See inside: Valhalla reopens in Uptown with expanded space, new second floor
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
Valhalla is back — just in time for Charlotte FC playoffs and football.
Why it matters: The beloved Viking-themed pub and game day spot, which has been serving pub food and cold beers at Uptown's Brevard Court since 2011, has reopened after months of renovations to modernize and expand the space.
Catch up quick: General manager Catey Watkins tells Axios the remodel was a long time coming.
- But what started as a two-to-three-week project in July turned into months of delays due to inspections.
- The newly refreshed Valhalla reopened over the weekend — just ahead of Sunday's Panthers-Bills matchup.
What to expect: The renovations, which include an all-new second floor, have doubled the restaurant's capacity, jumping from 86 to 163.
- Upstairs features its own bar, plenty of table seating and four TVs — three behind the bar and a central screen that can stream four games at once.
- The upstairs area will also be used for private events.
On the ground floor, there's new flooring, and the bar has been pushed back to maximize space.
- The restaurant also has a new kitchen that's three times bigger. But the menu — full of classic bar foods and entrees like fish and chips, burgers and salads — remains unchanged for now.
Yes, and: Possibly most importantly, jokes Watkins, there are twice as many bathrooms as before, with the addition of two more restrooms upstairs.
The intrigue: The original Valhalla, housed in a building that's over 100 years old, Watkins tells me, was mostly gutted, but the renovations reclaimed the wood wherever possible.
- For example, the new tables are made of the wood from the original downstairs flooring.
- While the restaurant was closed, Watkins says keeping staff employed was a priority. To make that happen, employees became deeply involved in the renovation, pitching in on everything from cleaning and organizing to sanding and staining new tabletops.
- "Everyone had a hand in it," says Watkins.
Context: Valhalla shares ownership with other popular bars in the area, including Brevard Court's Courtyard Hooligans, Crafty Beer Guys and Dom's Dive.
What's next: Finishing touches, including a conference room and decor, are still underway.
Stop by: 317 South Church St.
- Open Monday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight and Sunday 10am-10pm.