater, when he was reached by phone Tuesday. He and the staff were cleaning the venue and repainting in anticipation of the quick turnover. "We'll be open Friday through Sunday, same as before."

For those 18 and over hoping for a night out, the Upper King location will still be a key spot. Brinker said that programming on Friday and Saturday will still revolve around drag shows hosted by Pantheon staple Brooke Collins. Those shows, as always, will be followed by the dance parties the space is known for with updated lights and a "better dance floor."

For those looking for a slightly more relaxed vibe (and possibly on a budget), Sunday night is a likely option. Collins will be joined by Dudley's regular Patti O'Furniture for a night of comedy in a variety type show that will resemble the current lineup that Dudley's boasts on Thursday nights. But that's only the beginning.

With the quick switchover, Brinker says that many of the differences between Cure and its predecessor will become evident over time. "Every week we will be making changes," he said. "Every week when you come in, something will be different." Those changes will mostly be implemented Monday through Thursday for the month of April when the space is closed. Come May, the staff plans to add two more nights to the schedule.

Wednesday seems to be a flex night, with Brinker saying that they will "see what works." Of the options? Karaoke, drag shows, and other possibilities, while Thursdays will be left to live music in a variety of styles. As for the weekends, come May the club will get a dose of freshness with guest DJs. Familiar names like David Smith, who retired from Pantheon last year, will be brought into rotation in addition to area spinners from North Carolina and Georgia. Sonically, while dance music will always be the mainstay for the club, Brinker does hope to incorporate some Top 40 songs (not their dance mixes) into the rotation as well.

"I'm really hoping to make it more of a bigger city feel," the Charlestonian said of the changes. "I think [Charleston is] a huge travel destination and I would hope to have a gay club that reflects that." If these plans, along with the special events, like the afterparty for the Beer Garden benefiting Lowcountry AIDS Services, as well as possible events for SC Pride and the Charleston Blockade Rugby Team, are any indication — that's definitely what the Holy City is getting.