In her newcomer’s column last week, the Observer’s Leigh Dyer wrote about Daddy’s American Bar & Grill. It’s Stefan Latorre’s new sports bar at the corner of Church and Fifth. It used to be Twist and, before that, City Tavern.
Several readers wrote to Leigh complaining that uptown doesn’t need any more sports bars. We have Fox & Hound, Stool Pigeons, Picasso’s, Champions and the Graduate.
Instead, some readers requested a martini bar for 30-40 year olds, but that market is saturated as well. Center City already has Tutto Mondo, Therapy and Loft 1523. Plus, every upscale restaurant’s bar has an extensive martini list.
What does uptown need that it doesn’t already have? Here’s what we have so far: two Irish pubs, a ton of upscale restaurants, martini bars, a couple of neighborhood pubs, three mainstream dance clubs and two delis that turn into dance clubs (and a live music venue is coming.
What’s missing that would really be supported?
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
What's missing uptown?
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13 comments:
How about an uber upscale club? something that simply oozes with decandance, glamour and money?
Something visible and welcoming for Gay and Lesbian people maybe? It seems the City doesn't want to acknowledge we exist.
My response is going to be controversial, and many won’t like it, but in my opinion what Uptown needs are some family style, inexpensive chain restaurants. Like a Fridays or Chillis. Places like Fox & Hound and Rock Bottom cater too much to the “lets eat and get drunk before we go out” crowd. They’re practically bars/clubs, not restaurants. And there are way too many “Fu Fu Shi Shi” expensive places.
I like that Uptown now has a wide variety of venues to choose from i.e. sports bar, martini bars, beer bars, etc. I would like to see uptown get an "observation deck" in one of the new skyscrapers. Many cities have observation decks in their downtowns i.e. Empire State Building in NYC, Arch in St Louis, Prudential in Boston, etc. Charlotte needs one!
I agree that Uptown really needs a very nice, upscale club. There are too many simple bars and mid-range nightclubs. There is really nothing for the young professional crowd who wants to be in a club, but in a nice, classy environment.
Uptown, uptown, uptown....the area needs so much...let's see...
A variety of street-level brand name retail like H & M, Bloomingdale's, French Connection, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, HMV, Barnes & Noble Book store, A|X Armani Exchange, Discovery Channel store, Theory, Zales, Stride Rite, and Jennifer Convertibles.
A Times Square style Chili's and Red Lobster would be good. A street-level McDonald's, Popeye's Chicken, and something similar to NY's Papaya hotdogs would work as well.
A year round flea market with a variety of vendors and live entertainment would be good.
More upscale international cuisines are needed on main streets in Uptown.
ESPN Zone or NBA Restaurant, Hard Rock Cafe', BB King's Blues Cafe', and a few high-end billiard lounges.
Exclusive "street-level" nail, hair, and pet grooming salons.
Street-level bakery, flower, stationary, and party shop.
Street-level post offices and accounting/tax offices.
Such amenites would attract more business and visitors to Uptown.
Uptown, uptown, uptown....the area needs so much...let's see...
A variety of street-level brand name retail like H & M, Bloomingdale's, French Connection, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, HMV, Barnes & Noble Book store, A|X Armani Exchange, Discovery Channel store, Theory, Zales, Stride Rite, and Jennifer Convertibles.
A Times Square style Chili's and Red Lobster would be good. Street-level McDonald's, Popeye's Chicken, something similar to NY's Papaya hotdogs would work as well.
A year round flea market with a variety of vendors and live entertainment.
More international cuisines on main streets in Uptown.
An ESPN Zone or NBA Restaurant, Hard Rock Cafe', BB King's Blues Cafe', and a few high-end billiard lounges.
"Street-level" nail, hair, and pet grooming salons.
A street-level bakery, flower, stationary, and party shop.
Street-level post offices, accounting/tax offices.
Such amenites would attract mores business and visitors to Uptown.
I don't really have a specific venue to suggest for Uptown, but it would be a lot nicer if everything didn't shut down at 2am. Who says the party has to end just because we can't buy liquor by the drink anymore?! That is the biggest issue I have with Charlotte. Period. I am utterly embarrassed when my friends from other large cities (Atlanta, DC, Brooklyn, etc.) come down here to visit me and "Mother" Charlotte tells us to head home by the time the 'last call' comes around. The only place that has a real party going on is Crystal's--and what cute, classy crowd want's to hit that spot every weekend? It's okay every blue moon, but come on. Surely I am not the only person that feels that way. Am I?
Fewer gel head Yankees running around with square toed black loafers (with or without the large sized silver buckle), dark jeans, and that stupid striped shirt that they all wear with the varying width, multicolored stripes. I see that guy everywhere, and I hate that guy. That guy is why I seldom go downtown. He's a huge DB.
I agree LJ, it's time Charlotte become a 24 hour city! Come on it's 2007!
It's not about the establishments. The establishments cater to the people in the current market just fine. The problem is that the people are boring. Uptown desperately needs a college student presence. There needs to be a significant uptown campus, UNCC or other. This will bring 24 hour living to the city and a more youthful and interesting cross section of people. With that will come cheap food places and hip clubs.
Charlotte - specifically uptown - needs some flavor and diversity. "Upscale" clubs end up being the same old main stream crap. There needs to be more venues for people who like an alternative to cheesy top 40 and bad house music.
Off topic but I feel this must be posted:
"The gel head Yankees" dress a hell of a lot better than you probably do. I'm sure your attire consists of khaki pants with a polo shirt that is most likely tucked in and some stupid boat shoes or flip flops and a shaggy hair cut or shaved skin head. Even people my age (early twenties) dress like they are 40 year old golfers. And you wonder why it takes so long for nice stores to come here...
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