New entertainment option coming to downtown Dothan

By Lance Griffin

Published: September 7, 2008

Valet parking. A limousine service. Table reservations. A dress code. An international selection of wine.

A new entertainment option will be opening soon downtown and its owners believe it can be the kind of business that serves as a magnet for downtown revitalization.

It is simply known as “District”. It’s organizers refer to the venue—- located at the old Grand Central Station site downtown — as a “restaurant and ultra lounge”. Owners believe it will provide a unique atmosphere, geared primarily to young professionals but open to anyone looking for something to do on the weekends, or an alternative to the current lunch options.

“With what we’re offering, we believe there is nothing like this around,” said District spokesman Dustin Parkman. “We want to help the progress of downtown. A lot of people have had visions for downtown, but we feel like if we can bring traffic to downtown, and that will speed up the development.”

District opens Sept. 15 for lunch (11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday). Parkman said menu items will include seared tuna, flank steak, an a la carte salad menu and other items. Its grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 20, complete with a red carpet. District will be open in the evenings Wednesday through Saturday, with live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Parkman said District may expand to offer dinner, depending on early traffic.

Admission Friday and Saturday will be limited to those 21 and over.

Parkman said he would not refer to District as a nightclub.

“Of course we will have music, but it’s not your techno and it’s not hip-hop. We’re not going to be banging. We refer to what we’re offering as trendy — trendy house music.”

Dress code on the weekends will be business casual. Slacks or jeans with a sport coat for men. Ladies’ dress code, according to Parkman, is “comfortable but nice.”