Nell's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nell's (or Nells) was a nightclub in downtown Manhattan. It opened in 1986 and closed May 30, 2004.(Later in 2004, another nightclub, NA--named for Noel Ashman--opened in Nell's space. [1]) Actress-singer Nell Campbell was its namesake and longtime proprietress. In early 2004, actor Mark Wahlberg was planning to buy Nell's.[2] The painter Thomas Moller was Nell's original manager. [3]
At its peak of popularity in the late 1980s, Nell's was known for denying even the famous entry to the club. In the 1990s Nell's matured into a jazz and reggae showcase.
Nell's came onto the scene when some clubgoers were tiring of the cavernous discotheques (e.g., Studio 54) popular in the 1970s and early 80s. Decorated as a slightly shabby 19th century English men's club, Nell's afforded its upscale patrons a place to eat, sit, socialize, and listen to live music. Other exclusive supper clubs like M.K. soon followed. In the last decade, Nell's clientele became more multicultural. Rappers made Nell's hot again. The Notorious B.I.G. made his video for "Big Poppa" here. It was also here where Tupac met a woman in 1994 who alleged he sexually assaulted her.
Nell's is also a frequent haunt of Patrick Bateman, in the book American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
