The former Crews Inn space gets a makeover as veteran club owner Andy Krumm revives BJ’s NXS — and so far, no raids
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| YOU?GO-GO, BOY! | BJ’s co-owner Andy Krumm says he wants a comfortable bar — who wouldn’t be comfortable around this guy? (RICH?LOPEZ/Dallas Voice) |
The gay club scene might be witnessing a small miracle. It’s going on four weeks now, and the new BJ’s NXS club isn’t on the verge of closing or being raided. In fact, it’s looking like just the opposite.
"We want it to reflect a club in the current millennium and redesign it with an Uptown standard," co-owner Andy Krumm says.
Krumm took the dowdy Crews Inn and revamped it into a sparkly oasis, complete with a living room-style patio, flat screen TVs and lots of chrome and mirrors. The basic floor layout is the same, but with a feel that’s more lush.
Krumm’s plan for this spot was the same as his previous bars, including the Arcadia, Fraternity House, After Dark and the original BJ’s (now Mickey’s). More than anything else, he wants his patrons to be comfortable.
"I try to have no stress in my bar. People might not find their spot to stand or sit elsewhere; they do here. We use comfortable raised seating so that everyone is at eye-level," Krumm says.
Whether it’s the comfy seating or the lean Speedo-clad dancers (where’s the beef?) that gets the people in is hard to say, but on a Tuesday night at 10 p.m., the bar was decently packed with more than 100 people already counted by the doorman. Krumm is bringing back Trashy Tuesdays, and it looks like its working.
Which is a nice change from the current bar and club climate. The scene has seen big losses with the Brick and Joe’s Place; Buddies II will be shutting its doors at the end of the month. And it’s sidestepped the apparent trend of bar raids a la Fort Worth and Atlanta.
No doubt Krumm’s experience with previous venues have paid off here. He’s been doing this since 1992.
"We just wanted this to be fresh with the times. This design is as current as anything else. And it’s alternative place to go from the Cedar Springs strip," Krumm says. •
BJ’s NXS!, 3215 N. Fitzhugh Ave. Open daily, noon–2 a.m. Bjsnxs.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 18, 2009.
