Monday, February 2, 2009

The Press Box closed?

Montford Drive's Press Box quietly closed its doors about two weeks ago, confounding fans of the bar with little explanation -- but word is that it is under new ownership and will reopen its doors within the next two months after undergoing renovations.


It's not clear whether the new owners will keep the Press Box name.

The historic sports dive -- it was one of the first bars in Charlotte to serve liquor by the drink -- first changed ownership a little more than a year ago.

Its warm-weather deck is a popular hangout in the summer months and it has a loyal following of longtime regulars.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The owners used to have a guy there that ran it and he kept the place going. he was a good bartender and offered good service. Something happened and they let one of the owners wives/girlfriend take over operations. She ran it into the ground. Kind of stinks they used to have good food and offer a good place to hang out. Once she was there more the place was not the same. What a shame

Anonymous said...

This is terrible! The Press Box is one of the first bars I ever had a drink in Charlotte more than 20 years ago.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if that 15-year-old petrified french fry is still stuck between the bar and the upholstered rail?

704Champ said...

I noticed this on Friday, and was sad.

Anonymous said...

yup its too bad, Spanky used to run that place and it was Awesome! Everybody loved him, then when he left it wasnt worth going to anymore!

Anonymous said...

My friend inexplicably played The Fray on the jukebox there during one NFL Sunday. After that everything got weird and I just stopped going.

Anonymous said...

Used to go all the time after softball games. I never ate there again after I watching a roach saunter around the ceiling and, at just the right time, plop down in the middle of our cheese fries.

But the beer was always cold and the deck is pretty cool.

Anonymous said...

The place awesome 2 owners ago! But it went quickly downhill when this "dude" started wearing bandanas tied around his leg. ...such a shame.

Anonymous said...

Didn't really stop by anymore ever since former owner Mark left.

Anonymous said...

I had the high score on the Silver Strike bowling game. Anyone know a good electrician?

Anonymous said...

Oh wow - I first visited the Press Box back when they sold the "Matheny Burger" & potato chip fries now that tells you how long ago that was.
So sorry to hear about your closing

Anonymous said...

only bar I know of where you can play porn on the big screen at your good buddies going away party.

Anonymous said...

They used to serve the best chicken there...I think it was called Nelson's chicken...

winner winner

Anonymous said...

I liked it with the big red booths and no windows. Mark and Kristen made that place what it was. Not much fun since they left.

Anonymous said...

Mark is the man! I'll never forget watching the Steelers beat the Colts in the 2006 AFC Championship game there and playing fan ball with Scottie's going away party cake. Great memories.

Anonymous said...

I hope they re-do the bathrooms. i think people have been arrested for less at rest areas than what went on to get to the second stall.

Anonymous said...

I went to a party there once and someone threw a cake into the ceiling fan. As one might expect, mass chaos ensued. The surprising part was that the owner was cheering the whole thing on. I love that place!

Oh yeah, and the Nelson's chicken was good too.

Anonymous said...

sad sad sad. Really hoping someone reopens it and doesn't change it and make it gay.

Anonymous said...

There were rumors that there was more than one robbery there due to some of the 'characters' that were regulars and tended to carry a lot of cash.

I thought it was a decent joint, some friends loved it. But it's rep fell the past few years, big time.