RESPECTABLE STREET CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY
WITH A FUN-FILLED STREET PARTY IN DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. July 19, 2008 marks a milestone anniversary for one of the cornerstone businesses of the Clematis District: Rodney Mayo’s famous Respectable Street. The Downtown West Palm Beach mainstay for live music and dancing located at 518 Clematis Street becomes “legal” as it turns 21 this year. To celebrate, Respectable Street will close the 500 block of Clematis Street on Saturday, July 19 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a big birthday bash open to the public.
The event is free and will feature live concerts by 21 bands on stages in the 500 block, and inside Respectable Street, O’Shea’s Irish Pub and The Lounge. The iconic 80s pop band Flock of Seagulls will headline the show, which also includes performances by local bands. Patrons also can enjoy an open bar from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. inside of Respectable Street and an outdoor ping pong ball drop at midnight with the chance to win an array of cash and prizes. Though the street party ends at 1 a.m., Respectable Street will continue the celebration inside until 4 a.m.
“Clematis patrons have been very good to us over the past 21 years,” said Rodney Mayo, owner of Respectable Street and Dr. Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill, plus Lost Weekend and Monarchy, two new Downtown nightlife destinations that are set to open in the coming months. “To thank our loyal supporters and everyone in the community, we’re throwing the biggest birthday bash in town and inviting everyone to celebrate with us.”
21 YEARS OF OBLIVION!
In June of 1987 Respectable Street opened its doors on the 500 block of Clematis Street. City Place was a row of crack houses; there was no skyline of condos, only a brothel on the corner and a few panhandlers roaming the streets. Brave soles ventured to Clematis Street to listen to some great-unheard music and dance. Two thousand bands and twenty years later a lot has changed but the same premise stands, Brave souls venture downtown to Respectable Street to listen to great rarely heard music and dance.
Respectable Street Cafe -- 518 Clematis Street., West Palm Beach; 561-832-9999
"Everything is cyclical, people and places that are authentic survive," said Steven Rullman, a representative of Respectable Street, referring to how the venue is now the second oldest business on Clematis. Bands that have played at Respectable Street are Lisa Loeb, Guttermouth, Dead Kennedys, LTJ Bukem, Jackal and Hyde, MXPX, Aquabats, Diesel Boy, Dick Dale and many others. ~Pete Glocker / SouthFlorida.com
