Downtown nightspots Sauce and Liquid Lounge reopened two weeks ago after dramatic remodeling.
Casey Seis, one of Sauce/Liquid's three owners, said the revamp was costly but necessary.
"It was a fairly expensive remodel," Seis said. "But it's a cost that's fairly intrinsic to the type of business."
While the clubs were popular before the refurbishment several areas of the club were due for an overhaul, Seis said.
"The front room was always a very pizza-looking place," Seis said. "It did okay but at night it was not acoustically correct. We've fitted a brand new bar and great bathrooms for a change - the women's especially was horrible."
Further alterations were made to create a 'lounge' atmosphere. "We built a deejay booth and added chairs with arms and backs for that 'loungey' feeling," said Seis.
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The owners of the club invested significant funds with the hopes of revitalizing not just their club, but also the Downtown area as a whole, she said.
Downtown Albuquerque is undergoing a great deal of change, Seis said.
"With Maloney's and Ned's being relatively new and the new comedy club opening soon we are seeing a trend of upgrades," Seis said. "Businesses are working to make Downtown a better place."
While Downtown Albuquerque has been a hot nightspot for many years, Seis hopes the renovation of the area will lead to a buzzing nightlife "on a nightly basis rather than a few nights a week."
Sauce and Liquid lounge are putting on a series of theme nights to promote nightly socializing, Seis said.
"Monday is Service Industry Night with karaoke and free slices of pizza," Seis said.
The event will enable service industry employees to save 33 percent on their bill upon presentation of identification or pay-stub.
"Wednesday will still be salsa and we're still trying to fill in other nights with themes," Seis said.
Along with increased theme nights, Sauce and Liquid Lounge are aiming to draw patrons at earlier hours.
"Our old clientele were primarily coming from 11 p.m. until close," Seis said. "We're now trying to get people to come earlier. We've started LUSH and now professionals can come after work for a nice conversation and unwind with a few drinks."
LUSH, or Liquid Urban Social Hour, runs Monday to Saturday from 4 p.m. and offers free slices of wood-fired pizza until 8 p.m.
While this promotion might seem to be aimed toward a professional market, Seis insists the club is eager to attract a variety of patrons.
"We're shooting for a mixed crowd as far as age, race and orientation," Seis said. "It's nice when you have a club where everyone feels comfortable. Anyone who walks in here feels at home."
While patrons may feel at home at the club, it is increasingly likely that their real home will be nearby.
"There are a number of lofts going up, also the UNM castle project," said Seis, whose own Downtown condo project won gold in this year's Parade of Homes. "All up, there are about 500 units coming into downtown in the next year."
With the increase of residences and the improvement of venues, Seis said she is confident the atmosphere in Downtown Albuquerque will improve. "We are finally seeing the emergence of a downtown nightlife, after a lot of false starts."
