In Singapore's highly competitive nightlife industry, not many nightclub concepts survive more than five years.
But home-grown club Attica at Clarke Quay is among the rare few that have bucked the trend.
On May 31, the two-storey nightclub along the banks of the Singapore River will celebrate its 10th anniversary - with a new look to boot.
The club also sees a change in management, with two of its founding partners, British permanent residents Mark Brimblecombe and Peter Antonioni, both 47, taking over operations from co-founder "Mikey" Manjit Singh, 44.
They say Mikey "has decided to take a well-earned breather and let someone else take the helm". Mr Brimblecombe and Mr Antonioni were previously sleeping partners.
The 7,200 sq ft dance venue is currently undergoing a $750,000 facelift, which will be completed by May 21. This is its first major revamp since it opened in 2004. The club will remain open during the renovation period.
By the time its anniversary bash comes around, patrons can look forward to two new VIP areas - a floating platform for DJs and an "art-light" installation in the club.
Its adjoining outdoor bar that overlooks the Singapore River will also be rebranded and named Bar Rose, a chic champagne and cocktail bar for pre- party drinks.
Noting that Attica is one of the longest-standing clubs in Singapore, Attica's vice-president of communications Ms Annabel Fox, 34, says: "More and more venues have opened so we have had to continue to work hard and evolve in terms of delivering the great club experience we are known for and never take our success for granted."
Attica opened at Clarke Quay in 2004, before the area became a hip nightlife destination filled with live music bars, beer pubs and nightclubs.
It started as a 3,000sq ft club but became so popular that it expanded to accommodate the overflowing crowds.
It now sees an average of about 1,500 people each weekend at the club.
Attica has seen some world-class DJ acts spin sets, including superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold, British house music trio Dirty Vegas and London-based big beat act Dub Pistols. It was also the first club here in 2007 to serve large bottles of spirits, including 6-litre bottles of vodka and 12-litre bottles of champagne, to customers, says Ms Fox.
Over the years, the club has survived tough competition in Clarke Quay, outlasting now-defunct international brand name club, The Ministry Of Sound as well as Barfly, a sexy supper club under the Buddha Bar umbrella.
Only a couple of dance clubs here have enjoyed extended shelf life. The Butter Factory at One Fullerton is now in its ninth year of operation. Zouk in Jiak Kim Street, the longest running dance club in Singapore, recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary.
Ms Fox says that beyond its decade milestone, Attica will also have a fresh approach to its service and music policy - it is working with a whisky brand to feature live acts alongside the club's resident DJs, and plans to have more international DJs perform.
For its 10th-anniversary celebration, the club will hold a four-day event which kicks off on May 28. On May 31, it will have an "electric circus" theme party with acclaimed British DJ and producer Jeremy Healy on the decks.
Mr Clark Martin, 46, who has been running outlets in Clarke Quay for close to 10 years, says of Attica's success: "Obviously, it has a great product and it knows what it is doing professionally." He runs Spanish tapas bar and restaurant Octapas, Scottish whisky bar Highlander and restaurant bar Little Saigon in the area.
The ability of a business to survive so long boils down to service and focus, he adds.
Attica regular, Ash, 41, who owns an engineering business and goes by only one name, says he and his friends used to visit the club "every other day".
On its makeover, he says: "I hope it doesn't make drastic changes... if things are working well, don't change them."
