The History of Banana’s Maxi Disco, the Legendary Nightclub of El Romaní That’s Still for Sale
- Dj Music Mag
- Jan 26
- 6 min read
To understand the history of Banana’s Maxi Disco, now in ruins and overtaken by vegetation (many still recognize it when passing by the AP-7 highway), we need to travel back in time to its origins.
It all began in the late 1970s, in the agricultural region of El Romaní, in the district of Sollana, near the Sèquia del Romaní, on the Molí road. At that time, a party hall called Galaxy was inaugurated, which soon became known as Galaxy 2002. However, it was only on September 17, 1982, during the golden age of Valencian nightlife, that the venue reopened with a new name and concept: Palace (or Macro Disco Palace), marking the beginning of a new phase that would define the scene.
After undergoing further name and management changes, in the spring of 1987 (or possibly 1989, according to some sources), the nightclub finally adopted the identity by which it is best known: Banana’s Maxi Disco. In its later years, it was also called Banana’s World Music, especially after its reopening in May 2009, until its definitive closure.
The success of Banana’s Maxi Disco was primarily rooted in its exceptional organizational capacity and the outstanding performance of its team, including the public relations staff, house employees, security personnel, dancers, and DJs. Moreover, its unforgettable parties and the presence of celebrities who frequented the venue significantly contributed to its fame. The club even hosted various contests, such as Miss competitions. Another standout feature was its impressive capacity, with reports claiming it accommodated between 7,000 and 9,000 people inside (figures that seem exaggerated) and up to 15,000 in its parking areas, which often flooded when it rained and became impromptu party spots for large gatherings.
Banana’s continuously adapted and improved various aspects to attract its audience. One notable enhancement was the renovation of the indoor dance floors, creating more pleasant and comfortable environments. Another highlight was the expansion of its garden terrace, which transformed it into one of the most attractive and impressive spaces among the discos of its time. The garden terrace hosted all kinds of parties, featuring a stage, dressing rooms, a runway, pools, and more. Some of the most significant events took place there, including the Miss Valencia and Miss Comunitat Valenciana competitions, as well as numerous festivals organized by renowned national radio stations.
These events always attracted prominent figures from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, society, and even sports, solidifying the venue’s status as an icon of the region’s nightlife.
When it came to musical styles, Banana’s featured a techno or makina dance floor (the famous "remember" floor, which in its early days also hosted national pop-rock until the lighting, decor, and sound system were completely revamped), along with the so-called “pachanga” or commercial floor, and the party floor. All of them were constantly updated and adapted to new musical trends or different phases, such as the Sunday after-parties at Friend’s (and, of course, many of us still remember the iconic Krystal Garden). At its peak, the club boasted a total of five dance floors.
Over the years, hundreds of DJs from various genres played in its booths. Among the resident DJs were notable names such as Vicente Ferrer, Pablo (the first DJ), Alex Selfa (DJ of Krystal Garden), Rafa Marco (DJ of the commercial floor), Patt Brown (also of the commercial floor), Charo Campillos (who worked at Palace), José David Martínez (DJ of the Remember cave), Paco Robles, Ernesto, Joel Muñoz, Jaijon, Iván Sanz, Javi Palmero, Paco Banaclocha, as well as the legendary Friend’s DJs (Nacho Penades, Eddu Reig, Salva Cotanda, Paco Cuevas, Richard Paris…). Many others were part of this story, and we apologize for not being able to name them all.
But here's the thing: Banana’s Maxi-Disco’s success also stemmed from several unique features that other nightclubs didn’t offer. One of these was the “disco train” or “banana train,” a pioneering train (with cleaning services) that departed directly from Valencia’s Estación del Norte and stopped at El Romaní, the small village in Sollana with about 300 residents where the club was located. Every weekend, the venue was swarmed by crowds of partygoers. The train was introduced to make it easier for people to reach the nightclub and to reduce the number of attendees driving, particularly given the numerous police checkpoints, which were sometimes stationed right at the parking lot exit.
The nightclub welcomed groups of friends, couples, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette events, and all kinds of people looking for a night of fun at a venue that, for many years, reigned supreme in the nightlife scene. Banana’s was a staple in festival calendars and nightclub magazines of the time, such as the well-known “La Cartelera” from the newspaper Levante-EMV.
Many who visited the El Romaní nightclub still remember some of its iconic spaces, such as the glass dome or the legendary pool, where more than one person, at some point, decided to dive in (often fully clothed), returning home soaked.
Furthermore, there were other elements which, although not mentioned in this article, many will surely remember for the typical antics of the time. Who doesn’t recall the long lines to get in and the go-go dancers entertaining people in the parking lot? And the so-called "Besódromo"? In one area of the nightclub, featuring a walkway, a show conceived by a man named Eduard (from Barcelona) was held. Usually, participants danced in front of the crowd waiting in line, and the prize was a kiss or other surprises – all in exchange for a small symbolic fee.
The glass-walled structure and the massive spotlights (visible from kilometers away before even reaching the nightclub) were trademarks that set Banana’s Maxi-Disco apart from any other venue.
But, as everyone knows, in Valencia’s nightlife, all things come to an end. In numerous press articles, some even including statements from the then-mayor of Sollana, Vicent Codoñer (like in The Industrial Future of El Romaní), it is mentioned that the overcrowding and disturbances caused by the nightclub’s patrons to the residents of the pedania eventually led the Sollana Town Council to take action. After a community mobilization, the club was permanently closed at the end of 2013 when the Town Council revoked its operating license due to an unpaid debt of approximately 20,000 euros.
However, the truth is that the nightclub had already died before it was officially shut down. Why? Because no one wanted to risk driving and facing breathalyzer checkpoints on the road when they could simply go to a nightclub in the capital or closer to home. Thus, it was no longer profitable for business owners to keep the venue open or invest in it. That, my friends, is the harsh reality.
Below, a video from 2015 and another from 2020 showing the state of the venue.
You can see more than 200 photos of Banana’s parties at Bananas Maxi Disco from the late 1990s – Levante-EMV.
In recent years, Banana’s parking lot and the nightclub have been transformed into one of the best airsoft fields in the Valencian Community (some even say it’s one of the best in Spain). It is a well-designed CQB-style field (featuring indoor and outdoor areas, short, medium, and long distances, tunnels, etc.), offering a unique experience for families and friends. During the health crisis in 2021, it served as a set for the Movistar series Paraíso, which renamed the venue after the series’ title. The airsoft field remains active and can be visited by booking in advance (contact information available on Google Maps).
Since March 2024, the portal Mies Inmobiliaria has listed the nightclub for sale for €2,850,000, through the links MIES INMOBILIARIA VENDE BANANAS or MIES INMOBILIARIA VENDE BANANAS 2, with the following description (note: this is not the first time the nightclub has been put up for sale):
“Discoteca BANANAS Maxi Disco.”MACRO-NIGHTCLUB OF THE VALENCIAN PARTY SCENE, in El Romaní – Sollana, Valencia.It was one of the most emblematic nightclubs in Valencia, hosting up to 9,000 people indoors and 15,000 in the parking lot. It featured three rooms, including a large garden, and a distinctive glass façade that made it easily recognizable. This icon of the party scene is now available for sale, waiting to be revived and reopened. Currently, it has no operating license.
The property includes:
1,407 m² for events,
22 m² of office space,
795 m² of storage,
284 m² of sports area,
Totaling 2,498 m² of built area (according to cadastral records) and 30,980 m² of land.
It is a three-story building designed as a leisure and restaurant complex, consisting of a semi-basement, main floor, and mezzanine levels. It offers great potential as a facility for entertainment and hospitality, with an iconic name that evokes the golden era of nightclubs in the Valencian Community for thousands of people.
By explicit mandate of the owner, we market this property under an exclusive or multi-exclusive contract, through which various collaborating agencies, both national and international, offer this property to potential buyers, ensuring quality service, easy handling, and no interference from third parties. For this reason, we kindly request that you do not disturb the owner, occupants, neighbors, or any building or urbanization staff, if applicable. Thank you very much for your understanding.
The description of this property and the images are provided for informational purposes only and do not have contractual value, as they may be modified by the real estate agency without incurring any liability to third parties. The indicated price does not include taxes, fees, or notary expenses.
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