Nightlife News: Sports One, Vida Vida, and Daddy’s Money Opening Soon

Hope springs eternal, and with the season soon upon us, some new venues are getting ready to open, hoping to make an impact in the Charlotte area nightlife scene. 

 

Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina has been a go-to spot for authentic Mexican food and cocktails since opening at the EpiCentre in September 2010. Now, the owners are taking over the space next door to bring you Vida Vida, which promises a fiesta seven days a week, featuring killer tunes and a rockin’ bar, in addition to its food offerings. The grand opening for Vida Vida, which is occupying the space formerly used by the Skye Condominiums sales office, is expected to take place later this month. You can sign up at its website for free tickets to the VIP Grand Opening. Vida Vida, at EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St., thevidavida.com.

 

Before Peter Thomas was known to many as a co-star on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta (he’s married to model and show co-star Cynthia Bailey), he made his name as an entrepreneur. Among the industries he’s found success in is nightlife, and he currently operates Bar One in Atlanta. Now, he’s trying his hand in Charlotte, as he prepares to open Sports One. There have been reports over the last two years about Thomas opening a venue here, and he confirmed the opening of Sports One when he appeared on WCCB News Rising recently while in town during CIAA Week. He’s opening this venue in partnership with his friend and former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart. Sports One is taking shape in the building that last housed Luna Lounge, which has sat vacant since summer 2012. Thomas and Stewart are putting the place through an extensive renovation, as they transform it into an upscale sports bar, and Thomas has been touting that Sports One will open sometime this month. Sports One, 521 N. College St., twitter.com/PeterThomasRHOA.

 

Bottle Cap Group operates some of Charlotte’s most popular nightlife venues, including Oak Room, All American Pub, Whiskey Warehouse, and Brazwell’s Premium Pub. Now they’re taking their talents to South Carolina. The group is preparing to open Daddy’s Money, an age-18-and-up college bar across from the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill. The space was last home to Firewater 110, but Bottle Cap is taking it back to its origins—Daddy’s Money was the original name for the bar and live music venue that opened there in the 1960s. The new incarnation will feature a completely renovated interior with an open floor plan, making it ideal for DJs and dancing. There will also be an outdoor patio. The venue is scheduled to open this spring. Daddy’s Money, 110 S. Cherry Rd., Rock Hill.  

 

A few days after hosting an enticing Super Bowl party, Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill in University City closed for good on February 7. The franchise is based in Texas, where there are a dozen locations, and there’s one in Oklahoma City; Charlotte was the only other location outside of the Lone Star State. For five years, Charlotte patrons had access to “America’s Only Sports Breastaurant,” which is Bikinis’ slogan. If you never visited, and if you can’t tell by the name, the waitresses wear bikini tops and short jean shorts, which draw frequent comparisons to Hooters. bikinissportsbarandgrill.com, facebook.com/BikinisCharlotte.

 

Right after we rang in the New Year, I wrote a blog post here on Dusk Till Dawn titled, “5 Things That Would Improve Charlotte Nightlife in 2014 (and Beyond).” And when I shared the link on Twitter, it drew great debate, particularly my assertion that Charlotte should allow bars and nightclubs to serve alcohol past 2 a.m. My opinion was that they should “give us one extra hour and it would do wonders for improving the nightlife scene.” Apparently, my thoughts on this in Charlotte are similar to views shared by some in Boston. The New England city is creating a Late Night Task Force, at the request of its mayor, and they’ll “look at how [Boston] can foster a safe and vibrant late-night culture.” It should also be noted that, like Charlotte did in 2012, Boston hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2004. And according to this newspaper editorial, Bostonians have longed for improvements to their nightlife since they were preparing for the DNC. And whereas in my list of suggestions for improving Charlotte nightlife, I proposed that our LYNX Blue Line light rail begin running later on weekends, Boston is about to kick off a late-night weekend service with its transit system.