THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602150204
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JOHN HARPER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
JERRY DOWLESS has just what he wants: a new building for his Atlantis nightclub.
Just a month ago, the Kitty Hawk businessman watched as the 25-year-old Nags Head oceanfront building he had leased for the last three summers was leveled. His next-door neighbor, the Footsball Palace, was also demolished. Both properties will be divided into lots for beachfront homes.
But no sooner had the dust settled than Dowless was signing a lease to take over the former Night Flight Lounge building, on the Bypass just a couple of miles north of the old site.
Right now, there's a whole lot of painting, planning, remodeling and rearranging going on. Dowless hopes to have the ``new'' Atlantis open in time for Easter weekend.
``I knew I'd find another venue,'' says the 38-year-old Dowless, who leased the original Atlantis building from Virginia Beach developer Ed Ruffin.
That building once housed a skating rink, as well as two other rock 'n' roll nightclubs: the Rain Dancer and Oz.
But the Atlantis had the most successful run in the building. Mike McQuillis gave the business its name in 1979. When McQuillis left in the late '80s, Doug Kibler took over for a few years. Dowless leased the building from 1993 to 1995.
Before taking over the Atlantis, Dowless had been a singer in several Hampton Roads-based heavy metal bands. But after seven years of that, he got married and moved to the Outer Banks. He landed a job as the bar manager of the Port O'Call in Kill Devil Hills. It was there that Dowless began booking bands.
``I've always felt like I was on the cutting edge,'' he says. ``I'm always looking for the latest.
``But I also take a lot of advice. I listen to young people. I respect their opinion.''
What Dowless heard from the young people was to book alternative-type bands, the kind of bands you see on MTV. He went out and got Hootie and the Blowfish, 311, Everything, Egypt, Too Skinny J's, Live and the Dave Matthews Band.
``We had them five or six times,'' Dowless says of the Matthews Band, whose album ``Under the Table and Dreaming'' has launched them into top-10 fame and graduated them to venues like the Hampton Coliseum. ``With the crowds they were drawing, I knew they were going to be big.''
Dowless is doing most of the painting and remodeling in his new building. But he does have some help. Bobby Oakes, his sound man from the old building, is installing a state-of-the-art light and sound system.
Also helping out is Chris Campbell, who will oversee a vegetarian-style restaurant.
Campbell, 44, was the owner and chef of the legendary post-Andy Warhol garage-sale-type Mex-Econo Restaurant, which operated in Kill Devil Hills from 1986 to 1993.
In addition to serving up some of the best food this side of the Rio Grande, Campbell managed to corral some of the best of the post-punk bands to play in his restaurant: Pavement, Helmet, Flat Duo Jets, Southern Culture on the Skids and Coffin Break.
``We want to instill some of our Mex-Econo atmosphere,'' Campbell says. ``I hope to help Jerry in booking the bands.''
The new Atlantis will accommodate 500 people. That makes it one of the biggest clubs between here and Washington, D.C.
``Very few places are offering this kind of entertainment,'' Dowless says. ``We offer alternative, reggae, progressive, blues and straight-ahead rock 'n' roll.''
Some of the bands Dowless hopes to book this summer are Pat Travers Band, Burning Spear, Live, Yellowman, Eek A Mouse, Kansas, Jefferson Starship, Goo-Goo Dolls, Filter, 7 Mary 3, the Jayhawks and Edwin McCain.
Dowless is so well-established now that booking agents call him.
``I know this market,'' he says. ``You have to have the reputation in the industry.''
Dowless works up to 90 hours a week during the summer. He also finds time for a family life. He and his wife, Liz, who does the bookkeeping, have two children: Shane, 3, and Jason, 3 months.
The new Atlantis will look nothing like the old Atlantis. And you know that can't be bad. This two-story wooden shingled building has a balcony that wraps around the dance floor. The heating and air conditioning work properly. Best of all, the restrooms are fully functional, unlike the overcrowded, overworked facilities of the past.
``We gave up the oceanfront in the move,'' Dowless says. ``But we have better bathrooms.''
Performers will also like the new Atlantis. In the old place, high-haired rockers often touched the ceiling. There's maximum headroom in the new club. The bands will also have a place to plug in the blowdryers before going on stage.
``I'm looking forward to the season,'' Dowless says. ``This is my deal.''
The Greek philosopher and scientist Plato believed in an ancient utopian city lost beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Jerry Dowless is proving that Atlantis will surface again. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
ROCK 'N' ROLL LIVES ON
Jerry Dowless
File photo
``It's sad to see it go,`` Bill Ernst, 30, of Kill Devil Hills said
when the building that housed the Atlantis club was demolished in
January.
File photo
The building that housed the Atlantis nightclub, where groups got
their start, made a name for themselves and the famous came to play
was demolished in January.
Photo courtesy of the Roger Meekins Collection/Outer Banks History
Center
In the '50s this building housed Al's bingo on the Nags Head
oceanfront in the '70s it was home to Atlantis.
Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Jerry Dowless, who says an endless list of bands have played at the
old Atlantis, will re-open the club at a new location off the
oceanfront.
Al's Bingo at the Nags Head Pier was a hopping spot even when the
Atlantis moved in with it'sd rock 'n' roll venue.
THE ATLANTIS
Coming to the Atlantis
April 5 - Everything
April 6 - Gib Droll Band
by CNB