Approvals are being sought to open what is being billed as the only dedicated karaoke venue within a 25-mile radius of the City of Beacon. The entity Hudson Vox LLC, plans to lease a building at 1154 North Ave. in Beacon from property owner The Lindley LLC.
The plan calls for opening an establishment to be known as The Howl, which will display a bigger-than-life sculpture of a howling wolf on the outside. It will be a lounge and entertainment venue that the application says will be focused on providing private karaoke suites and live-performances.
“While karaoke is occasionally offered as a scheduled event at area bars, there is currently no dedicated private karaoke venue open to all ages during designated hours within a 25-mile radius of Beacon,” Hudson Vox said in the application to Beacon for site plan approval. “The Howl was conceived as a value-add to the local community and aligns with Beacon’s long-standing tradition of fostering arts, music, and creative gathering spaces. The venue is designed to support a wide range of uses, including family-friendly and under-21 hours earlier in the day, while also addressing the growing need for structured nighttime entertainment as Beacon continues to develop as an overnight destination for visitors.”
The applicant says the building’s existing brick construction, combined with its partial underground placement against a hillside, provides some of the needed sound attenuation. Inside there will be two floors connected by a new enclosed staircase.
The first floor is described as being the primary public gathering space where public karaoke programming will take place. There will be a medium-sized stage, table and couch seating, a centralized karaoke track-selection station, and integrated LED lighting elements. It’s in this space that open-mic events and small-scale live music performances will take place. There also will be a full-service bar for providing drinks to patrons on both floors. The first floor also will have an ADA-accessible sound-isolated karaoke room and two restrooms.
The second floor will have six private karaoke suites along with an additional restroom. The Howl plans to have more than 125,000 titles in its music library. Some of the spaces my be used for vocal coaching, musical instrument lessons and sound recording during daytime and early-evening hours.
Among the planned upgrades to the building are new electrical wiring and panels, installation of commercial food preparation equipment, a new HVAC system, compliant emergency exits, facade refinishing, signage, decorative lighting and public bicycle parking.
“The Howl has been designed with a clear emphasis on responsible operation, regulatory compliance, and positive integration within the surrounding community,” the applicants told the city. “All amplified sound will be contained within the building envelope and managed through acoustic controls to prevent noise impacts beyond the premises. The project prioritizes pedestrian accessibility, ADA compliance, and life-safety requirements, including fire-rated assemblies, emergency egress, and fire alarm systems, all in full accordance with New York State Building and Fire Codes. Beyond compliance. The Howl is intended to contribute positively to Beacon’s cultural and economic vitality by supporting local artists, providing family-friendly and creative daytime uses, generating local employment, and adding structured nighttime entertainment without introducing incompatible impacts.”
