Alright friend, you’ve made it to Down the Street-though the club itself may have spun its last record, let’s travel back to its heyday for a moment. Imagine it’s 1988: you can hear the thump of dance music almost before you round the corner. Neon signs flicker, and the air smells like popcorn and hairspray. This wasn’t just any club-it was the oldest and longest-operating gay disco in New Jersey’s history. Opened by the legendary John Hitchcock, who knew how to throw a party after managing M&K, Down the Street got its name because, well, it was quite literally down the street from the other hot gay spots-Odyssey and M&K!
The dance floor was always hopping, DJs like Billy Krauter and Robert Randy Koska kept the beats steady from opening night in the ‘80s all the way to its final, fabulous night in ‘99. Five bars, dazzling light shows, drag contests-trust me, it was the spot for a night out. Out back, the party kept going with an outdoor volleyball court, a food cart to recharge, and The Clubhouse-a quieter bar for those who needed a break from all the dancing. When Asbury Park was struggling in the 1980s, every other gay bar shut down, but Down the Street outlasted them all. Even stars like Thelma Houston and Kristine W. dropped by!
After the club closed, The Clubhouse got a second life as Anybody’s bar for a few more years, but the city eventually cleared the way for something new. Still, if you listen closely, maybe you’ll hear a distant echo of dance music and laughter-some things never really leave.
