Retro Bar brings '80s and '90s nostalgia back to Uptown
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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 closure 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.
