July 21, 2021 · Team HG
Club Kokomo is changing its name. The notorious club on Gelkingestraat in Groningen is not ceasing to exist, but is continuing under a different name. In its place, an old acquaintance will soon open: PALACE. The finishing touches are currently being put on the interior.
Warm, dark purple will be the main color of PALACE, the famous nightclub where new memories are going to be made. New lights, new sound system, new floors, new entrance, new exterior, new branding. This goes a bit further than a facelift. This is simply a brand new place.
That is why owner Bert Westerhof thought: let's give it a new name too. Although, 'new'. Between 1987 and 2010, the club at this location was already called The Palace. The article has been dropped for a slightly more modern feel.
Westerhof: “We asked several people: what would be a good name? Half came up with Palace. And we actually thought that was a very good idea.”
‘We’ are Westerhof and manager Geeske Smid. “We felt it was time for something new. Actually, we had already planned a major renovation earlier. Corona threw a spanner in the works. Eight weeks ago, we made the decision. This is it. People recognize the club.”
It really still is, everything is just fresh and new, yet different.
Time was of the essence, but unfortunately not anymore. Especially when the nightlife sector was allowed to reopen. Westerhof: “To be honest, that caught us a bit off guard. We had factored in the end of September. We have pinned our hopes on that again now. We just have a little more time.”
received and can't wait to give people that ‘wow feeling’ when they can finally step inside our place again after so many months.
The two fully understand that there might be concerns about the influence the lockdown had on the decision to continue under a different name. Westerhof is clear about that. “Sure, this time has cost money. But after 34 years, we have quite a bit of reserve. We are stopping.”
Kokomo is not doing this out of necessity. This facelift is an investment in the future, a way to keep this place truly interesting for the walking public.
