A surprising business is debuting Wichita’s first-of-its-kind bar next week
.jpg "Wichita’s Genesis Health Clubs next week will debut Club Noir, a nightclub with drinks and DJs inside its East Central Genesis.")
There’s not only a new bar opening soon in Wichita, it’s a new kind of bar for the city.
Club Noir will be inside the Genesis Health Club at 6100 E. Central, which is just west of Woodlawn.
While it’s an actual bar with drinks and a DJ, the entire health club has been transformed into a club atmosphere — as in a late-night club.
“It’s the city’s first nightclub inside a health club,” said Paul Hansen, director of brand experience.
He said there’s a dark, velvety feel of a jazz club, “that kind of a vibe.”
It’s a concept that’s already in larger markets, Hansen said.
“We wanted to bring something very unique to the Midwest.”
Genesis has 77 clubs in 13 states, and Hansen said there are no clubs within clubs in any of its markets, though some of its clubs have bars within the clubs.
This is something completely different, Hansen said.
It’s “almost like you’re in a late-night nightclub in the middle of the day.”
“As long as we’re open, the bar’s open.”
Remodeling started a couple of years ago, and Hansen said members began picking up on what the theme would be.
“They love the feel. They love the vibe.”
The idea behind the club concept is that it’s a place to hang out after a workout, whatever time of day that is. There will be craft cocktails with exercise-themed names to match. Think something along the lines of a Muscle Margarita.
There will be TVs, shuffleboard and air hockey among other forms of entertainment. There will be DJs spinning music at various times, too.
Hansen said this Genesis skews younger, and it’s a smaller health club than some of its counterparts, so he said it’s a good place to test the new concept.
There’s a grand opening from 6 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 1, and members and nonmembers are welcome. After that, Club Noir is for members and their guests only.
Hansen said if things go well, some of the other Genesis clubs may get the Club Noir treatment, too.
“It’s a good experiment.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 4:04 AM.