Cuban jazz, stand up comedy, illusionists, female impersonators – snowbirds residing in Ajijic won’t be scrambling for things to do now that The Spotlight Club is up and running.
Ever since taking over what used to be The Cave on August 14, entrepreneurs Mark Rome and Robert Bichlbauer have launched
an “early evening” nightclub for the town’s English-speaking population.
“We’re trying to fill a niche that’s not here – good quality live entertainment, for everybody, but mostly for the retirement community,” says Rome, who comes from Ontario, Canada, and has been living in Ajijic for the past six years. “We’re trying to bring in high quality acts that only perform here, not other places in town.”
In terms of synergy, the two have worked cohesively with one another since meeting at a fundraiser last year. With Rome’s prior club management experience and Bichlbauer’s interior design repertoire, they are a match made in heaven.
“Mark and I have separate roles. That’s why it works so well with us,” says Bichlbauer, who hails from British Columbia and has called lakeside home for the past two and a half years. “He’s got all the background and experience with the entertainment end of it and I’ve got experience with the service and business end. He does his thing, I do my thing.”
This was met with a candid moment.
“I’m really disorganized,” says Rome with a laugh.
“And I’m very particular,” says Bichlbauer.
Acclaimed artists from the United States, Canada and Mexico have presented at The Spotlight Club over the past four months. Recent sold-out shows include the soulful sounds of jazz/blues singer Lady Zen from San Miguel Allende, rock group Us Two singing classics from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, as well as the fierce Mexican dragstar brigade, The Crazy Bitches. Even Grammy Award-winning singer Jaramar Soto recently paid a visit.
“It’s amazing that they even come here,” says Rome. “We’re lucky if they get a big gig in Puerto Vallarta, and then they will fly here for two days and then fly back home to New York or LA or wherever they’re from.”
Besides top-notch amusement, the biggest dance floor in lakeside and lot of spirits, the owners also provide impeccable customer service to their mostly U.S. and Canadian clientele.
“Every show we have here, we welcome each person that walks in the door,” says Bichlbauer. “We thank them and say goodnight when they leave. This is important to us, because being a new company, we’re still working out the kinks, so we want to know where we’re falling behind and what we’re excelling at.”
Because of these direct interactions with clients, the owners are now considering incorporating a tapas menu in the future. Small dishes are likely to include creative flatbreads, antipasto platters, cheese plates, and even Keto-diet-inspired snacks to satiate people’s eclectic tastes.
“We’re still evolving and trying to figure out what works best for the people here,” says Rome. “We only have the audience for two hours, from the time they arrive to the time they leave – we have two hours to make them happy, keep them entertained, serve them and say goodbye. It’s nice to see people leave the club laughing and super happy. People forget about all the political stuff going on in the world. It’s a nice break and it’s a wonderful job to have.”
Both Rome and Bichlbauer are also passionate about philanthropic causes, especially with the Ajijic Cares Foundation. In collaboration with a Guadalajara corporation, the non-profit educates the public about safe sex practices and HIV/AIDS awareness.
“It was really important for us when we decided to open this club together that we support the community, and that’s exactly how we’re doing that, by continuing to donate our space here for charity events,” says Bichlbauer. “We also donate some of our proceeds to charities throughout the year.”
At the end of the day, variety is of the essence at The Spotlight Club. “All the performers offer something different and unique,” says Bichlbauer. “This is nice because every time we have a performance here, we’re seeing a different group of people.”
Two anticipated upcoming shows include Levi Kries, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway, and sultry Bohemia Viva from Argentina.
“The performers all love coming here,” says Rome. “Everyone that’s ever come in the past, we ask if they’d like to come back, and they don’t even hesitate. They love the little town atmosphere and they love the people because they find the audiences here to be super respectful. They really pay attention to the shows.”
The Spotlight Club: Independencia 159, San Antonio Tlacayapan, 331-845-1523.