Inside: White Star in Hamtramck

Status: The first time I drove past White Star in Hamtramck, I thought it was a strip club. For whatever reason, the neon blue lights gleaming from the attention-grabbing building on Conant coupled with the row of recessed lighting illuminating the sidewalk made my mind turn to exotic dancers rather than Euro beats.

My next trip through Hamtown came with a purpose – White Star’s grand re-opening party more than a year ago. That night, I learned that the 30-year-old venue is the perfect spot to get your weekend started. Whether your idea of letting loose means grooving on one of two dance floors or grabbing a drink at one of three bars, with two stories and 6,800 square feet, White Star offers plenty of ways to accomplish your goal.

“We can hold 750 to 800 people,” says Zeek Shallal who has owned the club for the past two years.

Gear: You’ll have no problems getting through the double front doors in club wear as long as you ditch the hat. Traditional White Star outfits typically include designer tees, jeans and button-up shirts for guys and flirty, cleavage-bearing getups for girls.

Mood: Long gone are the days of disco and John Travolta White Star was once known for in the ‘80s. Instead, European influences have taken over not only the clientele, which includes Polish, Romanian and Albanian party people, but the beats as well.

A small dance floor on the first floor and a larger one on the second floor emblazoned with white stars allow the crowd to dance the night away, and a hodgepodge of surfaces, like wood, brick, metal, tile and carpet, make up the walls and floors.  

“We do have couches and chairs, but people, they love to dance,” says Shallah, who spent $80,000 on the remodel last March which included a laser system, black leather furniture and carpeting. “I’m looking to do a little more when the economy goes up.”

Pick me up: There’s no food, but you will find a healthy dose of adult beverages like $3 domestic beer, $4 imported beer, $3 shots and $4 Long Island Iced Teas. Look out for regular drink specials throughout the month.  

Entertainment: Ukrainian night and Romanian night are just a couple of the reoccurring themed-parties you can expect to find at White Star. You’ll see Chicago DJs every Thursday at Stardust Thursdays, and professional go-go dancers will shake their stuff during High-Energy Saturdays.