While numerous bars in Providence offer karaoke nights, the city hosts just one karaoke lounge. But even looking beyond the capital city, The Boombox offers an experience that stands out among the crowd for karaoke enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Founder and owner Ethan Feirstein was no newcomer to the nightlife industry when he launched The Boombox in 2014, having previously opened The Salon bar on Eddy Street four years earlier.
Feirstein knew he wanted to open another downtown venture, but the idea of a karaoke lounge arose gradually.
“I was a fan of doing karaoke in the kinds of places that didn’t – and still don’t, other than us – exist in Providence,” he said.
The bar, located on the ground floor of The Neptune hotel and inspired by karaoke lounges in Japan and South Korea, quickly found a following.
“Singing and music is largely universal,” Feirstein said, and the lounge attracts “people who wouldn’t necessarily just want to go to a bar or club and are looking for an activity that’s a bit different.”
Even for seasoned karaoke performers, the bar offers an uncommon setup.
The Boombox has become known for a communal energy, with singers performing from the middle of the lounge, often surrounded by a crowd that joins in the effort. But the bar developed this reputation somewhat accidentally, Feirstein says.
“Initially, I thought we were going to have some sort of stage or platform,” he said, “but for whatever reason, it didn’t line up. I sort of thought that one person would get up in the front and perform to the crowd while everyone watched and listened, and that wasn’t really how things played out.
“Sometimes it’s just one person singing and performing,” he added. “People aren’t always jumping in. But definitely on the weekends, and later in the night when we’re full, it turns into a group sing-along.”
This collective energy often gives shyer patrons the confidence boost to sing, says Analise Rossi, manager and bartender.
The Boombox provides “definitely more of an intimate setting and a little bit less pressure than your karaoke setup where you have to stand up on a stage,” Rossi said. “And in general, any night of the week that you come in, there are most likely going to be a handful of regulars in the room who are going to applaud for every person in the room and cheer you on. It’s definitely a family mentality and a really supportive group.”
Patrons can choose from an ever-growing catalog of at least 45,000 songs, Rossi said.
Open Wednesday through Sunday nights into the early morning, The Boombox also hosts events ranging from bachelorette parties, office outings, fundraisers and birthday parties for all ages.
In addition to the main karaoke room and bar area, The Boombox offers five private rooms – a common feature in Japanese and Korean karaoke bars but less typical in the U.S. – that groups can rent out for a more intimate experience.
A specialized cocktail list adds to The Boombox’s ambiance, with a signature drink, The Love Cat, served in a feline-shaped mug. The punch, like many of the bar’s early offerings, has a sake base.
The Boombox continues to offer a sake selection, though after obtaining a hard-liquor license a few years ago, the lounge has built out a more expansive drink menu, with additional song-inspired beverages such as the Tini Dancer.
OWNER: Ethan Feirstein
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Karaoke lounge and bar
LOCATION: 122 Fountain St., Providence
EMPLOYEES: Six
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2014
ANNUAL REVENUE: WND
