PLAINS TWP. — Mitch Kornfeld is trying to do what he can to cater to the vibrancy that really does exist in “older” citizens.
Kornfeld, co-owner of The Woodlands Inn and Resort, runs the facilities entertainment venues — its bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The 25th Hour has long been a Woodlands staple, despite several makeovers and name changes over the years.
Kornfeld took time to chat about his latest idea and, in typical Mitch fashion, he had all the enthusiasm and catch phrases he’s been noted for during the evolution of the Woodlands, which opened in 1979 on Route 315 in Plains Township.
Mitch called The Woodlands, “The cruise that never moves” and “the home of the stay-cation.”
See what I mean?
Back in the day — 1979 to be exact — Mitch’s dad, Mark, and Mark’s brother, Gary, created the Woodlands and, “the storied state-of-the-art nightclub of Northeast Pennsylvania” was born. As The Woodlands marketing pitch goes, to many patrons, the 25th Hour has been where romances — even marriages — began and young men and woman came of age.
After a series of twists and turns — from the Penny Arcade back in 1974, to the 25th Hour in 1979 and then Evolution in 2000 and back to the 25th Hour in 2015 — the nightclub has been a crowded place with pulsating music, trendy themes and staff get-ups.
In November 2015, Mitch and his brother, Ross, recreated the 25th Hour experience, complete with 1970 to 1990 nightclub music, dance floor, lighting and entertainment. Mitch will tell you that the 25th Hour now serves hundreds of Baby Boomer-generation patrons.
And one year after the reincarnation of the 25th Hour, Mitch is taking it a step further with a Friday night promotion called “Reunion Fridays.” Each week, varying local high schools will be featured in the club — this week it will be the 80s and 90s classes of Coughlin, GAR, Meyers and Bishop Hoban.
On Nov. 11, it will be Wyoming Area, Wyoming Valley West, West Side Tech and Wyoming Seminary, and Nov. 18 will feature Nanticoke, Hanover and Crestwood.
Mind you, graduates of all schools are welcome each week — the promotion is just to features certain schools weekly.
“Before there was Facebook or the smart phone, there was the 25th Hour,” Mitch said. “Patrons at the 25th Hour are always talking about ‘the glory days’ of high school. The 25th Hour has now created a high school reunion experience. We’re a natural gathering spot for genuine ‘face-time’ connections.”
Mitch said he wanted to have a night “purged” of the usual crowd of 20-somethings. He says older people aren’t all that comfortable trying to get their groove thang on with millennials performing all the latest dances.
In other words, older people want a chance to be kids again — like they were in high school and college and even later as they matriculated on down the dating field before marrying and becoming parents of, well, those kids they prefer to not share the dance floor with — at least for one night a week.
On my recent trip to Florida, I found myself at a dance club hosted by a 70-something DJ named Eric who played all the hits for those in attendance — people in their 60s, 70s and 80s. And man-oh-man, those kool kats were having some fun that night. The dance floor was packed. They were doing all the dances from their era and enjoying every minute of it.
It was way cool, man. It was cool, it was neat, it was groovy, man. It was uptight, alright and outta sight.
And I kept thinking, wouldn’t this be a great thing to have back home in Northeastern Pennsylvania? And lo and behold, Mitch and Ross and The Woodlands are trying to fill the bill. They want to provide a venue for hipster senior citizens to let their hair down, put on their poodle skirts, add a little Brylcreem and dance the night away, leaving behind reruns of Golden Girls and giving up one night of solving the Wheel of Fortune puzzles.
And don’t older citizens deserve to have a little fun too? Haven’t they lived their lives, providing for their families and making good homes for their loved ones?
See you on the dance floor.
