After Tarzan’s Pizza and My Club, 2331 E. 7th has become the home of the Latin-influenced Club Calienté

Club Caliente, owned by Brian Speer, offers what manager José Nieves says is a bit of positive Latin culture in Joplin and to offer more variety and bring a safe environment to the young adult (21 and older) community.

“This all started Brian’s dream,” Nieves said.

Speer, a former Missouri Southern studio art major, said he is still active in artwork and enjoys seeing his clientele.

“Its really nice to see the customers reaction to the club,” he said.

Nieves is a native of Puerto Rico who spent the majority of his life in New York City and now works as the club manager and as a personal chef. Nieves is the former owner of Sweet Basil and The Grotto in Neosho.

He currently operates a personal chef business cooking for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

“I sit down with you and figure out your likes and dislikes and prepare a custom menu,” he said.

Club Calienté is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a Wednesday ladies night.

“We want them to come in and feel safe,” Nieves said. “Its definitely a priority.”

Club Calienté also offers a hardwood dance floor, DJ Kris Yeager, four multi-level VIP areas and plays a variety of music including rap, R&B, reggae, and salsa all in a “classy Latin atmosphere.”

“We’re getting ready to offer free salsa lessons to help people really to feel the club,” Nieves said.

In addition to the bar and dance floor Club Calinté also offers a selection of food from the in-house South Beach Café with a menu featuring sandwiches, wraps and a range of appetizers all designed by Nieves to promote “awareness of food and health.”

“It’s a Latin-based Miami style club,” he said.

Nieves’ assistant Joel Stinnett, sophomore international business major, assists in the kitchen and enjoys working in a “classy but fun environment.”

“It’s a little more refined than getting drunk and riding a mechanical bull for an hour and going home with someone you’ve never met,” Stinnett said.

Club Calienté is also working its way to being more than just a nightclub and light fare restaurant, Nieves is also planning to establish a scholarship program and Speer is active member of the Native American and Latin communities.

“We would really like to be force in the community,” Nieves said.

With Valentines Day coming up Club Calienté plans to open its doors from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with special packages available.

“The key element here is that we’re flexible,” Stinnett said. Club Calienté’s VIP areas are available by reservation and the club is also available for wedding receptions and private parties.

“Just let us know and we can make it happen,” Speer said.

For more information of Club Calienté please call 782-HOTT.