Exterior of Drinky’s in Downtown Easton post-renovation.
Photo by Elizabeth Lucy ‘15
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Lafayette’s students know Drinky’s as a geographically convenient nightclub where they can go to have fun and unwind on the weekends. Therefore, it was exciting to see the Facebook invitation announcing the “Relaunch” of Drinky’s upon students’ return to campus this past January.
Last summer, the renovation of the pub side of the club began, as the old carpets were ripped up, and hardwood floors were installed, the remodeling continued in the ambiance of the location. The cocktail menus include more whiskey and bourbon for an old-fashioned feel. The goal: to make the environment fit in with that of traditional and historical Easton. The walls are now covered with old pictures of Easton from as far back as the 1800s.
The remainder of the renovation was completed over Lafayette’s winter break. New lighting and sound systems were added in the club portion of the venue in an attempt to make the it feel a little classier, and to appeal to their college clientele. As of January 1, Drinky’s also became smoke free.
This past weekend, Lafayette students went to Drinky’s for the relaunch, and to see the new environment.
“I don’t know if it’s better [than the old layout] because it depends on what you’re looking for in a bar,” Kidane Kinney ‘15 said. “The DJ was great and there were some cool effects such as hookah smoke that came down on to the dance floor a bunch of times during the night.”
General Manager, Tommy Urglavitch, acknowledged that within the past couple of years, Lafayette students didn’t really feel comfortable or safe making the trek down to Drinky’s on a Friday or Saturday night. Therefore, Urglavitch feels that the “crisper attitude” of the venue, along with some of his new initiatives will solve this issue.
“I will be running the bus as many Friday and Saturday nights as I can to get the students down here,” Urglavitch said.
One of the new features of Drinky’s includes a VIP section for special occasions. Students can pay for this section on birthdays and for celebrations, but can also just use it to make their visit to Drinky’s more carefree and enjoyable.
“The new Drinky’s definitely feels different because of the VIP seating that flows right up to where the dance floor is,” Kinney said.
A group of people can pay $100 and have the VIP section as a safe place to leave coats and have a more private table area. They can then order drinks and food until their purchases begin to reach the $100 limit. At that time, they can choose to add more to their tab, or stop ordering for the night.
The newly renovated Drinky’s strives to fit into its surroundings in Downtown Easton, while seeking to attract Lafayette’s student body.
Drinky’s is open daily from 3 p.m. – 2 a.m. The kitchen is open until 1a.m.