Though headlines, including ours, are proclaiming it, the closing of The Mule Nightclub isn’t really the end of an era.
Penticton’s nightclub era ended a long time ago and the clubs have slowly been converted to other uses for more than a decade, like Tiffany’s, which is now a boutique mall. The Mule’s closure is just the final nail in the coffin.
There’s probably a lot of people living in Penticton now that weren’t here in the 70s to 90s, when this was the place for the party crowd to carouse and cruise from one beach to the other, stopping off at the clubs in between for cooling refreshments.
If there was profit in it, rest assured, there would still be a strip of nightclubs running through downtown Penticton. But the truth is, the audience has shifted away from that kind of venue.
A nightclub differs from a regular bar by the inclusion of a stage and dance floor. The Mule might be the last venue fitting that ideal, but there are still bars and clubs where bands perform.
It’s not that there is any shortage of music in this town, and certainly no lack of places to grab a drink or people in need of relaxation.
Just check out any of the craft brew lounges, wine bars or other venues on a weekend evening and try to find a seat. The people are still there, it’s just the choice of venue has changed.
There may again come a time when the 18 to 20-year-old crowd jumps in their cars and heads to Penticton to spend Labour Day weekend drinking, dancing and generally making a lot of noise. But for now, those days are gone and a traditional nightclub would face a lot of competition from lounges, restaurants and free music in the parks.
