Bungalow 8


Bungalow 8 is a nightclub chain created in 2001 that was located in Chelsea, Manhattan on 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.

Background

New York

Founded by Amy Sacco in late 2002, the club was modeled after the enclave of the same name at the Beverly Hills Hotel and was meant to resemble a California bungalow. The interior was replete with palm trees and poolside murals, clients were provided with a portable phone and mini-bar at each table, and a concierge service could book flights and order late-night pizza.
The New York Observer's Spencer Morgan published a front-page story on December 7, 2006 titled, "A Nightclub Queen Gets Ready to Sell Her Chilly Nightspot"; later, Bungalow 8 owner Amy Sacco would state, "The whole thing is a fabrication." Sacco further stated that she complained to the reporter that too many liquor licenses had been issued for her West 27th Street block. and that the unwashed masses were scaring away her wealthy, celebrity clientele. "I had calls from about 800 brokers," Sacco said, "But I'm not selling Bungalow 8."
Bungalow 8 was renovated in May 2007, work that included new floors, live palm trees and ferns, new paint, and new BoConcept furniture. Despite these renovations, the nightclub closed in late 2009.
In 2012, it was said that Bungalow 8 was to reopen, on 16th street in the Meatpacking District; however, on reopening it would be named "No.8" rather than"Bungalow 8". It was said that the new No. 8 would be "A place where celebrities went to escape the hassle of... lesser celebrities. Where you once watched Kate Moss karate-chop Owen Wilson in the neck".

London

With partner Ben Pundole, Sacco opened the United Kingdom version of Bungalow 8 during September 2007 at the St. Martin's Lane Hotel in London with a series of Fashion Week parties that drew such people as pop star Prince, Courtney Love, Kevin Spacey, and Sophie Dahl. EastEnders actresses Samantha Janus and Rita Simons ended their night out at Bungalow 8 in December. Unlike New York's Bungalow 8, the London club was designed to be members only, so that Sacco, despite being in New York, can ensure that only "the right kinda people" are getting in.

In popular culture

In the fourth season of the HBO series Sex and the City, Carrie is asked for a night out to Bungalow 8, which she refers to as a "completely pretentious, members only, tiny, crowded club, that you need a key to get into."
Survivor contestant Corinne Kaplan mentions smoking a cigar with James Gandolfini at Bungalow 8 in her podcast about her Survivor program experiences.
Rapper P Diddy mentions the nightclub in the Coast-to-Coast Remix of "Welcome to Atlanta" as part of his weekly routine: "Sunday, we layin' low at the Halo, sippin' Cris and we straight / Monday, we go to Bungalow 8."