La Amagita operators to open new night club specializing in a variety of events

A new club opening soon in Hampton aims to provide guests of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy live music and a wide array of unique entertainment.

This Saturday, Oct. 24, Project X Night Club, located in the former Coconut Lounge at 11 Second Ave. NW, is slated to host its first event. Plans include a performance by Chicago-based keyboard artist Edgar and His Keys.

Owner Neal Johnson, who also owns and operates Restaurant La Amagita in Hampton, said the club is designed to provide live music and entertainment to a wide array of audiences.

“We’re excited to give it a shot and put in a place for people to come in and relax and have something to do later in the night because there’s not much around here anymore,” he said.

Johnson said programming will include a live DJ on Friday nights that will be geared towards an American audience while Saturday nights’ DJs or artists will appeal more towards the Latino crowd. While the events will be designed to appeal to a certain audience, Johnson hopes the venue can be a welcome space for all.

“We’re trying to make it presentable and a nice place to come in and feel comfortable,” he said.

Mixed in will be events for younger audiences, including a Halloween party next Friday evening, where no alcohol will be served. Johnson said the idea to open the space to kid-friendly events as well is to give people of all ages a fun place to go in a time where entertainment options are limited.

“Kids around town just don’t have a lot to do,” he said. “When I grew up, there was always something to do on the weekends and nowadays, there’s just not much, so hopefully this works out to give them something to do.”

Along with live entertainment, Johnson said the building can be rented for private parties and events.

Johnson said that the new venue is an expansion of live events that were hosted at La Amagita. The name, Project X, was derived from his stepson, Fabiano Arias-Ramirez’s, DJ service of the same name. Fabiano plans to DJ some events at Project X as well, so the named seemed like a no-brainer to Johnson and crew.

“When we were looking for a name, I thought, why not just call it “The Project X,’” he said. “I thought it was catchy and easy and thought, ‘Why not?’”

Johnson said one of the challenges of opening the new business was, of course, adhering to operation under COVID-19 protocols. He said the floor will be spaced out to satisfy six feet social distancing recommendations and guests will be asked to respect one another’s space. He said the amount of guests at events will be limited based on the distancing guidelines.

“It’s a big building but we only have a certain amount of people we can put in there,” he said.

Johnson said the first few weeks of operation will eventually lead up to a grand opening later in November. More information on how to book the venue and event announcements can be found at the Project X Night Club Facebook page. No matter the event, Johnson said he hopes the venue attracts an audience of all backgrounds and builds relationships across the community in the name of entertainment.

“We encourage everyone to come and check it out,” he said.