About five-six years ago, it was virtually impossible to gain access to Bungalow 8 unless you possessed a sacred key, or you were someone enough to make it on the guest list. However, like so many things, those days swiftly came and went, yet Amy Sacco let the doors linger open.
In the winter of 2008, Guestofaguest.com threw an immensely successful holiday bash at B8, and someone saw opportunity. Malik So Chic, the ever so gracious self-promoter, began hosting Disco 10021 every Wednesday night. Although it is a bit more a throw back to the early days of Limelight, complete with kool-aid colored wigs, B8 is more avant-garde than club kid and still a lovely space.
Ms. Sacco, the once “it” girl of NYC’s club scene, desperate to save her mainstay, welcomed Malik So Chic with open arms. She had previously (and I will now use this term lightly) employed hosts in the past, such as the Six Six Sick Girls. At the time no one knew why that relationship did not pan out, but we will get to that later as I was soon to unravel the register tape.
No longer retaining the right of first refusal, the Doorman’s attempt to question my status, just barely escaped ridicule and I was welcomed through the iron doors and into the practically vacant room- think tumble weed instead of the staple live palm trees.
As the night grew on, a steady flow of fabulousness circulated the room, making
sure to kiss-kiss Malik So Chic. It seemed that this nice array of glamsters, hipsters and fashionistas, were here solely to support Malik So Chic’s endeavors, otherwise would not be caught dead in this passé hot spot.
Upon this realization, it became evident that the employees, who were once as idolized amongst their peers as the skivvies wearing bartenders of Studio 54, were now utterly disenchanted. Looking around at my surroundings, I got it. There were no celebs, no socialites, and definitely no five deep waving 100 dollar bills to get a 25 dollar glass of champagne.
Instead, the aforementioned crowd lingered around the booths and smoked cigarettes. If the phrase, “Read between the lines”, could apply to a visible situation, this was it.
And this is what it was and so is: the court proceeding for the sale of the eatery Bette was finalized last week. It is only a matter of time before Bungalow 8 finally shuts its’ doors.
One would think this is why the staff seemed so blue and why past promoters bailed after just 2 weeks; such is not the case. Apparently Ms. Sacco has not been on the up and up with those who have stood by her through the transition from “it” to “s*@t”, nor to those willing to attempt to revive her. This unfortunately may come as no surprise, as employees were allegedly given 8 hours notice before she shut down Bette this past June. However, for someone who is gallivanting from NYC to London to Vegas and back again, she should certainly be able to take care of her people.
We can make our own consensus of what would have been the wise and lucrative decisions Amy Sacco should have made when she was at her peak. I have a feeling her last ditch efforts to save B8 with a reality show on Bravo, is not the brightest idea.
Maybe she’s been having serious V8 moments for at least the past year. Perhaps that is why she continued to behave like an insolent “it” girl, instead of being humbled. And it is evident where that got her… kicked to the curb, sans Disco Ball.
-Article by Britten Heft
*photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images North America
*photo by-Anonymous: Malik So Chic Could Not be Reached for Comment
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