Thursday is Ladies Night at Swaxx. Which means if you happen to be a female, your well drinks are just a buck. Yes, just one single American dollar.
Why have you never heard of this place? Well, at 7,500 square feet, Swaxx isn’t just one of the largest nightclubs in town, it’s also one of the newest. The North Spokane spot is located on Lincoln Street just a few paces from Division, in the space formerly home to the infamous Swackhammers. It is open every Thursday through Saturday. Co-owner Lenny Volpe says they’re prioritizing these three nights because “it’s hard to be busy seven days a week.”
“We want to focus on the weekend,” says Volpe. Swaxx looks modest from the parking lot, and from beneath the fluorescent sign you’d be hard pressed to figure out what’s inside. Stepping through the doors, however, reveals a spacious, open venue with a full bar. Here, patrons will find part-owner, Collin Smith, whipping bottles through the air as he practices flair bartending.Featuring drinks ranging from raspberry Long Islands to $3 Fireball shots, a trip to this club isn’t complete without a Swaxx Wax shot, which is a fruity alcoholic mixture with a Red Bull spike. Luckily, crispy bar food, like the chicken strips ($8.99) is served late into the night.
The venue has been passed through the hands of various owners and has now landed with partners Jeff Hedspeth, Smith and Volpe. With limited time to redesign, the three men went about installing mirrors, booths and, at the top of a spiral staircase, a VIP lounge with a private bar that overlooks the dance floor.
An intricate lighting system beams down from behind DJ Freaky Fred, who owns the stage as he tosses out old-school music remixes as well as new pop and rap. Just one month old, Swaxx has been slow to catch on with the northside clubbing crowd, but with specials like those $1 ladies drinks, that might soon change.
SWAXX • 25 E. Linclon Rd. • Open Thu-Sat, 9 pm to 2 am • 703-7474 • swaxxspokane.com
