Houston witnessed the latest casualties of the city’s ever-changing nightlife landscape with popular hot spots The Address and Kamp closing their respective doors. Kamp, famous for being Drake’s go-to spot in Houston, became inseparable from the city’s varied nightlife for better or worse, taking on a life of its own.
Kamp Houston announced on Sunday August9 that it had closed its doors permanently after six years in operation. Noise complaints from the community and lease agreement hurdles forced ALife Hospitality Group to shut down the popular club space.
Despite Kamp’s ability to attract out-of-towners and spring breakers looking for the best way to experience Houston’s party scene, the reaction has been less “thanks for the memories” and more “good riddance.”
Many people who experienced Kamp firsthand are dancing on the grave of the now-closed popular spot, citing the common issues many faced when trying to enjoy a night out there. Complaints about how expensive it is to park, calling out the ludicrous price tag of up to $50 or more, and still having the possibility of getting your vehicle towed. Folks lamented the inside of the club experience as well, saying goodbye to the expensive sections that made up its interior, ridiculously marked-up bottles of liquor, and alleged rude and scamming staff of bottle girls.
You name it, and that complaint has been promptly etched into Kamp’s gravestone on social media. Some Kamp frequenters are sad to see it go, but the most passionate responses are its biggest haters.
The biggest complaint raised against Kamp’s entire run in Houston was the club’s “section culture” that dominated its vibe. Sections auctioned off to the highest bidder were reserved for thousands of dollars for the opportunity to sit and purchase liquor sold at 500 percent over cost. Some argue that the venue was never really representative of Houston and was something transplanted from other cities like Atlanta, where sections are the nightlife culture.
Houston is more laid-back and has its hole-in-the-wall spots where the price of admission is just showing up as opposed to paying to have a piece of club real estate for the night to feel better than the average clubgoer.
TikTok user WoodVilleTV said “take them all’ in his video celebrating Kamp’s closure, calling out other popular section-focused Houston clubs Sekai and Dome. Commenters reminisced on days of Houston’s nightlife past and complained about the frustrations around section culture.
“Exactly! That is not the vibe here,” one commenter wrote.
“I hate the section culture! We want dance floors back! The people wanna DANCE,” another added.
“Close every one of them! I’m not paying for parking and entry,” another commenter wrote.
Kamp’s closure could be a sign that section culture is on its way out. Kamp created a persona that it was the go-to spot, representative of how Houstonians get down, but in reality the marketing was geared toward transplants and the ever-lucrative market of spring breakers who flock to the city every time there is a three-day weekend.
But the rumor of Houston’s nightlife’s demise has been greatly exaggerated. Kamp and the Address having years-long runs is almost uncommon in the club space. The cycle of openings and closings and money-making club concepts will continue indefinitely. Kamp will likely take on another form, sooner rather than later, renamed something else.