Archive for the ‘bars’ tag
B's Restaurant & Sports Pub, 2742 North Lake Drive: 17 December 2023 1 comment
B's was the follow-on in this location to Beef O'Brady's, and opened in late 2018.
According to their Facebook, 17 December 2023 was their last day, which is not a bad run given a pandemic in the midst of it.
Commenter Andrew reports the space is setting up to be Cheesy Pint Pizzeria.
(Hat tip to commenter Andrew, I believe)
Granby Grill, 612 Whaley Street: 24 September 2023 3 comments
Granby Grill was the follow-on operation in this storefront to White Duck Taco Shop. It wasn't really on my radar because of the location, but judging by their Facebook, which took a very good-natured approach to their closing, as well as tweaking The State for only noticing them at that point, the owners seem to have a lively sense of humor. In fact, they namechecked me in their opening announcement on the White Duck closing post, and I certainly take no pleasure in closing that loop.
The Facebook entries go on past the closing date, and it appears they were working on other concepts for the place, first burgers and then perhaps biscuits. I'm not sure if either of those will happen, but the biscuit nameplate is up, and the door was unlocked and ajar when I dropped by to get these shots, so we will see what happens.
(Hat tip to commenter Logan)
Henry's Restaurant & Bar, 2108 State Street: January 2024 2 comments
Henry's (part of a local chain) sat at the corner of State & Frink streets in Cayce, in the building which hosted a number of former restaurants, including B & B Corner Bar & Grill and 2108 Bar & Grill.
According to stories in The State & Coladaily & on WLTX, the state's liquor liability insurance regulations were a big factor in the closure. However commenter Tom points to this WIS article which may point to specific reasons their insurance might be in question.
(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)
Rockaway Athletic Club, 2719 Rosewood Drive: 17 January 2024 6 comments
Well, that was quick, dang it!
I had some inchoate plans to finally get to Rockaway either for supper last Friday, or lunch last Saturday, but in the event the news of the closing spread so quickly, and the crowds were so thick that the club ran out of supplies several days in advance of their announced 21 January closing date.
Rockaway Athletic Club was one of those places I would think about two or three times a year and decide: Oh yeah, I've finally got to try that place out, but in the event I managed to go decades without ever stopping by and having the famous Pimento Burger, and now it's too late.
The State has the story, as does The Free Times.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
(Hat tip to commenter Heath)
The Cotton Gin, 632 Harden Street: 25 November 2023 no comments
As mentioned in the closing for New Brookland Tavern, that operation will be moving to this famous storefront on Harden Street. What wasn't clear to me from the stories (The State & The Free Times) was exactly what was to happen to The Cotton Gin. When I went by Five Points a few weeks ago, it appeared to still be open, and there are recent Google reviews. I still have not seen anything in the media pinning things down, but judging from their Instagram feed, it appears that 25 November will be the last day for The Cotton Gin.
Kentucky Fried Chicken / McCary's Bar & Grill, 851 Bush River Road: Fall 2023 7 comments
McCary's Bar & Grill (the sign suggests McCary's Sports Bar & Grille, but the Facebook page doesn't support that) shares a parking lot with the phone & loan building that featured here last week.
Judging from the Google reviews, this place probably closed around September of 2023, though given their last Facebook post was 22 June 2023, and there was a shooting there on 28 June 2023, it's possible they did not re-open after that.
I'm not sure how long ago this incarnation started, but the building has been a bar as long as I can recall. The reviews suggest there was not much Irish about it beyond the logo and name at this point, so possibly the ownership changed sometime in the past.
UPDATE 6 December 2023: Adding Kentucky Fried Chicken to the post title based on comments from KC & Brandon.
Tabu Nightlife, 700 Gervais Street: 2010s no comments
I just ran across these pictures of Tabu at 700 Gervais Street, and realized I hadn't seen that locomotive in a good while. I believe the spot is now occupied by Tsunami, though I could be behind on that as well.
There's not a lot of information online, but the place is referred to in the past tense in this 2016 State article, so it was definitely gone by then. This Free Times article suggests that the club shared ownership with the now demolished Pure Ultra Lounge on Berryhill and featured an Urban playlist.
New Brookland Tavern, 122 State Street: December 2023 2 comments
I thought I had some daytime pictures of this place, but in the event I can't find them. The nighttime shots are suboptimal because of a big streetlight in the wrong place, but they'll have to do as a placeholder.
The New Brookland Tavern has been in this spot seemingly forever, with very few changes over the years. I Believe the last time I was there was to see The Explorers Club, which whould have probably been August 2011. At the time I recall thinking that the place was pretty ragged, and judging by the stories about the place moving, it doesn't sound like it has gotten any less so.
The building has been sold recently, and the Tavern's lease expires at the end of the year, so they plan to have the final shows in December, and hopefully find a new home in the new year.
You can check out upcoming shows for the final season here.
The story has featured several times in local media. You can read The State stories here & here, and the Free Times story here.
(Hat tip to commenter Tom)
UPDATE 2 October 2023: Added a (still not great) daytime shot.
Aiken Brewing Company, 140 Laurens Street Southwest (Aiken): 17 March 2023 3 comments
Well, it's the summer doldrums, so posting has been light, and will continue so for a while, but here's a bit from out of town.
When I lived in Aiken, I worked in Augusta, so I ended up eating supper over there more often than not, but I certainly did eat at the Aiken Brewing Company a number of times over the years. They had a decent burger, and while I'm no beer connoisseur, I thought the porter or stout was pretty good. I guess I last ate there sometime in the fall of 2022, when it was still pleasant to sit outside on the sidewalk. When I went back recently, I found that the place was closed, and this story indicates that the owner was retiring. More recently, this story says a new restaurant will be locating there at the end of summer, but I did not see any indication of ongoing work, which seems a bit odd.
The Friar's Club / Ole Place Club / (The New) Ole Place, 3311 Two Notch Road: November 2022 no comments
This place goes back at least into the 50s when it was The Friar's Club, then it was Mary's Celebrity Supper Club, and then it was Ole Place Club, and, possibly after Mary Dixon's passing, (The New) Ole Place. I believe through all those times, and the ups & downs of Two Notch Road, it remained a membership-only bar & grill. Judging from the activity on their Facebook page it appears they closed around November of 2022.
Be sure to checkout the Celebrity Club link, and I have a picture of the Friar's Club on a postcard somewhere I will try to get uploaded.