Stallions on N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg will become Karma in July.
A longtime Harrisburg nightclub will get a fresh remix as new owners plan to make substantial updates.
Stallions nightclub downtown will become “Karma” as a Harrisburg couple is purchasing the club, which has for decades served as a hub for nightlife in the LGBTQ+ community.
“We want to bring to Harrisburg more of a diverse and dynamic nightlife experience,” said Nelson Mena, who will be the managing partner of Karma and co-owner with his partner George Fernandez, CEO of Harrisburg-based Color & Culture and Latino Connection.
Nelson Mena
Mena, who is a Dominican Republic native, is hoping to bring new life to the club, which has operated on N. 3rd Street since 1985, while also preserving it as a community establishment.
“We are aware that it has become a fixture in Harrisburg,” he said. “They’re iconic, and we don’t want to erase the legacy. But we want people to receive a breath of fresh air.”
Stallions will remain open as the club transitions leadership and names, with a planned opening as Karma in July, Mena said. The club will at no time be closed.
Mena said that Karma will offer an “elevated” experience with dancing, live music, DJs, cocktails and entertainment.
The couple plans to freshen up the building with light renovations to modernize the style. They will begin by keeping the first floor and basement space open, while doing work on the second and third floors and in-house chef’s kitchen.
“People are going to walk in and see amazing updates,” Mena said.
Special events will include drag brunches, karaoke, happy hours and all ages events, among other activities.
“I’m so excited for our community,” Fernandez said. “Stallions was my first LGBTQ+ club experience. Finding a space where I could be myself was a gift. This isn’t something just for Harrisburg, but for our entire region.”
Mena is looking forward to bringing a vibrant nightlife scene for the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Harrisburg—something that he’s experienced in the Dominican Republic and during his and Fernandez’s travels.
“Every time I step into a club, specifically an LGBTQ+ club, I tell George the same thing—we don’t have this in Harrisburg,” he said. “I’ve always thought about owning a club.”
When he and Fernandez found out that the Stallions owners were looking to sell, they jumped at the opportunity, Mena said.
“It felt like it was meant to be,” he said.
The business’s new name, Karma, references the rebirth and reincarnation of the club, Mena said. To help fulfill that new vision, he is also looking for local talent—bartenders, singers, dancers, drag performers and more to get involved with Karma.
Mena also plans to implement a security team to ensure the safety of all patrons.
“We want to make sure everyone feels welcome and safe,” he said.
Karma will be located at the current location of Stallions, 706 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit Karma’s website.
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