Thirty years ago in June, Rodney Mayo opened a new club on Clematis Street that no one could have predicted would become a South Florida mainstay. The former Salvation Army building became the hip place to be for music fans. To this day, people can go Respectable Street and not be judged, and this will be celebrated at their 30th anniversary block party on September 23.

The venue has gone through some small renovations over the years, including a covered stage near the back patio bar, but the premise remains the same: Be a place that offers something different. With numerous clubs and bars opening and closing on Clematis Street over the past three decades, Respectables has stood the test of time through a small, approachable group of people who all want the same thing, says Ates Isildak, band booker at Respectables.

“Respectables is the alternative to the other top 40 clubs,” says manager Allan Bowron. This year’s lineup boasts big names, including post-punk revival band She Wants Revenge, and plenty of local favorites like surf rockers Octo Gato, post-punk/New Wave group Astari Niteand banjo-punkers Everymen. The block party will feature an open bar from 8pm to 9pm, free pizza and 26 other bands, all showcasing the diverse South Florida music scene.

She Wants Revenge debuted on radio airwaves in 2006 with “Tear You Apart,” a raunchy track with choppy guitars that made listeners feel naughty and sexy, reminiscent of Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” Their gothic rock stood out among the many emo and pop-punk hits of the mid-2000s and, like Respectables, became a welcome alternative to the norm. The band hasn’t released a new album since 2011’s “Valleyheart,” but their 2016 non-album single “Never” harkens back to the sound of their first album, full of angsty heartache and New Order-like synths.

Turning 30 is a milestone to be celebrated. It’s an age that is still young but respects experience and learning in many of life’s lessons and tribulations. Respectables and its loyal followers will revel in this at the end of September. To say the club has aged like a new wine might be cliche, so we’ll switch out the “fine wine” part for a cold can of PBR.

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