Judy Qiu
Nightlife queens are all about stayin’ alive, and Judy Qiu definitely knows a thing or two about that. Her bar Judy’s Too, an ol’ Maoming Lu fixture, hopped across town when the bar district was closed down, becoming a nightlife pioneer once again on Tongren Lu. And after that street's south end met its demise in December, the closing of one Judy’s bar has meant two brand new digs down the road.
You opened Judy’s Lounge on Xikang Lu and Judy’s took over City Diner’s spot on Tongren Lu. Tell us about the two venues.
I’ve been doing this business for 20 years; I’m getting old. I wanted to do [Judy’s] more like a kitchen, so I can go home earlier for my daughter. People can come for lunch, happy hour or dinner, and after they can watch a show, some dancing or bands until 4am. I built Judy’s Lounge more for after work … It’s definitely not a place for younger kiddies.
When you opened your first bar Judy's Place in 1993, what was Shanghai’s nightlife like?
Nothing … I opened the first bar for, like, disco and eating Western food. This was the first bar with nice Western food that was outside the hotels … It's not like now when you have so much choice.
Judy’s has been on two famed bar streets, Maoming Lu and Tongren Lu, right?
Actually, when I rented the location at Maoming Lu, there were not so many places on the street – it was a very quiet area. I grew up in this area. It has very nice trees and is very quiet, so I thought I’d open a bar. Then, after two or three years, more clubs moved in, like I Love Shanghai and Manhattan, which moved from Julu Lu. I was on Maoming Lu for 10 years.
Why were the Tongren Lu bars shut down in December?
The rent contracts were finished, and the government didn’t renew them. Actually, in my opinion, they were already lucky that they could stay there for five years. It was a mess; not really controlled. Compared to Maoming Lu, there was much more trouble. So, I can understand they didn’t get a new contract.
Why did you still want to stay on Tongren?
It’s a ‘Golden Triangle’ with the Portman in the middle, and my bars Spot on Tongren Lu, Judy’s Lounge on Xikang Lu, and Judy’s on Tongren Lu around it.
How does it feel to still be on Tongren when everyone else has to find a new location?
Actually I’m very happy. My only friends were from Manhattan bar. The rest of the bars, well, I’m happy to get rid of them because it’s very bad for my reputation.
How was it bad for your reputation?
Because when customers came [to Tongren Lu] for Manhattan or Judy’s, and then they have girls try and bring them to the third floor and make some sh*t happen, then people say Tongren Lu is very bad. But for me, I’ve been building the Judy’s name for so many years, and because of these small bars, people have a bad idea.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened at one of your bars?
Crazy? A lot. I don’t want to tell you. Actually, I could write a book. I’ve seen people meet here and then get married. If you talk about bad things – fighting. Fighting is a nightmare for me.
What’s the worst fight you’ve seen?
I wouldn’t call any of them ‘the worst’. Foreigners will fight, and then stop and go home. With Chinese fights, the guys don’t want to give up.
Judy’s Lounge, 99-3 Xikang Lu. Tel: 6289 3001. Judy’s, 142 Tongren Lu. Tel: 6289 3715. Spot, 331 Tongren Lu, near Beijing Lu. Tel: 6247 3579. Web: www.judysco.com.cn
