San Rafael nightclub for youths opens downtown
There’s a new night club in downtown San Rafael, but the only drinks served will be alcohol-free.
The DeepEnd at 919 Fourth St. is tailored exclusively for the under-20 crowd. Starting at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, patrons from 15 to 19 years old will be able to enjoy music, dance and socialize at the venue, the former site of the Fenix restaurant and music hall.
Steven Saunders, the Mill Valley resident who owns the club, opened it on Sept. 16. Saunders — a parent, soccer coach and president of the West Marin Youth Soccer League — said the county has needed something like this for a long time.
“We don’t need another bar, we need something for the kids,” said Saunders, who uses the name JoJo. “This is just for kids, where they can come and have a safe place and feel comfortable, with no drugs and no alcohol.”
To ensure the safety of guests, Saunders said, the venue has security staff to enforce strict policies prohibiting illegal activities. He said the guests must show identification at the door.
The club will provide snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for sale, and DJs will play Top-40 music, hip hop, electronic dance music and more.
Saunders is also planning to offer weekly hours for middle-school students starting Oct. 6. The hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, giving parents a window to go get dinner and come back to pick up the children, he said. Parents interested in seeing the club can visit during open houses from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Saunders said he is planning a Halloween party and looking to host special events, including those with Latino and LGBTQ themes, and live band performances.
Saunders said that about 20 years ago, he attempted to open and operate a similar club in the Lake Tahoe area. However, the only three high schools were all a half-hour away, and when he opened at the end of summer, he missed the influx of tourists. Eventually, the venue reverted to a 21-and-over bar, he said.
Marin is the perfect market, he said.
“There are a ton of local high schools, a lot of kids are interested and a lot of parents are interested,” Saunders said.
Mill Valley resident Mark Gustavson, the parent of a senior at Tamalpais High School, said the nightclub is “a brilliant idea.” He said teens feel awkward under parental supervision and a venue like this will allow them to be their authentic selves in a safe environment.
“This could be that coveted space that’s a little bit private where they could just vibe somewhere safe,” Gustavson said.
Maria Savushkinia, who uses the performance name DJ Masha, has been hired to provide music at the venue on a regular basis.
“I love it,” said Savushkinia, who is in her 20s. “I wish I had a place like this when I was a teenager.”
Ashley Balete, a 17-year-old senior at Tam High, is working to book events and promote the venue through social media and word-of-mouth.
“All the teens feel that there is nothing to do here in Marin, and we all drive to San Francisco or the East Bay,” Balete said. “This is a really good opportunity. It’s something for teens to do.”
Balete said opening night was a blast.
“Kids were having fun, dancing,” Balete said. “It brings out the youth.”
The city issued a business license for the nightclub on Sept. 1. A city inspector went to the site and determined that emergency key box keys needed updating, emergency lights needed servicing and fire extinguishers required updated tags. A followup inspection report on Sept. 12 said the issues had been addressed.
More information about the club is online at deependmarin.com.