Lush nightclub turns one after year of peaks, valleys
Nightclub and event space Lush, 3037 Olive, came about during a flurry of area nightlife activity last year that included Home and Fi5teen. A year later, Lush is proud to say it’s not only still here, but it’s thriving.
“This first year has been a long year with lots of peaks and valleys. But I’m really happy to feel like we’re back up at the top of our game,” Lush partner Brian Monday says of the multi-level, midtown nightspot.
“We had a strong opening with a lot of fanfare, and we were able to fight through a lot of other openings of other clubs and still maintain a strong presence,” he adds.
Lush’s peaks, Monday says, included getting big-name sponsors, bringing in celebrity DJs and acts like DJ AM, DJ Skribble and Danity Kane, and throwing special parties including a “Get Smart” movie premiere party and a Blue Elements party.
The valleys involved everything from the near-dead months that were January and February and the Home hoopla.
He says once the hubbub at Home leveled, people remembered the other nightclubs including Lush. He also says Lush got better at spending money by booking celebrity hosts and DJs “to make sure people didn’t forget we exist. We let Home know we can play their game too.”
Lush, which in May opened a revamped rooftop section dubbed Moon, celebrates its first anniversary with a party at 9 p.m. Friday with go-go dancers and guest DJ Timbo from Los Angeles doing a “live video mixing set.” Free Coronbong Vodka cocktails are from 9 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday. Admission is $10 for men; $5 for women.
Looking forward to year two, Monday says “I want to continue to strive to be known for our big events and for people to know when we have an event we never cry wolf. It’s the real deal.”
Lush’s nightly lineup:
– Monday Night Mashups at Moon with DJs Jay-E, Deception, Yoshi, and host Arty J
– Student Night Thursdays at Moon
– Friday and Saturday night parties with Jay-E and Deception in the main club, with Shine going on at Moon with house music DJs
– Mocha Latte’s Shindig Sundays.
Get more information at www.lushstl.com, www.myspace.com/lushstl, or at 314-757-3037.
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
I’m glad they were able to hang in there. I hope they don’t play all the games that Home plays. I really do believe that LUSH was able to hang in there because unlike Home they don’t disrespect their black customers and treat the private parties and single African-American patrons differnt.
CONGRATS TO LUSH…and I don’t put them in the same category as HOME and I hope I will never have to.
But HOME doesn’t have knife fights or brawls every other weekend.
Brian, matt,whoever that tall dark haired guy is who went to Missou and the rest of his clan did make it a year but I am sure their true colors will shine through at some point. Knowing a bit about them outside of the club scene before they are where they are, I can say we should take them with a grain of salt. Then after having done business with them on a big level, they DO NOT practice ethical business standards. I hope they end up closing. Fake ego maniacs who got lucky never last in any city.
Stabbed!!! LOL! Nice security guys.
Maybe I was sleeping on that news story but I missed all the stories about people getting stabbed and fights “every other weekend” at LUSH. I’m a little confused on that one. Sounds like LUSH has a few haters in the city (DOUG) but I here in St. Louis that means one thing….you’ve made it!
not hating. Just stating exact experiences little miss thing. And I expressed them professionally unlike being called a hater. Grow up please.
A Saturday night approx three months ago.
Lets start with the rude doormen. The door guys set the mood for any nightclub. The cliche no smiles/no frills personality for doormen of yesteryears are gone. These guys look to intimidate and make you feel small upon entrance to this place.
You realize upon entering that you are smack dab in the middle of the dancefloor. What an idiot move by the designers of this place. ALthough a bad idea, its tolerable, until you realize the main bar is two feet from the “dance area”. It is a nightmare to order a drink here.
So you order a drink. You decide to pay as you go. What a great idea since the Anheiser-Busch/In-Bev products are outrageously priced! Whoa. Stadium prices is right.
Okay, now that I paid the high-end price for a low-end beer, I want to sit down and conversate and enjoy the music. However, that is to no avail since the seating in the main floor is ALL reserved for bottle service. Not one seat for “other” paying customers. What a jip.
The only reason this place gets one star is because the DJ is awesome. He even played some of my girlfriends requests. A rarity in this town. He deserves more except for the fact the sound was horrible and distorted. The bass in the place was god awful. Not clear and was annoying.
We eventually made our way to the third floor. A place to sit and sounded cool. Except I am not into Techno. I wish the music from downstairs was upstairs.
We went back downstairs toward the end of the night. We spent a bunch of money and kept to ourselves. We never caused a problem. But you would think that we were armed robbers by the way we were treated from security/staff at the end of the night. Cursing and yelling in our ears to leave. Oh well. You live and learn.
Guys at Lush: respect your customers even if they are not bottle service clients.
OUCH…I guess Doug is still pissed at the Lush folks. “And I expressed them professionally” …ok if you say so Mr. Doug. It’s so funny how a few comments can get people going…i love this city
I really enjoyed myself at LUSH the last time I was there. They have come a long way. Remember how bright it was when you would first walk in (thats when they first opened)? I felt like i was being followed by a spotlight or something LOL, anyway great story!
I like the place. The staff has always been friendly to me and i am by no means a high roller. Plus the AC has always been functioning while i was there. Congrats on the 1 year guys.