• By MICHAEL FARRAR
• Special to 2theadvocate.com
• Published: Dec 21, 2009

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What do you get when you take a former Bennigan's restaurant and open up a nightclub named after a sleep disorder? The answer is Insomnia, Baton Rouge’s newest party spot.

Located on Cortana Place, between Cortana Mall and Florida Boulevard where it intersects Airline Highway, Insomnia is something of a rebirth, as owner/partner Rick Pastorek explained.

“The Bennigan's (corporation) went into bankruptcy in July 2008. We were a franchise of Bennigan's so it greatly hurt our ability to operate our restaurant,” Pastorek said.

But Pastorek and his partner, Rod Shannon, felt they were in a good position to start their own business at the same 9770 Cortana Place location.

“Once we closed as a Bennigan’s, we decided there was a need in the market to have a nightclub, so we reopened as Club Insomnia,” Pastorek said.

Pastork and Shannon made changes to the floor plan to transform the chain eatery into more of stylized nightclub.

“We have a couple of VIP areas with TVs, couches -- it's more like a living room than a club,” Pastorek said. “The rest of the club is mostly dance floor.”

With most of the tables cleared away for dancing, music is a major attraction and Pastorek is clearly impressed with the talented D.J.s at Insomnia.

“Supa Mike is probably one of the most popular D.J.s in the city,” he said. Other D.J.s include D.J. Al, D.J. Rockafella, D.J. Hollaback and D.J. Chill.”

Pastorek credits Shannon with lining up DJs and for creating theme nights to attract ladies and gents from 21 to 45 with fun party concepts.

“Rod books the events. He's like the marketing manager who comes up with the different theme nights, like a luau party, a 'Saved By The Bell' party, plus Mix & Mingle Mondays,” Pastorek said.

They have booked live performers as well, including the Michael Foster Project and Arianne 'The Creole Cutie' Deruise.

While Insomnia is a dance club and has no official menu, they often have a free buffet around 10 p.m. that can include egg rolls, shimp and crawfish fettuccinne, buffalo wings, onion rings, and typical bar snacks.