Where Recession Recedes
Luxury is bright-hot at the city's new upscale clubs, prosperity just around the corner in pricey private rooms.

By A.D. Amorosi
For The Inquirer

[Click to read the full article]

On a daily basis, Americans are reminded that things are not good. We're told that the economy is on the downswing, that mortgages need to be saved, and that if we're not necessarily headed for another Great Depression, we should be ready for a bad recession. That doesn't sound like news that would make you break out the Cristal. Yet this city's club scene is having its own boom, one geared toward pricey hangouts and luxurious surroundings, where drinks aren't cheap, VIP areas are roped off, and the air of exclusivity wafts as elegantly as premium perfume. Diaa Sawan was looking for his Vango to offer a posh brand of nightlife with top-notch bottle service and Japanese delicacies, topped by an immense roof deck. "I wanted to offer an experience with the best things life had to offer," Sawan said, "to the best patrons."