DC9 Nightclub
DC9 Nightclub is a three-floor independent live music venue and bar on Washington, DC's U Street corridor, founded in 2004, hosting concerts, DJ events, and private rentals for local nightlife and music audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What DC9 Nightclub does
DC9 Nightclub is a small, independently operated music venue and bar located on the U Street corridor in Washington, DC. Founded in 2004, the venue occupies a three-floor footprint comprising a ground-floor bar/lounge, a live performance space, and a rooftop deck. It presents a calendar of live music, DJ events, and private rentals spanning indie, hip-hop, electronic, and metal genres, serving primarily local urban nightlife consumers and traveling music fans. The business employs approximately six staff under General Manager Bill Spieler, with Mel Afzal serving as Chief Sound Engineer. As of 2024, DC9 marked 22 years of continuous operation.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: ticket sales for scheduled events (processed through the Dice.fm platform, with prices ranging from free admission to $70+ VIP), food and beverage service (food items priced $6–$15), private venue rentals for outside promoters and events, and merchandise sales through an online store. The venue operates recurring programming including weekly karaoke, themed drink nights, and a daytime brunch offering designed to drive off-peak attendance. DC9 is a member of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the DC Nightlife Council, aligning it with broader independent venue advocacy and local nightlife policy efforts.
The operation is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds. There is no evidence of proprietary technology development or in-house digital product; the technology stack is limited to third-party ticketing (Dice.fm), standard point-of-sale systems, and web/social media presence. The business model is fundamentally cash-generative from operations, relying on event calendar density, bar throughput, and venue utilization to drive margins in a high-fixed-cost, discretionary-spend industry.
DC9 Nightclub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DC9 Nightclub
- Legal name
- DC9 Nightclub
- Website
- https://dc9.club
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- DC9 Nightclub is a three-floor independent live music venue and bar on Washington, DC's U Street corridor, founded in 2004, hosting concerts, DJ events, and private rentals for local nightlife and music audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DC9 Nightclub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Music Venue and Nightlife
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nightclubs (Dance Clubs) (MPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nightclubs & Dance Clubs (THAFAEAC), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD)
Keywords
Where DC9 Nightclub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DC9 Nightclub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from concert and event tickets sold through Dice.fm platform. Ticket prices range from free events to $70+ for VIP experiences.
- Food and Beverage Sales: On-site food menu including burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, snacks, and bar beverages including craft cocktails, beer, and wine. Kitchen open Friday and Saturday nights until midnight.
- Private Venue Rentals: The venue is available for private events including weddings, corporate events, and parties. Custom cocktail services offered for private events.
- Merchandise Sales: The venue operates an on-site store for merchandise.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission concerts and shows |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dance party events |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Experience packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food Menu Items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend Brunch Special |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Two For Tuesdays Promotion |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
DC9 Nightclub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DC9 Nightclub operates a three-floor bar, live music venue, and dance space in the U Street corridor of Washington, DC, hosting ticketed concerts, DJ nights, weekly karaoke, themed dance parties, and private events. The venue runs a full bar with cocktails, a kitchen serving American bar fare on weekends, private venue rentals for weddings and corporate gatherings, and an on-site merchandise store. Ticket sales are fulfilled through the Dice.fm third-party platform while food, beverage, and event entry occur on-site.
Product overview
DC9 Nightclub is a multi-level music venue, bar, and restaurant established in 2004 in Washington, DC. The venue operates a three-floor facility featuring a ground-level bar with full food service, a second-floor performance space for live concerts and DJ events, and a rooftop deck. Core offerings include a full bar service, a kitchen serving American bar fare (burgers, sandwiches, snacks, and bowls), ticketed live music events featuring emerging and touring artists, weekly recurring events such as Late Night Karaoke and Two for Tuesdays specials, and private event rentals. The venue also operates an online store for merchandise and offers weekend brunch service on Saturdays.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bar Service Full bar service offering cocktails, craft drinks, beer, and wine including specialty cocktails such as Aperol Spritz, Dirty Shirley, and Pacifico, available to walk-in patrons and event attendees.
- Food Menu Kitchen service featuring American bar fare including burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, snacks, and bowls, with menu items such as Spanakopita Dip, Fried Pickles, Eastern Shore Dogs, Fried Shrimp Po'boy, Fried Chicken Sandwich, and various burger options.
- Live Music Events Ticketed concerts and performances featuring emerging and touring artists across genres including rock, punk, indie, hip-hop, and electronic, with general admission priced typically from $15-$25 and VIP experiences up to $70+.
- Late Night Khaos Karaoke Recurring weekly karaoke event held every Wednesday at 10:30pm, featuring the 'Late Night Khaos Karaoke' experience with free entry.
- Private Event Rentals Multi-floor venue available for private rentals including weddings and corporate events, with custom cocktail options available, booked directly via [email protected].
- Merchandise Store Online store offering DC9 Nightclub branded merchandise items.
Companies that use DC9 Nightclub
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DC9 Nightclub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DC9 Nightclub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NIVA (National Independent Venue Alliance)coreDC9 Nightclub is a member of NIVA, the National Independent Venue Alliance. NIVA supports independent venues across the United States through advocacy, resources, and collective representation for the live music industry.
- DC Nightlife CouncilcoreDC9 Nightclub is a member of the DC Nightlife Council, a local industry organization supporting nightlife businesses in Washington, D.C. through advocacy and community building.
- Dice.fmcoreDice.fm is the ticketing platform used for all DC9 Nightclub event ticket sales. The partnership provides digital ticketing infrastructure for concerts and events.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DC9 Nightclub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Union Stage: DC waterfront music venue and restaurant with a multi-level layout similar to DC9. Comparable in combining ticketed live music with full food and beverage service for an indie audience.
- 9:30 Club: Iconic Washington, DC live music venue hosting emerging and established touring acts. Directly comparable as a multi-tier ticketed music venue operating in the same DC market with overlapping indie/rock/electronic programming.
- U Street Music Hall: DC nightclub and live music venue on the U Street corridor. Directly comparable in geography, genre programming (electronic, indie, hip-hop), and target nightlife demographic.
- The Anthem: Large-capacity DC waterfront music venue that competes for the same touring artists and audiences as DC9. Comparable ticketed concert format and programming across indie, rock, and electronic genres, though at significantly higher capacity.
- Songbyrd Music House: DC indie music venue and bar hosting emerging artists with a similar intimate-room, food-and-drink-inclusive format. Comparable in scale and independent-operator positioning.
- Howard Theatre: Historic DC live music venue presenting touring artists across genres. Comparable as a ticketed concert venue with full bar service targeting overlapping audiences, though operating at higher capacity.
- The Hamilton: DC live music venue and restaurant in downtown DC. Comparable as a multi-format venue combining ticketed concerts, full-service dining, and bar service targeting overlapping urban professionals and music fans.
- Black Cat: Long-running DC live music venue and bar on 18th Street NW, comparable in scale, programming philosophy (indie/punk/alternative), and target audience. Operates as a multi-room bar + performance space similar to DC9's three-floor model.
- Pearl Street Warehouse: DC live music venue on the waterfront with ticketed Americana/indie/rock programming. Comparable in scale and in combining ticketed concerts with full bar and casual food service.
- Comet Ping Pong: Independent DC neighborhood pizza restaurant and music venue hosting live shows. Comparable as a small, independently operated DC venue combining food service with ticketed live performances for a local audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DC9 Nightclub social profiles
Digital presenceDC9 Nightclub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DC9 Nightclub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
DC9 Nightclub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DC9 Nightclub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DC9 Nightclub
What does DC9 Nightclub do?
DC9 Nightclub operates a three-floor bar, live music venue, and dance space in the U Street corridor of Washington, DC, hosting ticketed concerts, DJ nights, weekly karaoke, themed dance parties, and private events. The venue runs a full bar with cocktails, a kitchen serving American bar fare on weekends, private venue rentals for weddings and corporate gatherings, and an on-site merchandise store. Ticket sales are fulfilled through the Dice.fm third-party platform while food, beverage, and event entry occur on-site.
Is DC9 Nightclub a public or private company?
DC9 Nightclub is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DC9 Nightclub founded?
DC9 Nightclub was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is DC9 Nightclub based?
DC9 Nightclub is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does DC9 Nightclub make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are food and Beverage Sales, private Venue Rentals and merchandise Sales.
Who are DC9 Nightclub's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Union Stage, 9:30 Club, U Street Music Hall, The Anthem, Songbyrd Music House, Howard Theatre, The Hamilton, Black Cat, Pearl Street Warehouse and Comet Ping Pong.
Does DC9 Nightclub have an API?
No public API is recorded for DC9 Nightclub.
What industry is DC9 Nightclub in?
DC9 Nightclub's product category is Live Music Venue and Nightlife. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAIAA, Nightclubs (Dance Clubs), with a secondary code of THAFAEAC, Nightclubs & Dance Clubs. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 5810.