Northern Nights opens on Lynnway

LYNN – The space at 649 Lynnway, between a Toyota dealership and an Auto Zone, has had a checkered past as a club. When it was Club Templo in 2007 and then Café Tropicana in 2010, it had run-ins with Lynn Police and the city?s Licensing Board.But the co-owners of Northern Nights, the recently opened bar, restaurant and club at the address, believe they can restore the location?s reputation.?Anyone is welcome to come in as long as they behave,” said co-owner and general manager Kristy Cahill, 48, of Lynn, at a recent interview at the space.Northern Nights started welcoming patrons on Oct. 28, but a grand opening is planned for Dec. 3. It will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and a performance by Janice Robinson, the singer of the 1994 song “Dreamer” by Livin? Joy.The core of the spot?s entertainment will be on weekends, with a dance party on Fridays, female impersonators followed by dancing on Saturdays, and brunch, dancing and karaoke on Sundays. The other days of the week will also have a theme, such as a trivia night or movie night.Co-owner, bar manager and entertainment director Amanda Stevens said Monday night Zumba classes will begin at the club on Dec. 5.The 1,000 square-foot location can fit around 200 people among the tables, bar and dance floor, and it also has a patio that seats 55.Cahill said she hopes people will come in earlier in the day for the American fare menu and then later partake in the nightclub atmosphere.?That?s more or less the theme: stay afterwards and dance,” she said.But Stevens, 46, of Lynn, said she does not want a label applied to the place.?We just don?t want to be known as a gay club,” she said. “I would like to know this as an alternative-style club. Anyone can come in.”Northern Nights is also looking to book private events, such as bachelorette, birthday or anniversary parties.?We?ll celebrate your divorce, if you like,” Stevens said.Though they wanted to open another club at the troubled location, Cahill said the approval process for a liquor license was met with no contention when she and Stevens submitted an application to the city in June.?We had no problems when we put our application at City Hall,” she said. “We spent five minutes before the (Licensing) board and got it approved.”The turnaround was not as quick for the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.?A lot of different things that fell into place at the wrong time,” she said. “I don?t know everything that took place with the state. It was just a question of timing maybe more than anything else,” adding they were seeking a license in the middle of the summer.Besides being a place that welcomes all lifestyles, Cahill said she thinks Northern Nights may also attract North Shore residents who normally travel to Boston for entertainment.?Instead of people saying, ?Let?s go into town, there?s nothing in Lynn, we?ll go into town,? we want them to come to Lynn,” she said.Although Northern Nights is in “healthy competition,” Cahill said, with the other alternative bars in Lynn, Fran?s Place and Cirque, it has been averaging evening crowds of about 100 people in its first few weeks.On a recent Saturday night, Cahill said she took a break from tending bar to find that the dance floor was full.?That?s what we want to see is people dancing,” she said. “If they want to stand around and chat, great. We want them to have a good time. That?s what counts.”Sarah Mupo can be reached at [email protected].