West Palm Beach has always seemed like Miami-lite, especially when speaking on the nightlife scene that goes off on Clematis after 11 p.m. The Ferraris and Bentleys pull up, the model types get out, drinks are poured/re-filled and dancing commences until the sun rises.
While Off the Hookah and Roxy's Pub have done a respectable job of holding down the fort, the freshest nightclub spot may take the cake when all is said and done. The new kid on the block goes by the name of The Pawn Shop Lounge.
Club patrons dance in front of The Pawn Shop's VIP bus. — Photo courtesy of The Pawn Shop
The Pawn Shop is actually a former Miami nightclub. The West Palm version will seem familiar yet different at the same time. In the early hours of the evening, the front of the venue seems to be a traditional pawn shop yet with a functional bar. You can view/buy trinkets, have a cocktail, engage in light conversation, etc.
But after 9 p.m., the back of the house opens. That's when things get real interesting.
The 9,000-square-foot space has so many interesting and unusual components, it's hard to name them all. First and foremost, the back is a dance club. Special sights include a school bus, life-sized retro Ferris wheel and the interior of a 1970s Pan-Am airplane. The vibe here is retro yet modern.
Feel free to take a break from the non-stop dancing and have a seat in the legit airplane chairs (There's plenty of leg space.). The bus doubles as a VIP area in the middle of the dance floor. Good looking patrons consistently fill this space, so make sure you get your crunches in before showing up.
The music comes from the DJ booth, which is literally a Mack truck cab. Top DJs from the area and across the country will be spinning here. They will take advantage of the state-of-the-art sound and light show equipment the ownership group has installed here.
There is 175 feet of total bar space here, so don't expect to get through a night here without doing some serious imbibing. Ten-dollar covers will be charged after 11 p.m., so get to the club early if you don't want to get hit with that. But in all seriousness, things don't get wild on this street until 12 a.m., so it very well may be worth it to bite the bullet and show up late.
The Pawn Shop will be open from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on weekdays, they and remain open until 4 a.m. on weekend nights.
