Wednesday, April 9, 2008

More on Junior's bar

On Tuesday, e-mails and text messages made the rounds as people in the nightlife industry bubbled with the news: Junior will see the finished Whisky River for the first time tonight!


That word-of-mouth news helped fill the EpiCentre hot spot up on a usually quiet Tuesday night.


(A lot of the people I saw I recognized from the service industry. Sizing up the new competition, perhaps?)


Junior stayed hidden in his VIP booth with friends (including a gaggle of table-dancing girls) the entire night and closed the place down.


Also spotted at a reserved table near the main bar: Panthers linebacker Jon Beason with a couple of his teammates.


I last saw Whisky River in February when I had to wear a hard hat to get in the building. The finished product is a perfect melding of country and rock ‘n’ roll – from the cowhide-backed bar stools and a belt-buckle-trimmed bar to the giant lava lamps hanging from the black exposed ceilings and Bon Jovi coming from the speakers. Also sneaking into the playlist: Journey, Michael Jackson, Flo Rida, Nelly and Kenny Chesney. How's that for a mix of music?


I wouldn’t say WR is an entirely original concept. It felt like a cross between Dixie’s Tavern and Cans Bar. But Charlotte will respond well to it since it’s new and hot right now.


Indeed, the response has been so positive so far that the bar is hosting two grand-opening parties April 18 and 19. To get on the list, go to http://www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com/.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What happened to the Blade Runneresque quality we were originally told about?

Anonymous said...

Uh, honestly, on that mix of music -- pretty lame. If you can't get from Motorhead to Lucinda Williams to Robert Randolph & The Family Band in a half-hour, you ain't much trying.

I'll stay home and play pool with my boys. Thanks, Jr.

JAT

Anonymous said...

blah

Anonymous said...

bon jovi, flo rida, nelly? I'd rather sit at home and save my money than have to listen to that crappy mix

Anonymous said...

Wow what an "A" list crowd! How did you get in? The bar sucks. I think someone who writes a column like this should have some real world experience.

Anonymous said...

Some bad music, and I'm sure over priced drinks. Sounds like a Friday Night

Anonymous said...

Has anyone that has posted on this even been to a bar uptown in the last 3 years? The mix of music is exactly what all the other bars play, and what people respond to the most. Charlotte nightlife is never going to be ATL or NY City and I think most people are ok with that. The more bars we can have targeted to the 25-35 yr old range the better. They are the ones who spend the most money.

Anonymous said...

Nothing says A List crowd like the service industry. Tell me this, to be A-List do you have to be an hourly wage earner, or can you make a salary?

Anonymous said...

Wow.. Clearly everyone must be really wasted when they go downtown to think the other bars are better. Whisky river is AWESOME. Its somthing new for charlotte thats not a scummy hole in the wall with trashy people. Its a higher class place with a good feeling. Everything is high tech and new. Stop putting it down your guys are just envious of junior.

Anonymous said...

There's room for all type venues in a really great city. If Charlotte really wants to draw people here, it has to cater to varied interests. Those that choose to criticize everything here don't understand that this Epi-Center can bring positive effects for everyone.
I would think you would be bored with so many similar clubs; isn't that what makes Charlotte too homogenous?

Anonymous said...

While I can understand the strategy in a town like Charlotte - all these joints - Whisky River, Cans, Dixies, Grand Central, Alley Cat... they all play more or less the same tired ass music, the very same music that was being played on College street in 99 -played by some clown barking dumb asides into the mic, pushing jello shots and jaeger bombs. Same tired promotions - endless "pimp N' Ho parties, etc.

If you haven't had enough of "Livin On A Prayer" & "Funky Cold Medina" don't worry -at least one more venue going in the Epicentre will be playing the same exact stuff - just different upholstery and pictures on the wall.

Anonymous said...

Who on earth is that brunette server in the pict.? Wowzer.

Anonymous said...

doesn t matter, If you enjoy a place for an evening, its good. If you don t , then just move on. no need to put it down just because its not your taste. jr. just added another option. (grats jr. good luck)