Partee's Lounge is giving a sneak peek into its vision for Topeka's nightlife

After nearly a year of preparations, this lounge is ready to offer a new place for nightlife in Topeka.

Partee's Lounge, 1414 S.W. 16th St., owned by Topeka native and hip hop and R&B artist T-Rell Terry is hosting a soft opening Saturday. The lounge will officially open for business after the grand opening in two weeks, Terry said.

Partee's Lounge is named after the singer's former manager and lifelong friend Chris Partee, who died 2014 in a car accident on Interstate 35 in Carter County, Oklahoma.

The new lounge includes five lounge sections, a bar, a live DJ booth, more than 10 TV screens and a small performance stage.

Rules and strong security will be enforced at Partee's Lounge

Terry posted his rules on his Facebook page earlier in the month that included some of the following:

• No guns.
• No weapons.
• No sharp objects.
• No vapes.
• No smoking.
• Clothing items like white tees, athletic attire, large purses, backpacks, boots/UGG boots, work apparel.

The post said, "Males must be at least 25 years old and females must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID to enter as management reserves all rights to enter."

With more than 200 comments and 300 reactions on the post, people debated the rules of the club.

Terry told The Capital-Journal security is important and the way he wants people to present themselves within his facility is, too.

"Security is important to me because if you ain't got a safe environment, then we're going to close down," Terry said. "So, I've actually hired out of city security that nobody knows from here. They aren't playing friendly and they're really big guys. They've been doing it for years. Some are armed, some are unarmed, and I just want people to feel safe.

"I'm not allowing the white tees; I'm not allowing the Ugg boots. I want people to dress up, be classy, have a good time. So, I want people to really just come out here and dress good. This stuff costs a lot of money to make, so I want you to feel good when you come here.

"It's more of a classy spot. It's a lounge, not a club."

Lounge and club culture operate the same in larger cities

Rather than an open dance floor, with a DJ booth and open bar, Black-owned lounges and clubs in recent years have changed in the way they operate their nightlife establishments in large cities with crowds demanding a nightlife.

That includes paying higher prices for sections or reserved tables. Those spaces are typically reserved with a minimal bottle purchase for groups no larger than 15.

Partee's Lounge will charge $20 for general admission, $350 per smaller section and $500 for the larger section, which holds 12 to 15 people. Those sections must be booked through Terry's management team.

Terry said it's time for Topekans to learn that concept and adapt.

"We got to change with the times," he said. "We can't keep being old school. I've been across the United States. I've lived in Atlanta for two years. I've been in Dallas and Houston. This is the culture now. Sections, partying with your friends.

"It also lowers violence and stuff like that because you're partying within your people. Topeka just got to catch up. It is a good thing for Topeka."

Terry said there's nothing wrong with culture shock.

"You want people to adapt," he said. "Like now when you go out of town, you already know how to conduct yourself. We got to bring our city up. We don't lift our city up for real."

What are the hours for Partee's Lounge in Topeka?

Saturday's soft opening will be from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. After the grand opening in two weeks, business hours will be from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday.

Terry said his age limit rule will be enforced on Fridays and Saturdays, while Thursday and Sundays will be for those ages 30 and older. Terry is considering opening the lounge on Wednesdays for Washburn University students.

Food will be sold at the lounge for the soft opening night, along with drinks from the bar. The attached restaurant is still under construction. Terry still plans to introduce chicken and fish dinners with various side choices and a variety of wing flavors.

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.