Daddy's American Bar and Grill became the latest casualty of the cursed corner of Fifth and Church streets.
Count it among the string of failed restaurants in the location: City Tavern, Twist, Palladian Bistro Lounge, etc.
I want to know: Why is that corner location such a failure? Only the corner of Scott Avenue and East Boulevard rivals its bad luck. What should go there next? What could make it successful? Post your comments below.
52 comments:
I live at Avenue right across the street from Daddy's. You are right -- we didn't frequent the place because it was so loud you couldn't talk, regardless of the time. Once we asked to turn down the music in our section and were told that they couldn't control individual sections. This was around 7PM -- not exactly club hours when you might expect the music to be at such a ridiculous volume.
I hope something will be successful there soon. It's so convenient for 300+ residents in our tower.
Makes me wonder just how much of the menu was trucked in and how much was fresh. For primarily a bar, you might be able to get away with the freezer truck, for primarily a restaurant, not so much -- not much above fast-food prices anyway. Then the rent had to be substantial.
JAT
I think there was a place called Quasimodo's there, too, and they failed (obviously).
Probably what needs to go there is something that is NOT a restaurant or bar. The location is obviously cursed.
Me and a group of co-workers had a fantasy football draft there. As a place to view sports, it stunk. Thanks to the high ceilings and lack of big TVs, it wasn't good to watch games. It had a bunch of smaller TVs around that never did it for me. That was my one and only visit there. I always went down the street to Stool Pigeons after that.
The new restaurant at the corner of Scott and East Blvd is now 131 Main, and the place is always packed. The reason is that the food is excellent, and priced correctly.
The right concept would work in that location as well. It's all about the food, the price, and the concept.
A bar/lounge would be nice. Maybe a retail store? If restaurants aren't working, why doesn't somebody try to open a clothing store or something?
Speaking of closed bars, I hear Alley Cat is the next to lock its doors due to general suckiness.
Charlotte really does take Darwinism to a whole new level when it comes to bars, doesn't it? 'Thrive or die' seems to be the lesson of the day.
Screw bars, we need more nightclubs.
The location at Scott and East is a rediculous $26,000 a month in rent...and no parking...you have to have crazy volume to cover costs...I wish 131 Main the best of luck, the place looks great...more intimate
First off ,Daddy's closed beacuse the food was awful.The interior of the place made you want to sleep and the service was the worst around. So location had nothing to do with this one.With that said, I say try a NY style (no,not from NY) bagel store.
Shame if Alley Cat closes. It's the one place uptown that has a diverse mix of ages. It would also be a huge blow for live music uptown. Nothing about the bar had "suckiness". It just wasn't a nightclub which it sounds like you prefer. There's plenty of those to go around and we don't need anymore. What we need is more music venues like Alley Cat and places for the 35-55 year old crowd. There's plenty of us living uptown with money to burn but not enough places to go without rubbing elbows with 20 year old obnoxious drunks.
As far as Daddy's goes, it was a total dive and needed to close. I too live across the street at the Avenue and the spot is ideal for a small gourmet grocer to go in. Something like Reid's but offering more things such as organics, high end hard to find beers and wines, imported cheeses and such. Harris Teeter is nothing more than a Food Lion anymore. Hell, they just removed their tiny 3 foot section of high end beers. What's next, an entire aisle dedicated to liver mush ?
The place was very poorly run. It was only a matter of time. Took the same route as Belle's, and probably for the very same reason...
For starters, it was incredibly TACKY!! You didn't even have to walk inside to know that it was poorly designed.
Well SARAH , If I may say we have a RELIGIOUS RIGHT here that makes the drinking pool much smaller here; Charlotte is really watching drinking and driving I do think People in the bar call the cops when you stumble out the door; I had heard years ago MADD has look outs go to bars and cell phone authorities when you walk out to your car. I dont blame them but you can see what cost a few drinks could cost you . I think Bars will have to have a VAN running like a cab and with a certain fee take People home . People are afraid of the embarrasment of the court thing.
Lets face it, Charlotte puts the same kind of Business right next to each other and once someone hears that some other establishment is making $30,000 a month everybody starts doing the same Business; They have to have greater regulation here SARAH ; Whats happening for only 1 million People with incomes not like Washington D.C. just simply cant happen.
I do think greater regulation and Business codes could help this matter; This is not NEW YORK and like the AMERICANA CAFE' in Pineville , that opened for a week and then closed' found out the hard way; To many things are being opened here without a business plan and no thought. The pool of shoppers here are small ,unlike Washington D.C. where there is 7 million People and some change. IM so smart Im really so smart I cant believe myself sometimes I get up in the MORNING and admire myself and then have a cup of coffee.
we don't need more nightclubs. uptown needs more retail, stat.
uptown needs a loooot more retail to keep up with the bar/restaurants.
Another location that seems to be cursed is(was) the Quaker Steak and Lube at Park Rd Shopping Center. The first time I went to QS&L I thought it was great...decent wings, upbeat motorsports atmosphere with lots of big TVs. The food went downhill, and it was too large of a venue to rely on the bar. The size of the venue, I think, has hurt the previous restaurants at Scott and East Blvd.
Palladian actually did fairly well there if I remember correctly. I think they closed more due to the fact that some of the staff was skimming large amounts of cash.
seriously, the comment ab Charlotte drinking & driving...??? what a**hole doesn't just walk to the corner and hail a cab?? it's this whole concept of getting home without driving yourself. brand new. you should look into it.
Alley Cats is garbage. 40 year olds dressed like they're in their 20s is never appealing to anyone.
I know many people who did not go to Daddy's because of its no smoking policy. When you immediately eliminate 30% of your market you likely won't succeed.
Plus, the two times I ate there the hamburgers were raw in the middle. Ick.
It's neighbor is a grave yard. Not too appealing.
The staff at Daddy's let people smoke long after the no smoking was established. That was a joke.
As far as 40 year olds dressing like they are 20, would you rather they dress like your grandma ?
Beside, no 40 year old would want to dress like you 20 something gangsta wanna be morons. Hair shaved so skin tight you may as well enlist in the service. Get with the times Charlotte 20 year olds. Take a vacation elsewhere in the country and take a good hard look. Your look is the one that's out dated.
Don't get all defensive just because you're old and your glory days are gone.
If you call 39 old then so be it Bud. I rather fall over dead than to be a 20 something from this generation ( no offense Sarah)
Alley Cat should cater to the 30 and 40 year old crowd. We need more of that uptown and we are the ones with the cash to keep it afloat. Unlike you trying to impress the ladies on your parents allowance and your milk money.
You are so laughable.
they should open up a diner that is actually affordable. or some freakin retail
Uptown needs some new blood - seems everything is owned by Harpers, Latorre or Pierre Bader!
WAFFLE HOUSE!!!
Lets just say Charlotte needs a lot more things for ALL ages - 20 somethings and the old people. Hahahaa.
Most everything Stefan touches turns to crap.
Latorre's is decent, Aquavina is over-priced and the food is not that great. Ususally so over cooked and so over seasoned you don't know if your eating shrimp or fish. The portions are way too small for what you spend as well. Menage was a flop because he has no idea how to manage rest.\clubs. Belle's BBQ was a last ditch to save face and that didn't work either. It should be noted if you have that type of money and you want to open a rest.\club. Hire a manager with a successful background give him your opinion once and leave him be. let that person strive and make your establishment successful. Pay your mgmt good money, stop being so greedy with the profits. They will come in time.
A 24-hour diner would be CRAZY successful in that location. You've got all the elements: close to nightlife, close to residences, highly visible location, enough space for comfort but small enough for intimacy.
Daddy's just had too many things working against it:
- Creepy name
- Not much of a regular crowd
- Prices that were too high for the food quality
- Not really a bar, not really a restaurant
- HORRIBLE place to watch a game
BTW, the "drunk driving" guy above is the same dude from Ohio who used to spam these boards till they died. If I were the administrator I'd go ahead and delete those posts.
A diner would be a great idea....there is a diner in Denver, Co called Paramount that is cool...something like that would be great!
A strip club - male and female !
I think they should replace Daddy's with a Foam Party Club...who doesn't like foam parties? I heard that's where all the cool celebs party
How about a Spam museum.
how about a multi-story club with a slide that goes through a room filled with foam and ends at an ice bar? and pay "celebrities" to show up so people will go.....AND serve food!
thats what we need!
European Dance Club.
The music at Hom is mediocre at best (save guest DJs like Lee Burridge), and the space is chic but not suitable for dancing.
Forum has a great space, but musically-caters to the college student with ADHD.
A real European-style dance club would be packed every weekend. It'd be great to be part of a decent scene without jumping on a plane.
:-)
I never went to Daddys but I went to Twist all the time when it was in that location and I loved that little club. Daddys menu was a turn off to me, it looks like every other chain restaurants bar menu. I would love to see more places that cater to the 30+ over. I love to dance and party but I hate being around drunk 21 yr olds who are screaming and dancing all up on you.
More bars willing to hire something other than the same-old, same-old classic rock/80s cover bands. If I walk into a place with one of those playing-I immediately walk right back out. Club owners are afraid to do anything else (and I don't mean bring in Indie Rock bands either). It's a shame.
How about another Bar Charlotte or Have a Nice Day... those places are rad
i think a Hooters would do fine. Good food, name brand, and plus uptown needs one. Atlanta has one downtown that i've been to a couple of times, it always had business.
Well to all the anonymous, you all have some very interesting comments about the bar/club scene in Charlotte. Let me make some comments from an insiders view that knows most all the bars/clubs owners and management. 1st- Alley Cat is not going anywhere as they are the 3rd largest liquor buying account in NC (only following CLT airport and Forum). They are running a top notch operation and offer CLT somehting new and unique for all. Someone mentioned Hooters, and yes they want in Uptown, BAD! My sources say 1 block away from Daddy's is there #1choice. On Daddy's, that was closed to make room for something bigger and better, not to far away, so don't give up on that location just yet, as I think we may all be suprised. As far as the thoughts to have more BAR and Have A Nice Day, not a CHANCE. BAR will stay for now, but the NEW UPTOWN club scene will be GO BIG or STAY HOME. The Charlotte party goer has dictated to all owners, you spend big before I will (ex. HOM, Alley Cat, Forum, and everyone in the Epie Center). Till next time my views are needed, The Liquor Man
I wanted to read all the comments but must get back to work...
My comments are these:
1. Daddy's closed for the simple reason of poor concept that lacked originality in an already over crowded nightlife industry in downtown Charlotte.
2. Alley Cat is NOT a 35-40 year old+ bar with people dressing like they are 20. Go on a Thursday night and you will have the elbow your way past young hot women. I dont know how old you are but the younger girls are my target age... please no rebuttal to that.
3. What should go in that spot? I think retail and a Reid's style grocer was a great idea. If bar/rest is to remain I think downtown needs a dueling piano bar (but i think one is going into the epi-center called Howl at the Moon). If not this would be a good spot for one.
Slash
i had only been to daddy's twice. once last year as part of the amazing race and once to see the hinges play. and they asked them to play quieter. with all the pittsburghers now residing in the queen city, someone should coax pirmanti bros. to put a shop dead center between the brugh and FL... you want to talk about late night food that would thrive? that is the ticket!
-theYerg
I think a good franchised sports bar would work there, it would need to be low overhead limited items, plenty of beer specials and open to "everyone". I think a Buffalo Wild Wings or a Hooters would work pretty well, Hooters for out of towners...lets be honest guys pay for hot chicks boobs and cheap food. BW3's cheap food and limited wait staff, used a internet juke box that has all music on it not just country or rock. Uptown doesn't have neither one of these places and most cities our size have one or the other in their downtown area.
Of course Thursday's at Alley Cat there are a bunch of hot young girls, isn't Thursday traditionally college night meaning you could be hitting on an an 18 year old? Could we just get a nice bar with some pool tables good music and some room to spread out and mingle not have to be all up on everyone in order to have a conversation?
Have A Nice Day... please come back.. i'll bring all my friends from here in Gastonia.. promise
Whoever suggested a diner is a genius. Late night party-goers flock to Fuel, Pita Pit and the various hot dog vendors. It would make sense to add something diner-ish as Uptown has nothing of the sort.
For the clown who loves Alley Cat-
That place blows. The reason you think 20 year olds look ridiculous is because of the type of 20 year olds who frequent Alley Cat. Go to a real bar. Uptown isn't lacking in them. Not only will you find people your own age, you'll find younger people (i.e., pretty much everyone) who aren't the typical clientele (read: thugs and pimp wannabes) Alley Cat attracts. Problem solved.
tWe live Uptown - and I'll tell you what a lot of us up here would like. We would love, love, love to have a place that ISN'T a bar - ISN'T expensive where you can go enjoy some basic unasuming vitals... Not many of those around anymore. How 'bout a good old fashion diner? Don't tell me rent - look at how many New York has that have been there forever! Even an I-Hop would be great. I'd say open a Penquin III but at least Alley Cat has them yummy burgers (not closing - just a rumor).
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