Ocean Club brings Fantasy Island to Quincy's Marina Bay

That will all change when the outdoor entertainment complex Ocean Club opens Friday in the former WaterWorks location at Marina Bay in Quincy.

Restaurateurs Frank DePasquale and Nick Varano have teamed up to launch the 62,000-square-foot waterfront club, that features sand from Cape Cod and Aruba.

“In my opinion, it’s Fantasy Island,” said Varano, who owns the North End eateries Strega and Nico. “You feel like you’re on vacation when you’re here.”

That relaxed and luxurious vibe is something Varano said they picked up from visiting other clubs of this ilk in Las Vegas and Miami.

Like Varano, DePasquale brings with him years of hospitality experience. He also owns Bricco and Il Panino in Boston.

“You can’t find anything like this around here – you’d have to go to Vegas,” Varano said. “It’s like night and day compared to our other establishments.”

The grounds of the sprawling club can hold 1,600 patrons. There are 21 cabanas available for rent – $300 to $1,000 – depending on that day’s entertainment. Each cabana comes with table service, TVs, towel service, mini-fridges, a personal safe, fresh juices, lounge chairs and sunscreen. Lighted water fountains add to the atmosphere.

Wanting to incorporate some of their North End restaurant experience, Varano and DePasquale built Bites, an open-aired restaurant serving everything from pizza and salads, to lobster rolls and seafood platters.

A large white marble bar under an oversized canopy is the club’s centerpiece. A smaller bar is also set up exclusively for frozen drinks.

Adjacent to Bites is a convenience store named Tutto, which means “everything” in Italian, that will sell cigarettes, T-shirts, hats and other sundries.

A large stage will be home to popular live bands and DJ’s throughout the summer. Varano said guests can expect to see as many as six or seven different DJs on Sundays.

Volleyball and basketball courts as well as ping-pong tables will be available for free.
For the sun shy, there’s an indoor “ultra-lounge” called Liquid. The club will feature a separate DJ and is decorated with lavish chairs and couches.

“We’re all about making people feel very good and VIP-ish,” Varano said.

That mission extends to the nightspot’s Marina Bay neighbors, too. Varano and DePasquale inherit many years of bad blood over noise levels.

“We’ve done everything we can to lower the noise and cater to the marina to make it more comfortable,” Varano said. A noise ordinance is expected to go before the city council next month.
Among special events this summer are a volleyball tournament, various theme parties, like a White Party, and celebrity meet and greets.

The Ocean Club, 333 Victory Road, opens Friday and will be open Thursday through Sunday throughout the summer.