There’s not much to Gilroy’s premiere nightclub, the District Theater, from the outside—no marquee, no lights, not much to mark it as an entertainment spot in the center of downtown.
Then, when you walk in, there’s a long hallway that looks like it might lead to some kind of warehouse.
But, at the end—Lights! Camera! Action!—there are lasers, a purple-glowing bar, a big stage, a 20-foot TV screen and a $50,000 sound system that fills the room’s 300 capacity. It looks as cool as any club you’ll find in San Francisco, New York or—gasp—San Jose.
Owner Darin Dixon, 44, celebrated the club’s first anniversary in April and he has big plans for bringing more music and entertainment downtown, something locals say is sorely lacking.
In his first year Dixon has brought some famous musicians to Gilroy: Pete Escovedo and his daughter, Sheila E., country artist James Wesley Prosser and Santana singer Tony Lindsay.
He’s also staged events including a fight between Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi, had karaoke, line dancing, blues, disco and rock. The District, rebuilt on the site of the old Gaslighter Theater, is a bright light in our small city.
“I love seeing the reaction of people who come here for the first time,” said Dixon, while hosting a Chamber of Commerce grand opening earlier this month. “We have zero curb appeal out front and a long hallway. The natural expectation is that we are a small place. When they get to the back, they have that shock and awe expression. They see that DMX lighting, the fog machines, the lasers, all the colored lights and the theatrics.”
Besides a range of entertainment that includes an open mic night on Wednesdays, country DJs, and the Chicano All Stars, Dixon leases the space for parties and gatherings, including Mount Madonna High School’s Prom. It can even be used for seminars. The ceiling is high enough to fit a kids’ bounce house and host a weather-proof birthday party.
Dixon put his money where his heart is, spending $100,000 to remodel the hall and a year to get it all done.
The next step in his entrepreneurial evolution is relocating his music store, the Music Tree, which he has operated for the past decade in Morgan Hill, to Gilroy, where he lives. The store rents and sells instruments and gives lessons. Dixon’s goal is to incorporate both businesses by having students study music at the Music Tree, then perform shows across Monterey Street at the District.
The District has one of only three dance permits in town, along with Old City Hall, the Longhouse and the Tequila VIP Lounge.
“Gilroy kind of rolls up the sidewalks at night, especially during the week,” said Jane Howard, who runs the Gilroy Welcome Center and has been trying to spread the word about entertainment. “Our visitors are looking for something to do at night.”
Around town there are regular live cover bands at the Milias Restaurant (7397 Monterey Rd.), karaoke at the Old City Hall (7400 Monterey Rd.), a summer outdoor Fifth Street music series every Friday night and events at area wineries. One of them, Clos LaChance has a Sunday afternoon music series of local acoustic performers. Sarah’s Vineyard has music every Friday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring local acoustic performers from Memorial Day to Sept. 30. Fortino has a music series that includes a show by local favorite, Isaiah Pickett on May 20.
