Hailey’s brings variety to Denton nightlife

by Shea Tellefsen of of North Texas Daily

DENTON — The teal-painted front door may read "dentist" in faded print, but Hailey's is a far cry from stiff, cold chairs and elevator music.

Right from the entrance, customers are greeted with upbeat music, a comfortable atmosphere and a choice: right or left?

To the right, there's a deep red theater drape covered in string lights that leads to the performance stage where numerous bands have played, a dance floor set in motion by a live disc jockey each night, a cove with a small bar and a few pool tables. The entire area is strung together with lights and Japanese-style lanterns, while the floor is peppered with cozy booths.

The left-hand path leads to the infamous bar that houses the club's selection of 52 beers.

"There's a huge bar selection that's awesome that you can't get anywhere else in Denton," said Austin Brown, a Hailey's regular and guest DJ.

Past the physical surface of the club, Hailey's is known for its diverse crowd. This venue doesn't cater to a certain type of people - it welcomes anyone who lines up at the door.

"People aren't walking around in uniformity," said Ray Gill, general manager and NT alumnus. "They are free to be themselves."

The all-ages club offers a wide variety of music, and every night has a different theme. There is Wild in the Streets on Sunday, Chill Out Monday, Empty Pockets Tuesday and the Radio Clash with the Flashlight Party on Wednesday. Among the most popular is Thursday's famed '80s night that draws quite a crowd.

"I heard about '80s night when I was a freshman," Brown said.

Gill takes pride in the fact that Hailey's is a nightclub as well as a live music venue.

"We are offering something that's never been here before," he said.

Many local, sometimes "underground," bands that have rocked Hailey's stage end up getting to play Dallas shows, Brown said.

All in all, the Hailey's family is just looking to show its crowd a good time.

"I want them to wake up in the morning and take a second to remember what a great time they had and how they can't wait to come back," Gill said.

Students looking for a little bit of everything can check out Hailey's, open every day from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For more information, including the concert schedule, visit haileysclub.com.