Palm Beach danceteria 251 Sunrise reborn
Tags: 251 Sunrise, Augie Busch, Gus Renny, Mohamed Atta, Palm Beach, Ron Perelman
| Tuesday 17 March 2009 8:13 am
It’s the return to Palm Beach of a watering hole that once was a favorite hangout for some, and a noisy scourge for others.
Like the proverbial phoenix, 251 Sunrise will be reborn from its own ashes March 26.
The nightclub — ahem, sorry! Nightclubs aren’t legal on The Island, lounges are. The lounge was known as a prime relaxation spot and occasional pickup place for captains of industry, celebrities and the infamous.
It wasn’t unusual to find Budweiser’s Augie Busch and Revlon’s Ron Perelman listening to the saxophone riffs of the E. Street Band’s Clarence Clemons.
For some reason, the infamous Mohamed Atta and another 9-11 hijacker spent a grand on champagne in 45 minutes there, weeks before the 2001 tragedy.
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But the joint, next to the Palm Beach Hotel condos (at 251 Sunrise Ave., go figure!), closed in 2004 after six years amid complaints from elderly neighbors. It was said that many at the converted hotel could feel their floors shake because of the music.
With the disappearance of Capri Blu, the restaurant that last occupied the space, West Palm Beach nightlife investor Gus Renny said he was offered a lease he couldn’t refuse. Renny owned the original 251 Sunrise.
“We sound-proofed the ceiling,” Renny said. “And we moved the speakers, which once were attached to the building’s supporting poles. That used to cause a lot of vibrations. We don’t think there’ll be any more noise.”
The lounge also received a Miami Beach-style makeover, including a sultry atmosphere created by design guru Jonathan Adler.
“There’s a real need in Palm Beach for a late-night lounge,” Renny said. “Frankly, there hasn’t been one since 251 Sunrise closed.”
Renny once owned the West Palm Beach club Liquid. It shut down in 1999 when another owner, Chris Paciello, was arrested by the FBI in connection with the gangland murder of an NYC housewife. Renny now co-owns Grease, a recently-opened burger place on lower Clematis.
Any qualms about starting at the end of the busy season?
“I think more people stick around in the summer than folks imagine,” Renny said. “And we already have bookings until the fall.”
At first, the new 251 Sunrise will be open Thursday night through Saturday night. On Tuesday nights, Renny says he’ll start a weekly party, Recession.
“Half-price drinks all night,” he said. “It’s part of my stimulus package for Palm Beach.”
And God knows Palm Beach does need a good stimulus these days.
Can you provide some specifics as to the exact address (for google maps) and hours of operation. Will there be a cover?……………steve
I heard rumors that the folks who owned the former Tsunami at CityPlace might be doing a restaurant there as well. Let’s hope so…the place was amazing.
Liquid remained open following C.P.’s arrest… Gus did a great job there too… You can bet he’ll do another tremendous job at 251 redux.
Why would you post something like this and not give the address??
I cant wait . Palm Beach needs a new spot with great music and food. Gus did a great job in the past and i’m sure he’ll do so again.
The address is 251 Sunrise, Palm Beach
I was at 251 PB for the grand opening last night… what a fabulous vibe there. Great music, great crowd. Gus Renny has brought a piece of South Beach to Palm Beach with the class of the island intact. I’ll definitely be back again, and again, and again.
This club is RACIST!!! Went to Grand Opening with invitation and my black husband and was REFUSED entry because of his supposed shoes..whatever..we know the REAL reason…would NEVER go there and spend my money!!
The opening was nice. But couldn’t hold a candle to the old 251 Sunrise! Where where was the real celebrities and the real glamour?
Which lead me to ask; who is Gus Renny? A guy pretending to have been apart, no trying to take credit for something that he had nothing to do with ….
The above facts on 251 are incorrect. Gus Renny, whose real name is Gus Zurak was never a partner at 251 Sunrise or Liquid. Check the Liquor Licenses … do you see his name? Fingerprints? Either one? He was nothing more than a worker bee. And why does he use different names at different times?
Does the Island doesn’t need another poser?
Renny is a teabager. He’s a punk.
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I would like to see real proof that Gus Renny/Zurak was one of the owners of the original 251. He says there was never a late night lounge on Palm Beach. What about Au Bar? I had my picture taken there and published in People Magazine the night of the Kennedy fiasco. Let’s do a fact check. Howard Holder, former owner of The Poinciana Club, Royal Poinciana Plaza, Palm Beach, FL