Smart Bar

Detail: The building which houses Metro and Smart Bar was originally built in 1927 as a Swedish Community Center. When owner Joe Shanahan came across it, it was home to a jazz/folk club called Stages Music Hall. Enamored by the space, Shanahan opened Smart Bar in July of 1982 as a dance club mixing a variety of the new genres of the time. Smart Bar was located on the fourth floor of the building, which now houses the offices of the Metro & Smart Bar staff.

Smart Bar became a quick success. Groundbreaking DJs Frankie Knuckles and Joe Smooth would spin regularly while bands like Ministry and Trent Reznor showcased their new "industrial" music by playing tapes of freshly recorded tracks for the crowd.

Twenty-three years later, Smart Bar continues to showcase new and exciting dance music and the most cutting edge DJ's from around the globe.