The owners of Cantina Charlie’s have closed their Toronto location (they still have a Niagara Falls club by the same name) in order to redesign and repackage the space, and release it to the masses as The Cabana Club. Remaining tropical, they stuck with a warm-blooded theme (we Torontonians really do glamourize the southern climes; are we in denial?) and christened the new club with the new moniker.

While Cantina Charlie’s colour scheme was aquamarine and, um, aquamarine, Cabana Club has heightened the class factor, removing the Kitsch; gone are the on-stage showers, the surfboards, the bikini-clad waitresses, and the college-humour slogans that once lined the walls. The new look is all wood (maple stained dark or painted white) with light golden fabric for curtains and cushions. After an extensive renovation, the ceilings on the main floor curve like white waves and eleven private cabanas (naturally) dot the club.

Bringing something cryptically different into the club scene, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies are served to bottle service patrons. Seriously. Owner Jan Wrobel says he’s taking a page from Las Vegas where clubs give VIP patrons something special. As opposed to the rest of Toronto clubs that keep lines of 100 people outside when 25 are in the club, Cabana is trying to think of their thirsty clubbers first, with bottle service starting at $99, flat screen TVs with DVDs for each cabana, and free limo service. Also, they have an embargo against pointless buzz lines. Jan explains that, unlike Toronto or New York, Vegas has too much competition to chance faking lines - potential patrons will just leave. It's a model he hopes will serve him well here.

Another unique factor, the club has an expiry date. Everyone knows clubs come and go faster than The Flash. Writing for Martiniboys.com I’ve often covered the same physical spaces – but with new names - over shockingly short periods of time. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever covered a club that says they know they’ll only be around for just over two years. However, as is the case with much of the real estate in Toronto, the building that houses Cabana Club will become condos in 2011. The terminal status gives the club a don't-take-it-for-granted value.

Inside, DJs play everything, from top-40, house, and rock to classic tunes. Friday nights are Floorgasm Fridays (I’m not quite sure what that means and I don’t really want to know). The two rooftop patios will be further developed in the summer months and for now the lower patio will allow smokers to stare in and down at their non-freezing friends on the dance-floor (who will also live longer, by the way).