Opened in 1947 by the Italian immigrants, Filippone brothers. The Penthouse became a sanctuary for some of the greatest musicians to ever live. Seriously, a lot of clubs claiming fame are hosting musicians that the average person wouldn’t know. But not the Penthouse. The Penthouse brought in names like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis Jr. What’s wild to think about now is why they were there. Back then, Vancouver had these unofficial “Jim Crow” style rules where Black performers could play the big fancy hotels downtown, but they weren’t allowed to stay there or hang out after the show. The Penthouse didn’t care about any of that. It was an open door during a time when the rest of the city was closed off.

I’ve actually been inside the Penthouse. Not for clubbing activities, but rather to watch a live podcast. Every month The Penthouse hosts a gathering. Where people eat, talk, and listen to “The Chat Room”  an in-house podcast hosted by Joe Leary, Danny Fillipone and Aaron Chapman. Where they engage with interesting guests, and engage in conversation. In my time there, I was looking around imagining how it could have been in the 50s. The neon lights, carpeted floors, scream old school, but honestly success as well as the building has stood the test of time. 

Of course, history isn’t all just jazz and spotlights. The place has a “notorious” reputation for a reason. It’s been raided by the police, tied to the old school Italian mob, and has survived every attempt by the city to shut it down. But the fact that the Filippone family still runs it today is a miracle in a city that usually loves to tear down anything with a bit of grit. I think it’s definitely safe to say that the Penthouse is a community and the people who frequent it show what it means to people.

To me, The Penthouse is a reminder that Vancouver’s music identity wasn’t built in a boardroom, it was built in these dark, smoke filled rooms that ignored the rules. It’s very easy to understand just how important the Penthouse is to the history of Vancouver’s music scene. When you realize that Louis Armstrong’s voice once echoed off those same walls, you start to see the city a little differently. It’s a piece of our history that’s still standing.