Once upon a time, Club Ripples was the hottest gay bar & nightclub in Long Beach...but that was way back in 1988. And since it's neon-infused, roller-skating-on-the-beach, Madonna-was-still-wearing-pointy-bras heyday, Club Ripples had become (until recently) a sort of sad, dusty icon of a bygone era. I understand. Change is hard. Don't many of us long for the seemingly simpler days of our youth... a time before 9/11, iphones, or the Kardashians?! But alas, time marches on, and we must choose to either change with the times - or slowly fade away, like a hot-pink speedo left laying in the sun...
The good news is - thanks in part to Tabatha Coffey of Bravo's hit reality show "Tabatha's Takeover" - Club Ripples is back and better than ever! This season, Tabatha is bringing her no-nonsense, whip-you-into-shape attitude to all types of businesses (rather than just hair salons, like seasons past), and Club Ripples was her first stop.
When Ms.Coffey arrived at Club Ripples, it was truly a ghostown. With a talented, hip & professional staff in place, it didn't take long to see that the club's owners - life and business partners, John Garcia and Larry Hebert - were primarily to blame for the lengendary club's demise. Although quite a charming couple on a personal level, the pair had fallen into a professional rut of bad business habits. Garcia's "over it" apathetic attitude, combined with partner Hebert's big-brother-style of micro-managing (like chastising customers for putting purses or sweaters on the bar, yet not providing hooks!), proved to be a deadly combination for the business. There were several super-cheesy rules and practices in place - like serving drinks in plastic cups, no free water, always charging a $7 cover (whether there was entertainment or not), AND no drinks on the dance floor (really, even in plastic cups?)! Not to mention that the furniture and decor looked like it hadn't been updated since the first Bush was in office!
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| Owner John Garcia is all smiles after Tabatha's ass-kicking |
One can say what they want about Tabatha's often harsh, ball-busting tactics - but no one can argue that the woman gets shit done. Before you knew it, Tabatha had bitch-slapped John & Larry into the 21st century - and given Club Ripples the breath of fresh air it has needed for a loooooooong time.
These days, the new & improved Club Ripples has an updated look, serves drinks in REAL glasses, gives FREE water, boasts a full calender of weekly EVENTS (including drag shows featuring the best in the business) -- and all for NO COVER!!!* Thank you, Tabatha - for helping to turn Long Beach's oldest gay nightclub back into the one of the best!
*with the exception of the drag shows, which sometime charge a small cover
article author: Desiree Guerrero
CLUB RIPPLES is located at 5101 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA.
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