Hurricane Bay gets upscale face lift

The west Phoenix club gets even trendier

Megan Finnerty

Metromix

The fake volcano is gone.

So are the neon signs and the old target demographic.

The popular west Phoenix nightclub Hurricane Bay has been remodeled with a more refined look to attract a younger, more upscale crowd, joining Sangria Luxe Lounge and Skye as the West Valley's destinations for more polished nightlife.

After four years of marketing itself as a casual place for everyone from 20-somethings to Baby Boomers to dance to familiar Top 40, retro-pop and hip-hop, the club is relaunching as the kind of place those on the west side of Interstate 17 can go to get a Scottsdale-style night out.

The club revealed the new decor on June 6 with a grand reopening party hosted by thedirty.com gossip blogger Nik Richie.

“We want to be like the approachable Scottsdale,” said general manager Steffani Pratico. “We want to be upscale but without the attitude.”

Now the 10,000-square-foot club has six white-curtained VIP cabanas with low black leather couches, up from zero previously. Guests can get bottle service, starting at $125 for a bottle of Skyy vodka.

More than 20 sleek high-top tables are replacing low, restaurant-style ones, and the dance floor is surrounded by four light-up palm trees and two wooden go-go dancer platforms reminiscent of treasure chests.

A new faux sand finish and mirrors cover the walls, and the bar is now made from a piece of lacquer-topped wood filled with sand and mini shells.

The sound and light systems have also been upgraded in both the main club and in Hurricane Bay's karaoke lounge, Solos ShowBar. That more intimate space now looks more like a fun place to sing the new Justin Timberlake single and less like a comedy club stuck in the '80s with a faux-brick finish and entertainment bric-a-brac tacked to the walks.

“Over the years, our clientele has asked for a more upscale nightclub experience, and we are proud to now offer the high-end amenities they're looking for,” owner Steve Pratico said in a statement.

“I heard (Hurricane Bay is) much nicer, like better than half of Scottsdale right now,” Richie said. “I'm excited. Every club in Scottsdale is falling on its face right now, and these people are actually trying something new.”

Steffani Pratico is most enthusiastic about the club's new roster of DJs, including DJ Soulman, formerly of Valley band the Phunk Junkeez. On Wednesday nights, he's paired with the Edge 103.9-FM to host a rock dance night.

Fridays, DJ Chris Villa of 101.5 Jamz will spin hip-hop and Top 40, and on Saturdays, DJ Knick Knack, who spins on a variety of Valley stations, will play mashups, dance and hip-hop.

Since the remodel started, the 505-person-capacity club has already seen attendance jump, with more than 900 guests coming through on a recent weekend night, drawn by the new, upscale touches and beers that start at $3.75, Steffani said.