Ground Zero Nightclub

Gag balls? Assless chaps? (Prop) Knives and bondage? Nine Inch Nails kinda music? You will find this and more here. I imagine this is the kind of place Marilyn Manson visits when he wants to feel like a normal person. If you are the type of person that gets easily offended then this is not the place for you and I strongly encourage you to stay away, as you will probably be unable to sleep for a few nights.
Ground Zero provides a very different kind of entertainment for a very particular kind of clientele. It definitely makes for an interesting night if you are tired of going to the same places all the time and want to expose yourself to something (VERY) different. It’s a very gothic, industrial place from people of all sorts. You could definitely tell that me and my group were not regulars from the way we were dressed and how we were really trying not to stare too much at all the weird things going on around us.
I was surprised at how friendly people were. This girl came and talked to us and told us there was a bondage show going on in the corner. EXCUSE ME?! Sure, why not. I will not go into details here but I had never seen this in person, except in the 8 mm film with Nicholas Cage. Peculiar and bizarre does not even come close to depicting it.
As someone else mentioned, they do a pretty good job with their drinks, as I like to get my money’s worth. Oh and do bring cash.
Overall a great time, too bad I had to leave early, but I should be coming back soon.

A club that keeps it simple. Big dance floor. Very basic drink menu. Good bartenders. Dark, gothy environment.

Great DJ’s. Room to dance and always a fun crowd. The front is fun for all but if you enjoy something with a touch of seediness hit GZ for a fun night

I’m a very liberal, GGG, and open minded person. I am comfortable with nudity, support healthy and consensual sex and enjoy exploring links. But this was too strange for me. Older men wearing nothing but some kind of sack over their bits as they are tied up does nothing for me. I don’t want to watch it and the tie patterns are so complicated they take forever.
So I gave up and tried to dance but apparently this is not allowed if you have a drink. I guess they were worried about the concrete getting wet. There is no way I would leave my drink on a counter or table as the clientele don’t appear to be the most above board folks around. The place is a pain as it’s a cash bar and cash cover with techno dance music and a ton of losers on acid swaying to their trip.
Don’t go here unless you’re game for some seriously uncomfortable moments. There are midgets and cross dresses, trans people of every level, a dominatrix and a performance space. I also interacted with a man without legs.
Don’t do this unless you go with someone who has been there for you.

Sexy «goth/​industrial» broads as far as the eye can see. The guys are total dipshits. Cash only. Big smoking patio. Loud music. Dark. Grimy. Sleazy. Always an overpriced cover. Eh… i’m usually too drunk to give a fuck by the time I get there. Tough getting a cab at bartime. Leave a few minutes early.

Ew.
I worked at this place in the mid 90’s and was surprised that when I came back to visit MN that nothing much had changed about the place. Its creepy, its dark, I watched a guy throw up a few times and nobody cared plus, there is a man with no legs who has a box he lays in while asking women to walk on him in heels.
Ew.

Great night of fun, naughty and dark night club with out pretentiousness. Just booze, bondage and bumping electronic/​dance music. I am such a fan!

Went there for a geek show with some friends and decided to stay after the show ended. I couldnt figure out why after the show ended the place emptied out on a Saturday night… until we tried to enjoy ourselves.
When we tried to dance some guy came running up to us and told us no drinks on the dance floor. Ok, fine. We can see how if there were a lot of people dancing the place would get messy.
When we tried to get pictures of our group together the same guy came running up and yelled at us to delete the pictures. There is a section in the back of the bar that does have signs up saying «no pictures» but we didnt take picture there. He didnt care. He proceeded to make us show him all our pictures and delete any from the bar. That is ridiculous
The bathrooms were also disgusting and you better hope that your friend doesnt have to pee as badly as you because you need someone to hold the door shut for you.
Also, bartenders intentionally jack up drink prices and make them very weak. When we started the evening our drink was $ 5. A few hours later a new bartender showed up and was obviously new. She looked up the price for our drinks and asked for $ 4. She also made them a hell of a lot stronger.

Have you ever been to a burlesque show? In my humble opinion, the top two constantly renewable activities in one’s life are good sex and good food (good sleep and a couple other things are closely related)
The renewable pleasures of going out for entertainment (renewable pleasures, like sex and good food, have the capacity to be at least as good as the first time, each time) include comedy, and music you already know is good… (and when you find new music that you’ve never heard, and it’s really good, that’s a renewable pleasure too, but more difficult in practice)
And burlesque shows. I had been to two, both when I lived in LA (please note that I’m from the suburbs of Detroit, I just lived in OC for 3 years and then LA for 1, approximately) and absolutely loved them.
So having moved to Minneapolis from Michigan only a week prior, and working my first week at a new job, I found myself alone on a Friday night. I have one friend in this city (one of my oldest and best) but he keeps a fairly regular sleep schedule and has a girlfriend, thus the finding myself alone. Friday night, going crazy wanting something to do because I spent the last week and a half selling all of my furniture, leaving behind my friends and family, and moving (twice actually, between vacation homes).
So, I was looking at Citypages (the calendar of events that I found online, in my short time here, message me if there’s a better one) to find something to do, and I saw that Dr. Farrago’s Burlesque Theater was playing at Ground Zero. At the time I was living in Columbia Heights, off Central near 40^th, so I Google mapped a bus route, got a bit drunk, and got down there in about 20 minutes.
I’ve read the other reviews on here, and bearing that in mind I feel I must say up front that Ground Zero, and burlesque shows in general, are most certainly not for everyone. For me though, with late high school memories of going down to the Detroit underground rave scene in the 90’s (when techno was being born), I felt that Ground Zero was the perfected evolution of that formerly underground scene.
I did not dress up. I was wearing jeans, Dr. Martins (the shoes I wear to work, corporate), a T-​shirt and petticoat. I never felt out of place once. The show was that wonderful mixture of comedy and sensuality, resulting in the destruction of all sexual stereotypes that I, as I heterosexual male, find very freeing. Engaging and entertaining.
So back to Ground Zero, the venue itself. It didn’t take long to get the bartender’s attention, I said I’d like a long island, or whiskey on the rocks, something like that, her pick. She serves me not one, but two cups of basically pure alcohol (let’s say it was like a long island) for $ 6.00. I thought this was brilliant. Being by myself in a new city, I’m stuck with two drinks in my hand. Action is demanded.
I walk around the area in front of the stage, it’s full but not packed, feeling uncomfortable holding my two drinks, I find a wall to lean, set one drink down, I’m fairly close to the stage. I relax and enjoy the show :-)
Now next to me there’s this guy from Vegas (I am not a fan of show people from LA or Vegas, much prefer NYC show people) and he’s talking to me here and there. I’m drinking my drink (s) so things get a bit fuzzy but I know this happens: when I stumble up to get another drink the wonderful bartender quickly convinces me to have a free cup of coffee. And it’s really good coffee. I do this three or four times. The wall I’m leaning on when I’m not getting coffee, the Vegas guy, the girl, I she’s talking to me before she goes on stage, because she’s nervous.
In the end, I wind up wasted. I loved it. There was no static from anyone, there was no asshole (and there’s usually one, right? Which means I suspect myself ;-)
I walk up Center St. while the cabs all ignore me (they want downtown business? or just getting off work?), and the normal bus fail where buses don’t run at times when I need to get home from a bar, the only time I really ever want a bus, incidentally. Finally a cabbie turns around and picks me up after about 35 minutes of walking, gets me home for $ 5 and I give him a $ 3 tip.
Overall, I’d say Ground Zero took good care of me and everyone else there, offered up a show that I loved, was filled with not even one a-​hole that I ran into, was friendly, welcoming and wonderful. If you’re so conservative that you can’t handle the pure mind expanding joy of a properly done burlesque show, or if you’re not completely comfortable with your own sexuality, then this may not be the place for you.
I loved it :-)

EH, I think I would have loved this place when I was 14. I was really into Marilyn Manson then.
Surprisingly, people really love to dance here, and they’re not bad! Better dancers here than at downtown bars or dance clubs! Yay. I thought people weren’t going to dance…
In the back, they have the dominatrix show. I’ve seen several different things. One where a man with no legs is stepped on by the sassy lady. One where a midget is tied up in ropes and whipped.
It’s all really tame though. I’ve seen way more graphic and crazy shit in Tokyo. haha.
Well, I’d go here if I were in hanging around NE Minneapolis. It’s full of weirdos, and there’s less youngins or college kids here too.

I used to go here occasionally (more for concerts than dance nights) but haven’t been in a few years til last night when I went for another concert. I was never much of a fan of this place and it seems little has changed. They’ve updated the décor a bit which is good, but unless you happen to be there for the 2 for 1’s, the drinks are really expensive in my opinion. The bathrooms are dilapidated and icky, but at least there are a lot if stalls for the ladies. Apparently if you are a dude and need to poop, you better stop over at the bulldog, because the men’s stalls do not have doors (what’s up with that in general?). They seem to have an aversion to using their temperature control systems seeing as someone mentioned it being freezing previously and last night it was like 90 degrees in there despite it being moderately chilly outside. I even asked the door girl and she said there is AC, they just would’t turn it on. In the middle of the show, even the band was talking about how nastily hot it was. I agree with a previous commenter that there doesn’t appear to be any tap beers, and I couldn’t tell you why, but I’ve never had a bartender be nice to me there. So yeah, I’m not a fan, but obviously this place does suit some people’s fancy.

I like going here every once in a awhile to get dressed up and go out dancing. The shows definitely need a GREAT MC. I’m a big fan of having whatever is going on onstage involve the audience. The go-​go goth dancing girls are sweet and cute. Is it time to go back soon?

On a good night this is the hottest bar in the Midwest. New York Techno.
Ladies bring duct tape as you can dance all around with a couple of squares over your nips!

The only time (so far) that I have been at Ground Zero is for a friends album release party. It’s dark, but that goes with the décor! They had a 2-​for-​1 special while we ere there, and have a full bar, I didn’t see any tap beer. And all of their drinks are reasonably priced.
Con: the bathroom was nasty.
it’s COLD (I had my winter jacket on the entire night)
It is an awesome venue for a live band — plenty of space with a good sound system.
I would definitely return for another show!

I grew up in the New Haven goth scene, which is about as close to New York as you can get while still resenting it for having all the cool stuff. I walked in and immediately walked into the back room. I was told that there was something I «had to see».
I won’t describe in detail what I saw back there, but suffice it to say I went in a boy and I came out… a boy who had seen some very odd things. Just go with an open mind and a sense of humor and you ought to be just fine. If you have neither of those: stay home because you’re pretty much useless to everyone. You’ll probably like it better at home anyway. All your favorite boardgames are there.
Also, if you frequently call anyone «Brosef» «Charles BRO-​nson» or «Broseiden God of the BROcean» without a trace of irony in your voice, this may not be the club for you. I know. I do it too. But I’m being ironic and funny. If you’re neither of those things, please stop reading. I know it’s hurting enough already. I hear there’s new maps on Black Ops anyway.
The dance floor is spacious, with a stage (I don’t know if that’s just for performers or what, but people get up there to get their groove on) for the more exhibitionist of you. That spacious dance floor is going to give you plenty of room to do your old Goth dance favorites like «Stomping the Bat» and «Punching the Hobbit» (for my Rivet-​head friends out there, you know who you are, bastards). Heck, you could even get some «Pick Up the Change» going if they play some Ministry.
There is a scene, as with any Goth/​Industrial club. For those of you already familiar with the Goth scene in other towns, this is fairly standard fare: this is a night that revolves primarily around regulars. If you come alone, you’re going to spend a few nights dancing quietly by yourself. Come more often and you’ll make some friends. Then you’ll start becoming a regular yourself. And thus we are all part of the great Circle of Life. If you’re not into that awkward «getting to know you» phase: I recommend bringing a friend – if not just to see the look on their face. And get dolled up. It’s a Goth club, for Pete’s sake. If not here, then where?
Let your freak flag fly here, if you’ve got one. Even if you don’t, make one. Betsy Ross did, and look where she ended up. Bonus points if anyone still knows who Betsy Ross is.
The DJ’s were very pleasant, and some will take requests! Fairly standard DJ etiquette.
The only reason I cannot give this place a full five is because the drinks are weaker than Pete Steele’s sudden Christianity (too soon?). Someone has to teach those bartenders that a Gin Ricky is primarily a Gin drink. F Scott Fitzgerald is probably turning over in his grave (also too soon?).
All in all, great club. Great music. Look forward to going here again and again and again and possibly taking pictures that will embarrass my parents to know me.

I actually like this place. Was kinda strange at first but then i made it to the bar. they had 2 for ones and the bar tender made them strong. The selection was not too bad too

I end up at Ground Zero on nights when my friends in bands are playing or if there’s a good concert being hosted there. They do have a fabulous sound system. And recently, they’ve done a lot to make the place look like a lot more than just a dark, dirty converted gymnasium with funky lights.
However, that’s where my praise ends. Ground Zero has a «crowd,» as it were, and I’m not particularly fond of the attitude that comes with it. Never mind that this crowd hasn’t changed much in years, which means I don’t ever get to go there without running into at least a couple of girls that my husband will mention he hooked up with back in his single days. And if you’re not dealing with that «crowd,» then you’re dealing with gawking onlookers who have heard it’s a BDSM club and think they’re being all subversive as they watch black-​clad people stomp around or sway like trees. Awesome.
At least they mix the drinks strong so that your time spent at Ground Zero becomes a lot more tolerable. But even still, when I go out, I want to have fun, not want to punch everyone around me.

I asked my friend if she’d ever been to Ground Zero in which she replied, «no, but I’ve always wanted to go to New York” — that warranted a Midwestern Bless Her Heart comment.
Great place to dance, spacious and fun to watch all the different dance styles. There was a guy going crazy footloose style to one of the remixes and having a blast.

GZ is an institution. I’ve been going for years, and I’m not even goth! It’s two levels (no elevator fyi), with all the sexy dominatrix stuff upstairs. Big outdoor smoking patio out back, and pretty strong drinks. Lots of sexy/​kinky open-​minded people.
Also — their annual Halloween show is a blast

I’m writing this review mostly because I’ve read the other reviews and still could not figure out what this place is all about before hand. We went on a saturday around midnight for «an experience».
First off the front was nice, no cover as mentioned is great, great crowd (tons of girls here btw guys), mixed drink was strongish, etc. If I lived nearby it’d definitely be a place I’d go to often. However as far as being the actual front so to speak, we couldn’t figure out how to get into GZ from there, so just walked around outside.
Down a giant rape-​tunnel is the actual GZ club. After some mild ribbing from the older goth bouncer (we were in club clothes and obviously not regulars) at the door we paid our $ 6 cover each and went in. First off its really not that big. We were kind of expecting some big dark place with lots of strangly-​stained alcoves — there’s only 2 areas.
The main one was large with 2 oddly pudgy gothy girls dancing on the railings, a big dance floor with some low-​budget CGI horror movie playing on a huge projection screen, and a bar. The not-​so-​helpful aging mildly androgynous bartender pointed at the rather odd beer list of domestics and corona when prompted. We hung for a bit to watch the crowd of 20 somethings in leather and studs dancing. sorta. Whoever pegged the music as «top 40 industrial» was totally correct. Nothing very jarring at all and at one point I heard Marlyn Manson, NIN, and Ministry in succession so yeah.
Just off the main room is the 2^nd area where they do «shows» or whatever. When we got there a girl had her shirt off with her back to the audience of 30ish people, getting lightly whipped by a dominatrix with a cat o nine tails, and some other girl with all of her clothes on getting tied up. Very tame stuff in all. There’s also another bar back there. It was a very strip club atmosphere basically, from the crowd I mean, which was a very weird collection of people to be sure — but on the bright side not a very «gross pervey» one. At one point this absolute giant guy in a tshirt and jeans, like pro sport player big, randomly high 5’d my girlfriend. After the pretty cute girl got done a very butch obese lesbian got tied down in a chair and spanked for a while which dispersed the crowd mostly. so you can look forward to that I guess.
Anyways to wrap this up, had a great time, not too dirty/​pervey even for «squares», very unlikely you’ll be shocked at anything unless you’re a virgin, not as expensive as I would have thought overall, and yeah go check it out.

GZ plays my favorite music and Is pretty much the only place where I can wear my 7 – 8 Inch heels.

There are two bars in the same building. The Front is a dance club with a DJ playing KDWB dance music. The women that come here are loose and always up for a good time. Ground Zero is a bondage bar. Its a good place to go if you are looking for someone in to BDSM. There are also a lot of suburban moms and frat boys looking for a glimpse into the unknown.