Tropical-themed bar The Royal Tot reopens under new ownership

The tropical-themed bar in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood will operate in a soft opening phase for the next few weeks, meaning it’s still staffing up, and it may have limited hours.

What’s happening: Previous owner Scott Gadd of ETA group sold the bar to Greg Walter, a real estate investor and owner of Greg Walter Realty.

• Last month, The Royal Tot posted to Instagram that they were closing permanently. Rising costs of supplies, Royal Tot’s location and the difficulty of bringing a new concept to Charlotte were all reasons for the closure, previous owner Scott Gadd told Axios. 
• Walter reopened the bar on June 15 after it was closed for nearly a month.

Why it matters: Walter says he wants the Royal Tot to be an alternative to the breweries and crowded strips of bars in Charlotte.

• “I think it’s a great space,” Walter says. “I can imagine some really phenomenal parties here.”

Flashback: Gadd, who owns other local businesses like putt-putt bar Stroke, opened the Royal Tot in early 2021. Last year, the bar also temporarily closed for staff training and general maintenance.

What to expect: The Royal Tot will keep many of the same drinks, in addition to a few new cocktails and drinks that will be “more accessible in terms of price,” Walter says.

• The food menu is entirely new with an Asian flair, including shareables like Malaysian beach tacos and teriyaki meatballs.
• Because the bar’s in a soft opening phase, be sure to call or check its website to confirm it’s open.

What’s next: Beginning Thursday, July 6, the bar will throw a grand opening celebration. “We’re going to be doing a big party on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Walter says. Each party will have a different theme and drink specials.

Details: The Royal Tot is located at 933 Louise Ave Suite 350.

• For now, they’re open Monday-Tuesday 4pm-midnight, Wednesday-Thursday 4pm-1am, Friday 9am-2am, Saturday midnight-2am and Sunday 10am-11pm.