Eighth Street Entertainment’s club Karma debuted to the public in a soft opening on New Year’s Eve. The club adds to Boise’s characteristically niche nightlife scene by offering a unique experience for the 21+ crowd. Alongside gorgeous views of 8th and Idaho Streets, game night meets nightclub in the heart of downtown. I recently got the chance to sit down with Karma’s Managing Partner, Ryan Andrews, to talk about the renovations and the vision for the club as the grand opening nears closer.
The Renovation
Technically divided in two and separated by a garage door, the new space now includes Karma nightclub and 8th Street Social Club. This pairing of atmosphere creates a duo that caters to all types of desired nightlife experiences. The original Fatty’s space has upgraded to a larger dance floor, luxury booth and VIP seating, and two complete bars. An expandable stage replaced the DJ booth and the venue will now offer a variety of music and events, complete with an artist green room for performing guests. Custom woodwork shelves line the bars and the stairwell entry features rotating artwork from the Freak Alley Gallery. Thought-provoking artwork and installations line the walls throughout the club.
The secondary, expanded space includes a concession stand, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and giant table games. Velvet couches separate one portion of the room and are focused on two large televisions for sports viewing. Patrons can expect to see projectors for video games, a small library of books, and a photo booth in the future.
The Vision
Andrews says that the goal of Karma is to bring something new to Boise. He aims to stay ahead of the curve and change with the current social culture. Ultimately, he hopes that Karma will help change Boise’s nightlife culture. “Inclusivity is a big part of what I want to bring to Boise,” Andrews says. “Safe spaces are really important to me and I want to bring that culture into the club atmosphere.”
The concession stand will soon offer harm reduction resources such as breathalyzers and drink testing kits, as well as mocktails and food. The club will also have an angel shot menu to increase safety and lower harassment. There is a gender-neutral bathroom available as well. “This is an area where people can come experience nightlife and a club atmosphere, but can also hang out and get away from all that in a judgment-free zone if they want to,” he says.
When asked why the name “Karma” was chosen he says it’s a deeper level than just the usual what goes around comes around. “As a father, I had to look at Fatty’s and decide if I was morally okay with the club. Is it somewhere I would want to hang out anymore? The answer was no.” He continued, “I wanted to create a place that translated my values into my work.”
Until the grand opening, you can check out Karma for yourself Friday and Saturday nights. The club is located at 800 W Idaho Street, with the main entrance on 8th Street, next to Pie Hole. Follow Karma on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the grand opening.
