The Union Hall building has enjoyed a storied history in the Edmonton nightclub scene since the 80s. Under different names and different owners it has long been a hotspot for college kids looking for a night out. However, in 2013, Jimmy Kwak bought the venue with a new goal in mind. His company, Prestige Nightlife, turned Union Hall into a strictly live music venue. “With the Edmonton market growing there was a heavy demand for world-class entertainment,” says Kamran Moslehi, Operations Director with Prestige Nightlife. “We noticed there was a void in 1000-to-2000 capacity venues in the city and wanted to strategically place ourselves in the marketplace to accommodate those audiences.”
The population of Edmonton continues to grow rapidly and during this economic boom the city is seeing a younger population with a lot of disposable income. Making the switch from a popular nightclub to a concert-only venue has had its challenges, but the concept was an important distinction for Prestige Nightlife. “We won’t open for anything less than high quality entertainment,” says Kamran. “That was the commitment we made to the community to avoid any confusion of Union Hall being a nightclub. We really wanted to focus on developing the best shows possible.”
