Even before the crowd arrives for opening night, a walk through Mynt Ultralounge conveys the feeling that Calgary is about to get a new, long-overdue nighttime experience.

Mynt, opening Jan. 29, is spacious on all three levels. But, thanks to elegantly designed architectural components, there is an inviting coziness to all the sections where patrons will assemble.

The three partners who’ve created this new kind of ultralounge anticipate the sort of spontaneous energy that unfolds in your private home when a party breaks out in the kitchen.

They’ve certainly set the stage for that kind of fun. Located at 516C - 9th Ave. S.W., Mynt is designed to offer what many find lacking in the city’s standard nightlife – a place where bright, self-assured Calgarians can have a drink, relax, mingle, dance, converse and enjoy each other’s company.

From left, Darcy Chalifoux, Ramsey Haymour and Renny Klinot have invested considerable time, money and creative juices to come up with the perfect venue for the corporate crowd. Mynt Ultralounge is located at 516C - 9th Ave. S.W.

Service will be paramount in this gimmick-free environment. Bartenders, mostly female, and other staff will treat the clientele with the warmth and respect at night that they’re accustomed to during their working hours.

“Women, especially, will come in here and feel comfortable, and all the corporate clientele will enjoy an atmosphere of great fun in a beautiful place,” says Ramsey Haymour, one of the three young Calgary entrepreneurs who’ve built Mynt Ultralounge.

Haymour, Renny Klinot and Darcy Chalifoux – owners of Lucky Lounge on 17th Avenue S.W. – have spent their whole careers working in the lounge and restaurant business, learning it from the ground up. All aged about 30, they’ve based their vision of Mynt on what makes them and the women in their lives feel comfortable and entertained while out for the evening. They aim to correct what this city lacks.

“I think Calgary’s been shortchanged till now,” Klinot explains. “Calgarians need a venue that’s at the class level this metropolitan city deserves, and it really hasn’t had anything like that.

“There are a lot of places in this city you can go to for drinks and music, but they’re just barns with a paint job.”

In contrast, Mynt is aimed at the corporate and social elite. No ear-shattering music, TVs or pulsating lasers here. On all three levels, Mynt is a harmonious blend of classic components that, viewed together, have an edgy, 21st-century feel to them.

Cherrywood floors and panels are complemented by fine granite surfaces and an intriguing use of glass panels. These interior windows give patrons a view of bartending and other activities in adjacent areas.

There will be custom drink tables. Seating consists of cabana-style, slightly raised booths, plus stools and chairs in a variety of combinations. Between them and each level’s expansive bar are stretches where dancing will undoubtedly break out – but they aren’t segregated as official “dancefloors” that might intimidate anybody who hasn’t yet been hit by the urge.

The whole idea is to relax and be assured of natural enjoyment, not the stress of someone dictating this activity or that.

“It’s in an atmosphere where first and foremost, people feel comfortable,” Haymour says.

“They don’t feel like there’s any expectation when you get in there. When you walk in, you know what you’re getting but at the same time it leads into a lot more.”

The extras include an interactive menu created by award-winning David Cox of Muse, one of the top restaurants in Canada, let alone Calgary.

Augmenting this concept is the range of music. DJs will spin discs to create several moods, while in one area bongo players and a sax player will trade solos or sometimes serve as backup to classy, energetic vocals with a European or Latin flavour.

Mynt’s rooftop lounge is set to open in the spring. Downstairs is the O Room, an oval-shaped section that has the feel of a 32nd-floor club, not a lower level. Part of Mynt’s public area, the O Room can be booked for corporate functions. The three owners’ extensive entertainment connections will benefit patrons who take advantage of Mynt’s “concierge menu,” a service designed to provide a wide range of offerings that include pre-bookings for concert tickets and other attractions.

As Klinot shows a visitor around, it’s clear this nightspot is a dream come true for him and his partners. A dream that’s about to become a reality.

“I love my job. At the moment, it’s a lot of business work, paper, numbers and decisions, so I keep coming in here” – he says, waving a hand at the Mynt interior – “for a break, and just to enjoy what it has become.

“We know Calgary’s going to love it. Once people have sampled the Mynt experience, it won’t be necessary to entice them back. It’ll be a favourite place to come for a relaxing drink and good, clean fun.”

For further information, call 262.6968 or go to www.mynt.ca