Nightspot getting prompt facelift

The innovative Danger! Danger! building facade that caused an uproar when it went up nine years ago disappeared within hours of the September 1 date of settlement for the sale of the business.
The business has been bought by Palmerston North-based nightspot chain Malbas.
By yesterday afternoon the "Kiwiana rustic-style" exterior had been completely stripped off. Rebranding is expected to begin immediately. The speedy demolition and a Malbas ute parked in the adjacent accessway made it clear the new owner had come to town on the dot and would not be wasting any time in establishing a presence in the city.
The unique facade might have sparked outrage in some quarters nine years ago but worked like a charm in letting the city know the nightspot was in business. The concept went on to win the 2003 Neon Sign of the Year Award and an unusual gold medal for designers Neil Whitehead Signs of Whangarei.
The Malbas website describes the nightclub as "the best student bar and nightclub in Palmerston, Palmy's Party Central", and advertises drink specials, gaming machines, a weekly pool competition, DJs and live bands. Accountant and businessman Ross Vickers founded Danger! Danger! and co-owned it with his wife Cathy. He named the nightspot after words found on beams in the previous building, which probably dated from when a biplane crashed into the site during World War II, killing two airmen.
Ross Vickers said Danger! Danger! followed a trend in the market towards party bars at the time. The Kiwiana rustic style was also popular then and was meant to celebrate Whangarei district's mining past.
He said a friend told him that an elderly man had looked at the facade and said "whoever did that to the building should be hanged". But a German tourist stopped in his tracks when he saw it, got out his camera, and loved the interior.
"In fact the look of it seemed to appeal to visitors more than locals for a long time," he said.
The nightspot was created in the back half of a building owned by McBreen Jenkins Plant Holdings of Whangarei, which previously housed a Deka (Woolworths) store that ran through to Cameron St.
Mr Vickers said he and Malbas had been negotiating the sale for several months. "I think with Malbas going in, the community can look forward to Vine St further developing as part of the strong hospitality precinct developing at that end of town," he said.
He agreed that Vine St had its critics over the years for being a hotspot as well as nightspot but said considering the number of people who could be there at busy times and "contrary to public perception" the area functioned extremely well.