Paris Hilton at Home nightclub

Glitzy nightclub Home at Ameristar Casino opened with all guns blazing last December during a weeklong, celebrity-driven blast.

Wilmer Valderrama, DJ AM, Danny Masterson, Kim Kardashian, Jaime Pressly, Tiesto, DJ Skribble, and Tara Conner were among those to help open Home.

Since then, Paris Hilton, Brody Jenner and others have graced the club, which has been home to a number of fashion shows and special events, not to mention some good ol’ high-energy partying.

A year later, the $15 million club in St. Charles, operated by Las Vegas-based Angel Music Group, is going strong.
“We’re proud that we still continue to get bigger and better,” says managing director Derek Silberstein. “We definitely work harder and longer than everyone else and stay more aggressive.”

That approach may be necessary - this was a club that wasn’t supposed to last. “There was negativity,” Silberstein says. “People said it was too far away.”
Home was definitely a destination when Hilton made an appearance in February with her then-boyfriend, Benji Madden, who DJ’d.

“That was a great night, full of hype and buzz,” Silberstein says. It was one of the first times Hilton was photographed with Madden, and it made national headlines.

Benji Madden (left) at Home nightclub

Halloween was big, spread over three nights. Another big night was St. Louis Prom. Various events with Alive and St. Louis magazines also helped keep Home popping, along with celebrations like Steven Jackson’s birthday party.

But Home also saw some lows. An e-mail was circulated in the black community from a patron who said she was discriminated against at the door.

“We welcome positive and negative feedback,” says Silberstein. He communicated with the writer and welcomed her back to the club. “We have a diverse crowd that doesn’t sway one way or the other, and we turn away equal amounts of young and old, black and white,” he said.

The issue may be that Home is strict with its dress code.
Dress is business-casual or fashionable attire, with no jerseys, open-toe shoes on men, baggy or ripped jeans, or baseball caps.

Looking into next year, Silberstein says Home will alter programming, which has already started. “In the beginning, it was about celebrity and talent,” he says.

“But throughout the year we got more creative with programming and co-branding events, coming up with new ways to get the community involved and appeal to as many people as possible.”

One new thing will be an upcoming Hot 100 promotion, which will look for the hottest women in the area, with cash and modeling contracts as rewards.

But, Silberstein says, “you’ll still continue to see celebrities at Home. That’s great for press and building buzz.”

And that’s especially true during this anniversary weekend and New Year’s Eve, both of which will feature nationally known DJ talent.

The two-night anniversary celebration begins Friday with DJ Sharam, one half of noted duo Deep Dish. New Year’s Eve features Playboy Playmate Sarah Underwood. On Saturday, Home includes the mash-ups of LMFAO.

Get more information at 636-940-4333 or homenightclubstl.com. Buy tickets for New Year’s Eve and Sharam at homestltickets.com.

Home's Arty J with Paris Hilton