Jan. 11, 2024

A Latino nightclub and sports bar is taking over the former Boss’ Pizzeria in Tea.

El Effecto Latino Nightclub is having a grand-opening party that starts at 6 p.m. Saturday. The nightclub will host dances every Saturday night, and the sports bar and video lottery casino will be open Wednesday through Sunday.

The event hall that houses the nightclub also can be rented for wedding receptions and other gatherings, and El Effecto business partners Vania Lopez and Angel Mendez eventually want to open a Latino restaurant and market in the dining room space.

They’re leasing the buildings at 215 S. Main Ave. from Boss’ founder Jeremy Seefeldt, who operated Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar there for almost two years before closing it in September. The buildings were the longtime home of the Tea Steak House and Tea Event Center before Seefeldt bought it from the retiring owners.

The co-owners of El Effecto, who are friends, each have other businesses in Tea, Lopez said. She owns an auto detailing shop and is taking online college courses in business management. Mendez has a drywall construction company and is the one who came up with the idea of starting a nightclub, she said.

“We have been thinking for so many years that our community needs something different, an innovation that the community would like,” Lopez said. “And it’s going to be very inclusive. We’re not leaving anyone behind or separated. … Every single community is welcome to come enjoy a vibrant night.”

The nightclub will feature DJs, but Lopez said they’d like to have live music too. “And not all Latino but country, rock bands to provide that entertainment for local people too.”

Since taking over the building in mid-December, they have removed the carpet from the event hall. The dance floor is surrounded by tables, and there are VIP areas with couches and tables. Mendez also built a bar in the space.

El Effecto has a full liquor license, and the nightclub will offer bottle service because “we wanted to make things different and unique,” Lopez said. “There’s nothing like that here in South Dakota.”

Customers who buy a bottle of liquor get a reserved table, and “three or four girls in pretty dresses, looking beautiful” bring the bottle and mixers to the table and serve the drinks, she said. “The bottle service girls are in charge of those patrons, specifically providing a high-end service.”

The nightclub won’t have a cover charge, at least not to start because “we want patrons to feel welcome and not be too expensive for people.”

It can hold 250 people for the dances; with no tables, capacity is 400, she said.

The sports bar also will be open during nightclub hours for customers who “want to enjoy a chill and relaxed evening,” Lopez said.

As part of the improvements, the business partners added three pool tables in a room next to the sports bar and plan to organize leagues.

Their goal is to open a Latino restaurant in the building sometime this year, expanding the food choices for Tea, Lopez said.

The sports bar will be open from noon to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and the nightclub will be open Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Follow it on Facebook for updates. 

Lopez said they don’t have experience running a nightclub, but they’re finding help getting started from everyone they meet.

“I would be lying if I would be telling you we’re experts in the field,” she said. “We’re constantly learning 24/7, and we’ve had the blessing of working and collaborating with amazing people … and we have a very solid team and staff members. Whoever’s involved in the team has contributed in some way to making this possible.”