Club 131 redone to provide 'Rush'

An old East Lansing hangout will unveil its new, colorful look Friday.

The former Club 131, 131 Albert Ave., below Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, will unveil a new name, Club Rush, and a revamped appearance at its 9 p.m. grand opening.

“We wanted to do something different than what everyone else was using,” Harper’s owner Trisha Riley said.

Brittlyn Riley, Trisha’s daughter and the project’s lead designer, said the changes ranging from interior design to type of music were inspired by clubs across the country.

But while there will be significant lighting changes and new artwork posted on club walls, the design was meant to stay clean and simple.

“I wanted the light, art elements and everything to change colors with the light,” Brittlyn Riley said. “It will be red one minute, then it will be green or blue or purple.”

The club’s VIP room also is painted bright red with black-and-white wallpaper on the booths to create a focal point.

The ceiling also will be adorned with large white fabric panels that constantly change colors.

Harper’s and Club 131 staff voted for the club’s new name.

The opening night entertainment at the 21-and-over event will be headlined by DJ Kalendr, an MSU alumnus and popular Chicago DJ.

The club will be open Fridays and Saturdays and feature DJs Amanda Trevino, a house and Top-40 specialist, and Jason Veeder, who plays hip-hop, Top 40, remixes and mashups.

Former MSU football player T.J. Duckett also is scheduled to appear.

Katelyn Farrell, an interdisciplinary studies in social science and human resources and society senior, said she didn’t like the music when she last went to the club.

“They weren’t as good as (my friends and I) thought they were going to be,” Farrell said.

“And the cover was really expensive.”

The team began work on the project last Sunday, and the club has undergone a complete upheaval, Trisha Riley said.

“We didn’t want any of our secrets to get out,” she said. “But, we can’t afford to have a (mistake) at this point.”

Accounting senior Rachel Good said she thought remodeling was a good idea.

“I liked it before, but it was never really busy,” Good said. “So hopefully this will be busier.”

Published on Tuesday, March 11, 2008