New club coming to Fresno's Granite Park

Source: The Business Journal
Written by Ben Keller, Business Journal staff writer

 Following a slew of failed nightclubs in Fresno's former Cabo Wabo space over the years, a former general manager is shooting for something bigger and better when he opens Club Imperio in Granite Park on May 16. Located at 3950 N. Cedar Ave., the club fills the same space that drew crowds out to Club Rome when it opened in 2011 and Club Eva that took up residence there a year later. Club Imperio, meaning "empire" in Italian, keeps with the same Roman theme that popularized Club Rome under former General Manager Pino Borrelli. But taking back the 15,000 square-foot building earlier this year, Borrelli has played up the concept with an extensive remodel, VIP booths and a vision of bringing in bigger acts and better DJs. Local radio stations B95 (FM 94.9) and Q97.1 FM are also expected to come out every week. "Fresno deserves a true dance club, not a restaurant acting as a dance club," Borrelli said. "It's all about stage lighting, laser shows, the acts. It's just a grand level of club." Following its grand opening on May 16, Club Imperio will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Borrelli will be accepting accepting applications and interviewing for positions at the club later this week. Borrelli said a liquor license should be in place in the next few days. He also has a security contract with the Fresno Police Department. Borrelli first helped open Club Rome along with local doctor John Janda. Club Rome was the site of an attempted firebombing in February 2011 that caused minimal damage. A falling out between Borrelli and Janda in February 2012 led to Janda replacing Borrelli with a new manager. Club Rome went under later that year until Janda revived the space as Club Eva in December. The Janda-helmed clubs filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. But the troubles go back even further than that, starting with the short-lived Cabo Wabo venture that ended in a heated conflict between local developer Milt Barbis and rock star Sammy Hagar in 2008. The establishment also sputtered under local businessman Kirk Vartanian, who attempted to reopen the club in 2009 as The Edge and later as a high-end restaurant he called LeReve that never opened.

URL to original article: http://thebusinessjournal.com/news/retail/11873-new-club-coming-to-fresno-s-granite-park

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