http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6999414.htm Posted on Mon, Oct. 13, 2003 DOWNTOWN MIAMI Revelers bid booming farewell to club It's curtains for Space34, the trendy downtown Miami after-hours dance club with a 24-hour liquor license. BY SUSAN ANASAGASTI sanasagasti@herald.com The dance floor was filled to capacity. Giant white balloons hung next to the rotating disco ball. Green laser beams glared as loud horns silenced the crowd. It appeared to be last call Saturday night for after-hours partyers who gathered en masse at midnight to bid farewell to Space34 -- the former Club Space. Known to many as a mecca for world-class DJs, die-hard electronic music fans packed Northeast Eleventh Street to witness the end of a clubland institution that brought life to the downtown party scene. By 1 a.m., traffic in front of Space34 was backed up to Biscayne Boulevard, and the cover charge had gone from $20 to $30. Miamian Clarisell Decardenas, 26, was among the estimated 3,000 gathered at 34 NE 11th St. ''I think it's really sad that they are closing. I have a lot of memories here,'' Decardenas said. ``We've celebrated a lot of birthdays and anniversaries here.'' Club Space was the first to bring nightlife to the downtown Miami warehouse area more than three years ago. Attractions included such star DJs as Mauro Picotto, Tiesto, Deep Dish and Danny Tenaglia as well as the 24-hour liquor license, which allowed for dancing until way past dawn. But in recent months, Space34 has been the target of outside pressure stemming from a publicized DEA raid that landed 12 people, including two former and two current employees, in federal court two months ago. Management at Space34 said their decision to close was internal. Yet as Space34 resident DJ Roland was spinning, preparing clubbers for DJ Erick Morillo's arrival, rumors circulated that this wasn't the final night. Social worker Louis Collazo, 30, of Miami said he was hopeful that the club would remain open -- or simply change its name. ''I've partied everywhere and this is the best club in the nation,'' he said. ``If management continues to draw in DJs then people will follow. They have the sound system and support of the community.'' Echoed Miami Dade College student and personal trainer Robert Gonzalez, ``I have a passion for house music; that's why I come here. From the DJs to the atmosphere, it's the best club by far.'' Club management hasn't given any indication of a new lease on life. But that didn't stop the faithful from hoping. Space34 regular Toby Spill, 30, and owner of Estate Exquisite properties was one of those. ''Why are they closing? Everybody loves it here,'' he said. ``It's a great club that's going to be missed by many.''