Supper club you can dance to

BEFORE they decided to do business together, Mark Fleischman and J.D. Iriarte were “frenemies.”

Fleischman, who owned Studio 54 in the 1980s, and Iriarte, a Hollywood events planner, owned clubs across the street from each other and competed for business. Each owned neighboring Century City nightclubs, and as time passed they developed a mutual respect for each other.

When Fleischman decided to bank on the renaissance of downtown L.A., he brought in Iriarte and the resulting nightclub, Tatou, is doing brisk business. (Though not technically downtown, Westlake-based Tatou is close enough to be part of downtown’s entourage).

Neither partner was interested in going small. The venue is located at the former spot of the spacious ‘80s dance club Vertigo, which later was purchased by Prince and morphed into the hip-hop spot Glam Slam.

After a few other forgettable clubs, Fleischman and Iriarte took over the venue and transformed it into a swanky supper club that’s pleasing patrons who are looking for something outside of the Hollywood scene.

“It’s a different world from Hollywood,” says Jacinda Wong, a 26-year-old Tatou regular who works at downtown chamber of commerce. “There’s not as many wannabe actors, everyone’s nice and I don’t feel like I’m being scoped out at the door to determine if I’m attractive enough.”

George Dartt, a 38-year-old downtown businessman, says he likes its proximity to the freeway (just west of the Harbor).

“Downtown’s really making a comeback, and I feel like it is safe to take a date here,” he says. “Other parts of downtown still feel pretty skanky to me, but Tatou’s in a part where I feel completely comfortable.”

The partners invested $1.5 million in the hopes that others would feel the same way.

“It just seemed like the right time to get in early with this new resurgence,” says Iriarte, who owns A-List Eventz, a party-planning company that’s thrown Oscar parties and mansion parties for the likes of Robert Evans and Val Kilmer. “There’s a new upwardly mobile downtown crowd already here, and this gives them a place to go out at night without having to drive across town.”

The 35,000-square-foot club’s design harks back to the days of the Cocoanut Grove, when supper clubs and dance clubs were one and the same. Palm trees flank a 40-foot stage and a ballroom-scale dance floor. Deep booths are located on the dance floor as well as tucked away on its sides, with plush drapery shielding guests who want more seclusion. VIP booths are located in an upstairs balcony. Most tables are sold out three days in advance of the weekends.

Fleischman credits good word of mouth. “The venue lends itself to beautiful, upscale events because of its size and location,” he says. “I thought it would be nice to revisit the old times by conjuring up the past Tatous.”

Fleischman, who owned Tatou supper clubs in New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Aspen, modernized the space with a sound and lighting system, 30 plasma screen TVs and a multimedia recording studio. On weekend nights, they cater to a dance crowd and two weeks ago, they brought in the burlesque act, “Harlottique,” which performs each Wednesday.

Tatou also collaborated with the Asian-fusion chain Wokcano, which operates a restaurant out of the club and is open for lunch throughout the week. Wokcano also offers a late-night menu for club guests. And for those who want to feel like they’re partying without the hangover, there’s $50 “Bling” water, a bottle of water laced with Swarovski crystals featuring Tatou’s logo.

Upcoming plans include an rooftop club, slated for a 2008 opening. Clubber Dartt says he’ll be first in line. “I’ve brought a few dates here and they’ve treated me great each time,” he says. “There’s really nothing I don’t like about it.”

weekend@latimes.com

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Tatou

Where: 333 S. Boylston St., L.A.

When: 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday; Wokcano hours, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday

Info: (213) 482-2000