Norfolk might be known for its history, beaches and award-winning breweries, but boot scootin’ is alive and well thanks to the port city’s number one country bar, The Banque. From the outside, newcomers may be wary of what The Banque has to offer. The 7,000-square-foot line dancing venue is, after all, sandwiched between several chain stores in an unassuming shopping center on East Little Creek Road. Don’t let its location fool you though. As soon as those front doors swing open, visitors can rest assured that they’ve found the party.
Guests are greeted by a massive dance floor (photo above by Mike Rice/M. Rice Photography) flanked by dozens of dining tables and three full-service bars. Suspended from the ceiling and casting a prism of color across the room is a custom-made rhinestone saddle—this country bar’s nod to the disco ball. Along the walls you’ll find massive murals donning famed country artists like Dolly Parton and Hank Williams, just to name a few. In fact, a number of well-known artists including Alan Jackson, Leeann Rimes and Little Texas have graced The Banque’s main stage before making their big break. Today, the voices of those very same artists now boom through the speakers of The Banque’s dueling DJ booths, enticing guests to get up and dance.
The Banque recently celebrated its 50th year as Norfolk’s premier dancing destination. The name behind the nightclub’s five decades of success is none other than Dennis Doughty. Doughty, or Mr. Doughty, as he is more affectionately known, is a compassionate man with a keen eye for business. In the early 1970s, Doughty had a vision to transform an open-air supermarket into a nightclub. While his idea was bulletproof, the club’s finances were not.
“Long story short, we got about three-quarters of the way built and ran out of money,” says Doughty. “Virginia National Bank on Little Creek Road was the fifth bank I contacted and who finally loaned us the money [we needed to complete the project].”
To pay homage to the bank’s generosity, Doughty ditched the nightclub’s original name, The Front Page, and opted instead for the Fifth National Bank. “We later found out that National Bank couldn’t be used, so we went for the French version of ‘bank’ and that’s how we got our name,” explains Doughty.
By 1973, The Banque was a fully established live music venue. Guests arrived in coats and ties to marvel at showbands and later in their dancing shoes to boogie down to well-known dance bands like The Rondels and Hotcakes Band.
“About two or three years after we tried the dance bands, The Banque converted to disco,” Doughty says. “We had a lot of competition back then because every bar was going disco. The way I rectified that was by [leasing] a space at the end of the shopping center. We decided to build a disco over there and get a couple of golf carts to shuttle people back and forth between the [live music venue and the disco bar]. That way people could get into two clubs for the price of one.”
Come 1980, the disco craze died down and Doughty sought new inspiration. A country band dubbed The Heavy Cowboys called Doughty and asked to perform at The Banque. “I remember I could hardly hear because the band was rehearsing, so I said, why don’t you come by next week and we can talk,” says Doughty. “A week later, [The Banque] was country and western.”
From its western decor to the staff’s Southern hospitality, The Banque has stayed true to its country roots for four decades. Doughty credits much of his success to the dedication and hard work on the part of his staff. “Our staff has anywhere from two to 18 years of experience working at The Banque. Most even [weathered] COVID with me. In fact, they knew we were being hurt by the pandemic, so they made t-shirts and sold them out front every weekend we weren’t open,” remembers Doughty.
Doughty’s appreciation for his staff is felt tenfold by those who work for him. During a private birthday celebration in September, several staff members took the stage to thank Doughty for his generosity, encouragement and support. Current and former Banque staff showered Doughty with compliments, crediting him with jump-starting their careers, challenging their professional aspirations and in some instances, providing them with the family they needed most.
Doughty’s love for people is tangible. Rather than indulging in the fun himself, the guest of honor was busy arranging tables and guiding people towards the buffet during the 50th birthday bash. Doughty’s selflessness and high expectation for both quality and respect are without a doubt his key to success. Anyone who has the pleasure of meeting Doughty will quickly realize the character of a man who prefers to shine the spotlight on others than on himself. And we’ll be damned if the spotlight isn’t burning bright on the hardwood planks of The Banque’s lauded dance floor.
On any given Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, The Banque is a packed house. Dancers take to the stage with unparalleled enthusiasm and talent. Many Banque regulars credit their moves to The Banque’s famed dance instructors, Lynn, Janene and Lacy. Guests too shy to take on the main stage can arrive early for free dance lessons at 7 p.m. or saunter over to The Ranch, a smaller-scale dance floor and dedicated practice room at the front of The Banque.
“Our guests truly are our entertainment. A lot of folks that come in to have dinner stay for an hour or so just to watch people dance,” says Doughty. “There are so many styles of dancing too. It’s not just a line. It’s two-step, waltz, 10-step and couples dances.”
The fun continues with karaoke in The Saloon, an enclosed, smoker-friendly space at the back of The Banque. The Saloon is outfitted with its own bar, stage, billiards and seating. Doughty notes that The Saloon isn’t strictly for smokers, but also for those who want a reprieve from the liveliness of the main room. “All in all, it makes my heart happy that I have done a good job at eatin’, dancin’ and havin’ fun,” says Doughty. “The Banque truly is one-of-a-kind.”
