A new disco bar dropped a mirrored ball onto downtown Fort Lauderdale this past Friday, November 6, when Good Night John Boy celebrated its grand opening at 270 SE Sixth Avenue. The 1970s-themed venue takes over the former Howl at the Moon space and brings shag carpeting, neon, and glittery cocktails to a stretch of the city.
A Disco Throwback Replaces a Shuttered Piano Bar
Good Night John Boy's Fort Lauderdale debut was reported by Miami New Times, which described the space as outfitted with wood paneling, retro wallpaper, shag carpeting, disco balls, and neon lighting. The expansion is led by Forward Hospitality Group, helmed by Michael Schwartz and Bobby Rutter, who said Fort Lauderdale has an incredible energy, a vibrant hospitality scene, and a community that loves going out. Nightly DJs will spin 1970s hits, and the outlet reported planned weekly programming that includes Industry and Latin Nights along with Divas of Disco.
The bar takes its name from the television series The Waltons, a nod baked into its retro branding from the start. Signature programming also includes John's House, scheduled for the last Sunday of each month, per the same account.
Disco Punch Leads a Menu Still Taking Shape
On the drink side, the headline offering is Disco Punch, a Bacardí Superior rum punch served in a take-home disco cup. The new bar will also pour beer and seltzers, with tableside bottle service available for groups looking to settle in. The outlet noted that the full Fort Lauderdale drink menu was not yet available at the time of its report, though it identified Disco Punch and Dirty Ashtray as offerings.
At the Delray Beach location, past menus have included Can You Dig It?, made with coconut rum, strawberry, lychee, and Pop Rocks, alongside the Dirty Ashtray, a Miller High Life with Tapatío hot sauce, lime, salt, and pepper. Other Delray Beach drinks have included Burn Baby Burn, built from Patrón Silver, pineapple, cucumber, and cilantro, and Night Moves, a mix of bourbon, black raspberry, and lemon. Dirty Ashtray is among the drinks confirmed for the Fort Lauderdale lineup.
Part of a Growing Regional Footprint
Good Night John Boy's Fort Lauderdale location joins sister outposts in Delray Beach and St. Petersburg, with additional locations in Cleveland, Chicago, Columbus, and San Diego. The Delray Beach location was scheduled to have its grand opening on May 15, 2025, inside the former Delray Beach Market building near Atlantic Avenue, according to the Sun Sentinel. That report described a similarly retro scene, with wood-paneled walls, Miller High Life dad beers, roller skates, and disco balls gleaming in every color.
Co-owner Michael Schwartz told the Sun Sentinel that the Delray Beach crowd trends super-young and dance-happy, a vibe the brand appears to be betting will travel well to Fort Lauderdale's own downtown bar scene. A separate Miami New Times report from March had placed the Fort Lauderdale opening on a different timeline, saying it was expected in October 2026; the bar's own grand-opening event ultimately landed in November.
