After 2022 closure, The Village Nightclub returns to the Lancaster city nightlife scene [column]

The lighted dance floor lives, folks.

After much anticipation, the doors to The Village Nightclub opened on Friday night to revelers both intimately familiar with the space, and less so.

The line that formed in the 9 o'clock hour was shorter than the around-the block line for the venue's initial closing night of December 10, 2022 , but the enthusiasm of those gathered was just as high.

"I was there for that last Santa Stumble night, so I really wanted to be here for it coming back," said Vincent Christaldi, of Lancaster city, first in line. "I'm really excited for it."

I was there that night, too, and had a similar feeling to Christaldi when I first heard that new manager Rich Ruoff would be reopening The Village as a three-year trial of the space under new building owners AUA Real Estate Partners. The Village, which originally opened in 1953, is a space with immense character, and when I walked through the doors, I was curious how different, if any, it would be.

In short, not very much – and I think that's a good thing.

Immediately upon walking in, the familiar face of George Soukas, a 50-year veteran of the club, was there to greet me, just as he had been every other time I visited the space.

"It's great, I am so happy to be back," said Soukas, 72, in between collecting five-dollar bills for the cover charge. "I missed so many people."

READ: The Village nightclub reopening with renewed focus on live music, venue upgrades

That feeling persisted throughout the first hour back of The Village, with many a "Welcome back!" and "So good to see you!" yelled to and fro. The first night's entertainment was provided by noted local party starter DJ Edge, with assistance from Ralph Washington, otherwise known as RalphReal,occasionally acting as MC from the stage.

While I didn't see Rich Ruoff during that first hour, I did get to see new operations manager Alex Ruoff, 23, buzzing about the club keeping the proverbial plates spinning. The young Ruoff was part of the crew working right up to the day to get the building not only back in working order, but spruced up just enough for Village regulars to notice a change.

"I'm hopeful for a full house tonight, the crowd is really what makes this all worth it," said Ruoff.

We spoke briefly in the new Lizard Lounge space to the left side of the venue, which will be used as a secondary stage, as was its namesake at the dearly departed Chameleon Club. Attendees of the Lancaster Roots & Blues festival will recognize the stage as the acoustic stage that was once situated in the Lancaster County Convention Center, built by Eric Weit of Studioweit.

The secondary area, which once held pool tables, still has a small bar, but now also features couches on raised platforms. The wall features posters from iconic venues including Birdland and CBGB, but also local shoutouts to Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, Tellus360 and of course, the Chameleon Club.

With a new video wall, front lighting display and slightly larger main stage,it's clear right from entry that the operators of the new Village want to bring the venue ever-so-slightly into the year 2024. But you don't have to look far for vintage touches, such as the foam wrapped poles behind the bar, present so that bartenders won't hit their shoulders zooming to the next person waving a $20 bill in the air.

And yes, for anyone wondering, the bathrooms have also received an upgrade, as well.

While some Village veterans could be seen running straight to that infamous lighted dance floor, others hung back, taking it all in, like Kip Ritter, formerly of Lititz but now living in North Carolina.

"I saw Dio here (in 1994) man, it was incredible," said Ritter, 58. "I'm excited to be back here."

Of course, kinks are being worked out on the fly, but that's to be expected of any sort of opening night, be it a musical or a football game or the reopening of a historic city nightclub. An employee taking around shots around on a platter mentioned that she had only learned the card reader system earlier in the day, but was determined to figure it out by night's end.

While I recognize that loud music and tight quarters aren't for everyone, I will admit that it felt so right to look around the long, rectangular bar and see it abuzz with people enjoying themselves on a Friday night,much like they must have in 2007 and 1999 and 1984.

Among the young, old, new, and returning on the dance floor, I saw Mr. First-in-Line Christaldi dancing to DJ Edge's set. Clad in a black shirt adorned with flowers, there were a few seconds where his feet perfectly timed with each square lighting up red, blue and green. I asked him how the first hour back had been, and he smiled.

"It's amazing being back on this dance floor," Christaldi said. "It's just iconic and one of the best in the city, you know? I'm glad it's back."