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New LGBT nightclub Iconic sets a high bar with its opening run

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Iconic attendees celebrate the club’s opening.
Photo: Miranda Alam / Special to the Weekly

For three years, the space that once housed LGBT nightclub Share sat empty, but on July 19 that vacant spot on Wynn Road finally reopened as the new Iconic Nightclub. Kicking off with a bang, Iconic celebrated its soft opening July 17 and 18, then officially opened its doors to the public on Friday, July 19.

The two-level nightclub features a number of Instagram-worthy touches, from the neon-pink Iconic sign in the entryway to a #beiconic sign over the main bar on the lower level. That same floor features two go-go poles for dancers, who donned bright neon outfits with knee-high socks, mesh underwear and harnesses on Thursday night. Iconic Nightclub owner and operator Adam Simmons also incorporated a handful of “extra” moments, including stilt walkers in go-go outfits and more. “[Given] my history as a Broadway boy, I know how to put on shows,” Simmons told the Weekly.

Simmons, who produces and directs Iconic’s shows, tapped Cirque Du Soleil dancer Jawkeen Howard to create dance numbers for the nightclub’s drag and musical performances. The result is a wildly entertaining experience that feels more on par with a pop show, complete with dance ensembles, song changes and more. “I combined a drag show with my Broadway experience for these full-on five-minute productions with backup dancers and costumes,” Simmons said. Drag shows are scheduled every night at midnight and 2 a.m.

Entertainers like Kourtney La’Roux danced, lip-synced and vogued, leaving the crowd literally screaming after a showstopping and energetic performances of Beyoncé’s “Bootylicious” and Major Lazer’s “Bubble Butt.” Meanwhile, upstairs in the center of the room, another go-go dancer shimmied on a platform beneath a sculpture made of chandeliers—the dancer’s body acting as a canvas for the lights being projected onto him. Surrounding the platform, a number of tables and tufted Victorian-style chairs are available for guests, along with VIP seating around the perimeter.

The club marks a massive change from Share, which opened in 2011 and shuttered in 2016. Before Share, the club was known as Minxx Gentleman’s Club & Lounge. Because the venue operates under an adult cabaret license, Share was able to offer lap dances in the upstairs area. Though Iconic operates under the same license, Simmons said Iconic will not offer lap dances. “Legally, I can do it if I want. It’s a very valuable license, and once you lose it you don’t get it back,” he said. “But a nightclub is about meeting people and having fun and making memories, so we’re trying to keep away from that.”

Iconic will be open Friday through Monday, with the upstairs, Avant, opening at 9 a.m., and the downstairs opening at 11 p.m. VIP table reservations start at a minimum of $100 per person.

ICONIC NIGHTCLUB 4636 S. Wynn Road, 833-342-6642. Friday-Monday, 9 p.m.-6 a.m.

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