BORDER nightspot Roi has been reborn as Groove Saint.
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The new name wasn’t popular with last night’s sneak-peek guests but the $200,000 overhaul was.
Gone is the carpet and in its place a slick industrial look inspired by Melbourne and Sydney clubs.
More than 300 of the venue’s regulars, employees, media and still-celebrating Albury Tigers players streamed in for the first look at the Dean Street venue.
Forvic Hotel Management head Craig Shearer said the major upgrade of bars, dance floor and layout had created the first premier nightclub outside major cities.
“We think that we’ve created the best nightclub between Melbourne and Sydney, that’s for sure, and if anyone’s got a better one I’d like to go and have a look at it,” Mr Shearer said.
Previously pitched to the under-20 crowd, Mr Shearer hopes the upgrade will help the venue appeal to a wider clientele.
“Firstly we’ve made it cleaner, we’ve opened it up and made it a little bit lighter and a nicer environment to spend the night in, which is important when you get to the other side of 30 like I am,” he said.
The name is a combination of things he likes and is inspired by.
“It’s just something that I loved as soon as it rolled off the tongue,” he said.
“The idea is, it will mean a lot of different things to everyone and we’ll leave it up to people to come in and decide what it means to them.”
Designer Natalie Baker took inspiration from The Ivy in Sydney and Eve and Spice Market in Melbourne.
“Originally we wanted a slightly Scandinavian feel, a little bit industrial and edgy to take Albury to another level,” she said.
“We wanted people to come here and feel like they were some place else.”
Roi regular Emily Watkins, 18, and friends said they loved the place but not the name.
“I like the first part of the name but not the second, it’s just weird. It needs to be one word, that’s more catchy,” Miss Watkins said.
“I love the interior though, we’re looking forward to Saturday night.”
Kate Spargo, of Albury, said she had only been to Roi once but would feel more comfortable in the new and improved venue.
“We’re very impressed, it’s definitely more conducive to an older crowd, it’s got a touch of class.”
La Trobe student Nick Horvath, 21, said the open layout was a huge improvement.
“It’s much better being open, we’ll probably come more often.”
Mr Shearer said stage two of the redevelopment would include extending upwards but would not include a rooftop beer garden.
“I think the rooftop beer garden has been done to death and I’d like to do something a little bit more special than that.”
Groove Saint opens to the public tonight.
