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| At 10 year anniversary, Axis/Radius is long way from last call | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Kelly Wilson, Get Out | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 8, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The nightclub — which has played host to celebrities such as George Clooney, Nick Lachey, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tiger Woods — will mark its 10-year anniversary on Saturday with performances from former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and DJ Skribble, and one-cent specialty drinks from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Owner Les Corieri — who with his wife, Diane, runs the club, along with Scottsdale’s Myst, Suede and Sandbar Mexican Grill — reminisces about some big events over the years. SUMMER 1997: The Corieris, who owned Jetz & Stixx at the time, opened Axis, a 7,000-square-feet swanky cigar bar. “At the time the cigar craze was certainly at a height and we wanted to capitalize on that,” Les Corieri says. “We really wanted to create a lounge, because we knew in the space next to Axis that we were going to build this nightclub.” SPRING 1998: Axis is revamped from cigar lounge to nightclub and becomes the hottest nightspot in Scottsdale. “The cigar phase phased out and it just wasn’t making sense to operate what it was at that time, so we incorporated a dance floor and dancing and we kind of positioned it more like a clubby lounge rather than a lounge or a big nightclub.” WINTER 1998: Radius opens to standing-room-only crowds. “When Radius opened in November, it was a pure dance club. It was raw and pretty industrial-looking inside.” WINTER 1999: Amber Lounge, an upstairs VIP lounge, opens in Radius. “We wanted to make the upstairs a lot nicer and create a VIP room. … It really made the place turn into a more upscale nightclub because it had a beautiful VIP room, and we added on the outdoor VIP patio at the same time. It gained in square footage and it certainly gained in sophistication.” FALL 2002: Axis remodels upstairs and debuts the UV Room. “Instead of an area having pool tables, we created a completely different lounge area that wasn’t VIP,” Corieri says. “It’s unique in the sense that you really feel like you’re in a completely different bar.” FALL 2006: Radius debuts a remodel, which includes a liquid nitrogen dance floor and an emphasis on special effects, sound and amenities. “That was probably the biggest remodel I think I’ve ever seen. It was a million-(and a half) dollars. We actually extended the building and created what are now those skyboxes with outdoor patios. It’s worked out great. It’s very sophisticated. It rivals pretty much any club, not on size, but on amenities as far as a club in Vegas goes. It really put Radius on a completely different level.” WHAT’S NEXT: Partner Shawn Yari recently told a local media outlet that the three clubs will be torn down and rebuilt as smaller venues as part of the redevelopment for the W Scottsdale Hotel, scheduled to open in February. Corieri says that isn’t entirely accurate. “The redevelopment is … done over three phases,” he says, noting that Suede and Myst won’t be torn down until 2010. Axis/Radius will most likely be torn down and rebuilt two years later, Corieri says. “We’re not going away,” he says. “It’s a seamless transition from one (club) to the next.” Axis/Radius’s 10-year anniversary party is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the club, 7340 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. $15. (480) 970-1112 or axis-radius.com. Contact Kelly Wilson by email, or phone (480) 898-5691 |
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