The Hoofers Club existed just before the 1920's. It was around up until the mid 1940's in the heart of New York's Harlem next door to the Lafayette Theatre on 131st street and Seventh Avenue.

The Hoofers Club was to be found in a small room in the back of a basement gambling club formally called The Comedy Club run by the proprietor Lonnie Hicks (Later on the club became known as the Hoofers Club.). Situated two doors away from the Lafayette stage door entrance, a set of stairs off to the Right of the Lafayette descended down to the big wooden door of basement club.

The Hoofers Club was basically a room set aside by the proprietor Lonnie Hicks for dancers who wanted to practice, teach, learn or just see what other dancers were doing. There was very little teaching of Tap Dancing in the early years, as it was some thing the lucky few received if you were able to gain favour and trust of one of the great dancers. The room was available 24 hours a day and at times the conditions in the room due to the seasons of the year were not always good, but the room provided a unique environment. Dancers could come here and try out there moves in front of other dancers who were there inspiration, in order to possibly get advice or valued opinion, you could pick up a few valuable tips if you were lucky.

Along 131st Street and Seventh Avenue in front of the Lafayette Theatre was the original location of an elm tree, which was called "The Tree of Hope". This added to the mystic of The Hoofers Club location.