2 days ago
Retro Bar brings '80s and '90s nostalgia back to Uptown
Retro Bar is a new throwback nightclub opening in Uptown this weekend.
Why it matters: Longtime bar owner Mike Palladino is betting that a bold, retro concept — and a bit of nostalgia — can help revive Uptown Charlotte's nightlife scene.
Driving the news: Retro Bar is soft opening Friday at 200 N. Tryon St., in the space previously occupied by SIP Bar & Cellar, also owned by Palladino.
Context: After 13 years running SIP, Palladino is transforming the space into Retro Bar and Retro Cellar, aiming to fill the void left by Roxbury's 2023 closur e and recapture demand for old-school music venues in the city center.
Between the lines: Palladino is also the co-owner of Must Be Nice in South End and has several decades of experience hosting parties in Charlotte.
The vibe: The two-level venue will feature retro hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s, and a dance floor on both floors.
The main floor offers a laid-back lounge with old MTV-style videos and a disco ball; downstairs, Retro Cellar is a darker, mirrored space with dance vibes and pop icons projected through the mirrors.
Its bar will feature the classics, plus six specialty cocktails ranging from $16-$20.
Palladino hopes the venue will become a pre- and post-show stop for Blumenthal visitors and a staple for those craving throwback nightlife.
If you go: Grand opening weekend begins Aug. 22. Be patient and kind to your servers as they get their bearings during the soft opening weekend.
This Friday, Aug. 15, it'll open 8pm-2am. On Saturday, Aug. 16, it'll open 5pm-2am.
Retro Bar is opening just in time for Sunday's Charlotte Pride Parade, which passes directly in front of the bar. On Sunday, Aug. 17, it'll open 12pm-2am and it'll host a Pride parade afterparty.
