70s-themed nightclub Good Night John Boy coming to downtown St. Pete – St. Pete Rising

Urban Development News
Good night John Boy in downtown St. Pete will feature a light-up dance floor under the glow of multi-colored neon lights and spinning disco balls
Dig through your closet for those old satin shirts, flared pants, and funky glasses. A groovy 70s-theme nightclub is coming soon to downtown St. Pete.
Good Night John Boy will debut at 16 2nd Street North on the Jannus Block, the most popular block for nightlife in downtown St. Pete. The new nightclub will replace Ringside Café, which closed a few weeks ago and is in the process of finding a new home.
The 4,000 square foot Studio 54-style nightclub is being brought to St. Pete by Cleveland-based Forward Hospitality Group, which owns and operates ten restaurant and bar concepts around Ohio. The group launched Good Night John Boy in Cleveland ten months ago.
Good Night John Boy will be located at 16 2nd Street North in downtown St. pete. The space was formerly home to Ringside Cafe
“Everybody loves the 70s,” said Beth McLeod, who will operate Good Night John Boy in St. Pete with her boyfriend Bobby Sotka. “Who doesn’t love ABBA and The Bee Gees? It appeals to all ages. Even the younger generation loves to experience a fun time in history they didn’t get to live through.”
The nightclub’s name, Good Night John Boy, is a tribute to The Waltons, one of the most popular shows on TV in the early 1970s. At the end of each episode, the family would say goodnight to one another before falling asleep. According to the BBC, “Goodnight, John Boy” was one of the most popular catchphrases of the 70s.
By the end of April, St. Pete residents and visitors will be able to dance the night away on Good Night John Boy’s light-up dance floor under the glow of multi-colored neon lights and spinning disco balls.
From the shag carpet to the crazy wallpaper, the interior design will send you 50 years back in time. Everywhere you look you’ll find the classic 70s color palette of mustard yellow, earthy brown, and burnt orange.
The bar at Good Night John Boy in Cleveland, OH
Good Night John Boy will have a live DJ blasting 70s tunes every night of the week. In addition to your favorite disco hits, expect to also hear a variety of newer music from 70s-inspired artists like Bruno Mars.
“We try to play ABBA’s Dancing Queen every hour and a half,” said McLeod. “Every time that song comes on, no matter where you are, everyone runs to the dance floor and starts dancing.”
The signature cocktail at Good Night John Boy will be the Disco Punch, a rum-based drink served in a take-home disco ball. Other beverages include a tiki cocktail called Guava Lava and a drink featuring grape juice, ginger, and a spirit of your choice called Transfusion.
The entrance to Good Night John Boy’s Cleveland location
Beer and wine will also be served. The beer selection includes national brands like Miller High Life, Bud Light, and Corona, in addition to cans and bottles from local breweries. Around five wines will be available, including a sauvignon blanc, rosé, pinot noir, and pinot grigio.
Michael Schwartz, CEO of Forward Hospitality Group, settled on St. Pete for the second location after spending many winters in the Sunshine City and having witnessed the area’s meteoric growth. On his most recent trip to St. Pete, Schwartz took a picture in front of the Jannus Block and texted Sotka saying, “I want a Good Night John Boy here.”
And so, McLeod and Sotka packed up their lives and moved from chilly Cleveland to sunny St. Pete.
On his most recent trip to St. Pete, Schwartz took a picture in front of the Jannus Block and texted Sotka saying, “I want a Good Night John Boy here.”
“St. Pete has everything we were looking for,” said Bobby Sotka. “We love the walkability, the density of people, and how friendly everyone has been. On the weekends, this city is electric.”
For over 20 years, Sotka owned a construction and painting business in Cleveland. After building out several of Schwartz’s bars and restaurants in the 90s, Schwartz convinced Sotka to leave his business and get involved in hospitality in 2012.
Originally, Sotka trained to be a certified Neapolitan chef under the direction of famed Roberto Caporuscio, who was awarded “#1 Pizza in New York” by New York magazine. From there, Sotka began working at 3 Palms Pizzeria, another concept owned by Forward Hospitality Group.
McLeod grew up in Detroit, where she began her career on local news stations. Most recently, she was the meteorologist for Fox 8 in Cleveland.
“After COVID hit, Michael [Schwartz] proposed a few different ideas that would allow our business to pivot,” said McLeod. “I figured everyone would want to dance after COVID was done, so we decided on a disco nightclub.”
Everywhere you look you’ll find the classic 70s color palette of mustard yellow, earthy brown, and burnt orange
As soon as Good Night John Boy opened their doors in Cleveland, the dance floor was packed.
“This past Saturday night, it was 8 degrees in Cleveland and we had an hour and a half long line to get in. We had to go buy heaters.”
McLeod attributes their success to word of mouth and the appeal of the concept to people of all ages.
You’ll be able to get your groove on at Good Night John Boy by the end of April at 16 2nd Street North in downtown St. Pete. Demolition on the space has already begun.
Follow Good Night John Boy on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date on grand opening plans and special events.

St. Pete Rising is an online urban development publication covering retail, restaurants, and real estate news in St. Petersburg, FL
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