DC9 Nightclub is a nightclub and restaurant in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is known for its indie music scene, dance parties, and karaoke. DC9 has a capacity of 250 people and is a venue for live music and DJs.
DC9 was established in 2004 in at 1940 Ninth Street, Northwest in Shaw. Co-owner Bill Spieler, a DJ, launched the business with Joe Englert and other industry members. Spieler's wife, Amber Bursik is the venue chef and assists Spieler with operational management. [1] Steve Lambert became the booker in late 2006. [2] In 2007, general manager Josh Copeland joined DC9. It is a two-story space formerly occupied by Metro Cafe. Before that, the space contained Club Hollywood and Asylum. DC9 features musicians from the indie music scene. [3] The venue is mostly known for hosting indie rock bands, with a shift towards hosting house music events in its recent runnings. The venue is not known as a gay club, however the venue does attract a wide audience of customers through its variance in events. [4] DC9 hosts karaoke and dance parties. [5] In 2010, a man who had thrown a brick in the venue's window died after being restrained by five DC9 employees. After being initially charged with homicide, Metropolitan Police dropped all charges. [6] [7] [8] In 2018, DC9 began hosting pop-up bars. [9]
It contains a narrow saloon bar with a digital jukebox on the ground floor. The upstairs is a double-wide concert room. [3] There is a glass-enclosed rooftop bar that opened in 2010. [1] [10] DC9 has a no-phone policy at its DJ events and encourages people to check in the phones with their coats. [4]
DC9 shut down operations on March 16, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to comply with the D.C suspension of on-site operations of nightlife venues. The club gradually re-opened their restaurant services, beginning with take-out and outdoor dining, when dining restrictions loosened on June 22, 2020. [11]