I had dropped out of the design business to paint full time for about 8 years. I received a prestigious grant, for which I was to paint for a year. I bought a Mac instead, spent 8 months relearning my craft via a mouse and went back to the biz. I was determined not to have the next phase of my design career dominated by boring grey corporate work.
One day a buddy calls, says "I'm opening a nightclub." Two years of brainstorming, studying design magazines of the era, living the lounge life and 50 rejected names later we just decided to borrow a great one.
The Five Spot happened to open about the same week the Gap Khaki Swing ad hit the airwaves. Overnight our theme went from Lounge to Swing. A choreographer from the movie "Swingers" moved to town the same week. Big bands sprouted overnight.
It was a blast being a part of it all, playing music there, seeing some great acts and hanging out with them until all hours. It was the clubhouse I never had as a kid for a brief time.
Long after that Black Lily was born there. The Roots found their audience. Jill Scott reigned. Hip hop replaced Swing.
10 years later someone tosses a lit cigarette in a trash can. Now it's a parking lot.