One to Watch

Old spot, new nightspot. The Greenroom is the latest addition to Osborne Village’s club scene, occupying the space above American Apparel at 108 Osborne St. — previously home to Hi Fi Club and Die Maschine Cabaret.
   
"It’s a club with a loungey feel to it with an urban vibe, not really the traditional nightclub," says club promoter Jay Kilgour, 29, former owner of The Red Cactus. "The idea was originally Kevin Trosky’s. He’s our co-promoter (Donavan Robinson, owner of Vantage Studios is the other) and he owns The Urban Bakery. It was a goal for him to create a space like this in Osborne Village, a space that’s comfortable with 80 people as well as 200."
   
Completely redesigned and renovated since its previous occupant, work on the Greenroom started in May with the doors opening on Oct. 21. The club operates four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday, with each evening offering its own unique entertainment.
   
"Wednesday night is live indie bands. Thursday is live bands but they play a lot of covers, because Thursdays are traditionally more about the night than the entertainment, but they’re always guaranteed to get good entertainment," says Robinson, 34. "Friday nights is hip hop (The Turn Out with DJ’s Lonnie Ce, Hunnicut and Co-op) and Saturday is DJ-orientated bass music and party rock (Template with DJ’s Rawdman, Footwerk and Dirty Teez).
   
"We give them the night rather than our vision because it’s their scene. They can do with it what they want and promote it the way they think it should be promoted. They’ve been pretty impressed with that because not many promoters of bars will let that happen, it’s usually ‘Here’s what we want.’ They like that concept, a place they can call their own."
   
The Greenroom’s patrons can do likewise. Given its relatively small size and relaxed atmosphere, the club has a friendly "my bar" vibe. To uphold that "where everybody knows your name" feeling, the club’s promoters are making safety paramount.
   
"Safety is a very big concern for us with everything going on in Winnipeg right now," Kilgour says. "That’s the one area where expense isn’t a concern, because it has to be there. In fact, we’re even going overboard right now just to make a statement. We want people to feel safe while they’re here."
   
A secure situation means good neighbours. The Greenroom’s promoters are pleased to be a part of the Osborne community and are hell-bent on keeping its fellow Village people happy.
   
"It’s really necessary for us to be accepted here and for us to focus on what we are," Kilgour says. "Safety and providing a good time with nights that appeal to a lot of different groups of people is important because this is a diverse area that’s so important to Winnipeg."
   
Go to www.greenroom108.com for the latest on the Greenroom.
   
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