GLO is gone

The phone number for the mega-club may work, the website may still be live and even the Facebook page remains up, but nonetheless – GLO in Westbury, is no more.

In the continuing shift of Long Island’s nightlife from pure nightclubs to late-night restaurants, lounges and bars featuring DJs, a major leap of movement has taken place as it has been confirmed Thursday that Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD) has purchased the location, and will eventually be installing one of its sports-oriented, family-friendly grill and bars into the structure at 737 Merrick Ave.

During the past few months, there had been some speculation among regulars on the nightlife circuit about whether GLO would be returning after a summer hiatus – a seasonal break that is not uncommon for similar venues to take, as during the warmer months the Long Island late-night scene typically moves heavily toward the shores and the Hamptons. But as September neared, and there were no updated announcements concerning fall events on the GLO website or through its social media outlets, it was assumed things were changing. With a confirmation from a BWLD representative, all rumors may now be put to rest: GLO will not be back.

For Nassau County’s dance music devotees, there will still be options, as Aura in East Meadow (1900 Hempstead Tpke., 516-794-3091, zacharysandaura.com) and Sugar in Carle Place (246 Voice Rd., 516-248-7600, sugarli.com) are still offering well-attended nights powered by popular DJs. However, it must be noted that GLO’s departure does permanently change what level of dance gatherings can be expected in Nassau, as the mega-club in its heyday played host to some of the world’s most famous and celebrated DJs and producers. With GLO gone, it is unlikely that such globally followed stars like Paul Oakenfold, Avicii and Tiesto – all of whom once appeared there, and whose sessions often call for large, dedicated nightclubs – will be found working on Long Island again anytime soon, as there aren’t currently any locations (save concert halls and arenas) that can match the space formerly available at GLO.

As for what to expect from an incoming Buffalo Wild Wings, the bar sections of the company’s restaurants typically draw large crowds for baseball, football and other major professional athletic competitions, and can be found busy past midnight on some occasions – so while the crowd culture will shift from trendy clubgoer to casual sports fan, chances are the space that was GLO (and before that, the bustling J. Sprat's Dining Saloon) will once again play host to great numbers of people looking for an evening out sometime in the near-future.

*People dance as Samantha Ronson, guest disc jockey, plays at the new GLO Nightclub in Westbury in an undated photo.