Supernova opened last week and while it’s still too early for a full review, first impressions are generally positive.
After months of anticipation, Supernova opened April 1 in on the spot that used to be Kazy Kozy and, before that, The Old Dutch Corner restaurant. When Supernova opened, it brought the Crazy House Group, which owns the site, full circle, as Kazy Kozy at first was a go-go bar before changing format to a live-music house during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now that Supernova opened, it’s apparent the Crazy House Group learned from the failure of Kazy Kozy. It takes some elements of that venture and combines them with the group’s successful Bad Beach go-go bar in the middle of Soi Cowboy.
Supernova Opened with Greco-Roman Exterior
The first thing most people will notice now that Supernova opened is that it looks far more expensive than the average Soi Cowboy go-go bar.
The front is built around faux marble, gold trim, arched windows and oversized (fake) columns, giving the place a Greco-Roman look that stands out from the rest of the street.
Inside, the décor is red and black with a classy marble floor. The bar takes up most of the back wall with seating on the ends of the stage and on the same side as the door. A large outside patio is ideal for smokers and those who want to see the Soi Cowboy Show.
The main stage sits in the middle of the bar, surrounded by seating along the walls. There is no stadium seating and only four barstools, so seating capacity is limited to about 75.
Also notable is the lack of the usual high, think rail tables. Adding to the lounge feel, there are small low tables spread out along the bench seating. In that way, it’s a lot like Nana Plaza’s old Whiskey a-Go-Go.
Lighting is the same as used in Bad Beach and Crazy House: LED light panels with no spotlights or lasers in the eyes.
Supernova First Impressions
It’s never fair to review a bar after a few days, but there are some takeaways from a couple first visits last week.
Not a Lot of Great Seats
The immediate and lasting first impression is that Supernova opened with a layout that deprived guests of the best views of the stage.
For some odd reason, the Crazy House Group loves big bars. The bar in Bad Beach takes up 80% of the left side (when entering the bar). There are barstools along the bar, but people sit there as a last resort. In Crazy House, the bar takes up an entire wall as well, although it’s a side wall far from the stage.
When Supernova opened, guests found a huge bar and DJ station taking up 90% of the back wall parallel to the stage. There are only four barstools.
That leaves only the near wall, which is bisected by the double-door entrance, for the best views of the stage. The sections on each side of the doors have room for only, at best, 18 people; more likely 12.
The rest of the seating are on the ends of the stage, meaning guests can only see a couple of the dancers on stage. Two load-bearing columns on the stage only add to the obstructed views.
Not Many Dancers Now
Staffing, as expected, also is an issue and perhaps the reason Supernova didn’t open in February as expected.
On opening night there were 10 dancers in two rotations (five each rotation). None were lookers. A few nights later that number increased by a couple, although none were models.
The dancer wardrobes were apportioned as they are in Bad Beach, with a couple in full bikinis, most with half that and some who forgot their swimwear entirely.
Service staff included more than a few from Crazy House and Bad Beach, with some dancers also on load from Bad Beach.
It’s notable that Bad Beach struggled with staff numbers for its first two months, but now boasts 30-35 a night. Expect the group to ramp up dancer numbers over time now that Supernova opened.
Sound, Lighting, Service First Class
Say what you will about Crazy House. Many (many) people love it but some hate it. But no one can claim it and Bad Beach are not well-run bars. The same holds true with Supernova.
The sound system is excellent, immersive but not loud. The lighting is good and the drinks strong. Pricing is also reasonable and the same price as the other bars. Lady drinks remain 200 baht. Girls will try the double-drink scam, but it’s easy enough to tell them “only one”.
Stupid Pussy Tricks Shows
Just as Kazy Kozy did, Supernova opened with a plan to do twice-nightly “stupid pussy tricks” shows aimed at tourists. Bad Beach did them occasionally, but now that Supernova opened, the not-sexy, degrading shows will be relegated to the new bar.
The show lineup is the usual crap: ping pong balls, balloon darts, flowers are shoot from places where they shouldn’t; performer blow out candles on a fake birthday cake and round out the show with a candle, hot-wax-dripping show. The shows are after 10 p.m. and midnight.
Review Comes Later
As with Bad Beach, Supernova opened, but it will take months before the bar really hits its stride and shows what it is. Staffing will improve, the shows could be cut or pushed back. Maybe the bar could even be moved.
There’s only so much owners could have done with the layout before Supernova opened. There was no other viable orientation for the stage. It had to run parallel to the door. The mistake was making the bar so big and put it where it is.
Kazy Kozy’s bar was much smaller, in the front right corner. The DJ station was in the back right corner. The entire back wall was a double row of stadium seating.
In a bar where seating already comes at a premium, taking up prime real estate with an oversized bar makes little sense.
