When I first moved back to New York City from Orlando, Florida…
I was at a fashion show, and I saw this man, who had the coolest jacket I have ever seen.
I went up to him and said, “I really love your jacket, who is it by?”
“Custom made…” he said bluntly…no more, no less. I thought this dude seriously wasn’t keen on small-talk.
Yet, wasn’t aware of it at the time, but turned the man I was talking to was none other than…
…Nur Khan.
I was taken aback. He is the stella, elite-club guru and owner of some of the hottest clubs in New York for the nightlife elite, like the famous Electric Room at Dream Downtown.
I got to get to know him better during the Kenmare days.
So I can’t say how much an honor it is for Nur to have taken the time from his busy schedule to sit down for Hartiska, and you’re in for a treat as you’re about to get to the know the man on a personal-level behind the “King of Rock-n-Roll Nightlife”:
Q: What made you become a club owner?
A: I found a decrepit movie theatre that was great architecture. You know, old-balcony style. I knew a lot of people, so was confident in the project. I gutted and renovated the theatre into a 1500-person nightclub/live-music venue in CT. This was prime-music time, 1991!! Everyone was breaking out. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. I had Ron Delsenor route these bands to me from Roseland Ballroom and the Academy Theatre, so I got all these great bands to play for me when their first records were coming out! Amazing shows!!! That was my first one, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
Q: I come from a mixed-background and also lived in Connecticut in Stamford and Old Greenwhich. How does someone from Connecticut become a nightlife guru in New York?
A: My first club was in CT. I was trading on Wall Street at the same time. I eventually sold the club, moved to NYC so I didn’t have to commute to Wall Street. Eventually I missed it, left Wall Street, and opened my first bar Wax in 1994. Then Sway, then Hiro Ballroom, then Rose Bar at Gramercy Park Hotel, Kenmare, Don Hills, and Electric Room at Dream Downtown.
Q: Can you tell me more about Electric Room?
A: What’s there to tell?? About to have 2-year anniversary and we’re rocking!! I love that room.
Q: Would you like to re-create CBGB?
A: CBGB can never be recreated, part of the success was the era. Would I like to recreate something along those lines? Hell yeah! I’d love to had another live-music rock-n-roll room. It’s a void that’s missing for me right now, and that’s my passion. I’d love to do something really gnarly and gritty again!!!
Q: You have lots of celebrities and musicians come to your club, which one has stood out the most?
A: I don’t talk about my guest. My places are sanctuary, and I like to keep my guests safe. Everyone has been in my clubs.
Q: In a chaotic world of nightlife, what keeps you grounded?
A: My passion for martial arts. That’s my balance.
Q: Why did you study martial arts in London? What kind of martial arts do you study?
A: I was working on restaurant/nightclub projects in London. The developer was taking a long time so I spent my time studying Shaolin Kung fu at the Shaolin Temple UK in London. Shaolin Kung fu was what I studied at that time in London, Sanda/Sanshou which is Chinese kickboxing. It’s basically everything in mixed martial arts except the ground game.
Q: How was living with Shaolin Temple Warriors?
A: By far the best experience of my life. Living on top of a mountain in China, training Kung fu with the Shaolin warrior monks at the legendary 1500-year old Shaolin Temple. Amazing. But hard work and dedication to do that 10-hours a day, every day for about a year. I’m so happy I did that. It’s part of my every day life!!!
Q: What kind of Buddhism do you study?
A: Shaolin Kung fu is married to Ch’an Buddhism. Ch’an Budhism comes with my martial arts.
Q: Can you tell me how nightlife has evolved to what it is now?
A: Nightlife always evolves. It’s a lot tamer now. I get asked this question all the time. Kinda tired of it…Downtown used to be Downtown, and Uptown was Uptown. The clubs reflected where they were located. Now everything is more homogenized. I like to try and shake things up and do something different each time I open a place. B’uck whatever trend may be going on at the time. Start a new one.
Q: I am friends with Lazaro, and I see you always wearing his jewelry. Which piece of his jewelry can you not live without?
A: Hands down the one we just finished. It took us about 3 years to make. It’s platinum, very large and heavy, with about 30-carrots of white-and-black diamonds in it. I can’t live without it!!!
Q: What do you think of Music nowadays?
A: There’s a lot of very good music out nowadays in my opinion. I have to say I was disappointed there wasn’t an actual band playing instruments at the VMA’s this year. What a joke! I mean that’s just retarded to me.
Q: What does the King of Rock-n-Roll do during his free time?
A: I thought the King of Rock left the building in 1977??? Me, personally…my martial arts are the most important thing to me in my spare time. That and getting some rest when I can.
Meet the King of NYC Rock-n-Roll Nightlife is a post from: Hartiska
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