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Harpos Virgin No More
Is a First-Time Visit Worth it After Missing the Eighties?
It took me until 2023 to venture into Harpos, the iconic Detroit club that seemingly everyone had visited during the 80s and 90s. Despite calling Michigan home for the past thirteen years and spending seven youthful years here, my concert attendance only began in 2019.
The club’s reputation for me was built on ominous warnings: “People have been shot there,” “The stage is so high, you’ll get a neck ache if you’re too close,” “No heat in winter and no air conditioning in summer,” and “They only serve beer.” Despite the lack of enthusiasm, armed with a sense of adventure and a free ticket, I was ready to tick it off my bucket list.
As I approached, the iconic Harpos sign left me awestruck, and I took my place in line, gazing above to spot hundreds of empty light sockets. I couldn’t help but imagine the sight with all the bulbs in and lit!
Harpos, originally the Harper Theater built in 1939, maintains its historical charm evident in the lobby’s swinging doors, the vintage concession stand, and the deco art on the walls.
Passing through those swinging doors, I was visually greeted with a brilliant dance floor — a vibrant, lit-up space that made me wonder if I had accidentally time-traveled back to the 70s and…