A Western bar from the ’80s and ’90s is back in Charlotte. Here’s when it opens
Pull on your cowboy boots, Charlotte. A Texas-style blast of the past — Nickyo’s Rodeo — is on its way to liven up South End with drinks and songs.
The Western-themed bar is slated to open Wednesday, June 25, a representative told CharlotteFive.
Nickyo’s first operated at 731 Providence Road in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood from 1985 to 1994. Now, the Bottle Cap Group is bringing it back to life once again in a 8,600-square-foot, 85-year-old building with exposed wood trusses on Bland Street, near the Rail Yard.
Business partners Valerie Brewer and Britton McCorkle were among the many Charlotteans who enjoyed nights at Nickyo’s, owned by siblings Nicky and Bessie Panos. Nicky Panos was known as a lively innovator in Charlotte’s nightlife, and sister Bessie often took to the stage to sing karaoke.
“The original Nickyo’s was really an amazing place, and not just for its time,” McCorkle said in a news release earlier this year. “Bringing it back for the Charlotte of today — to be a place for living life to the fullest — is a goal we had and something we’re very excited to be able to do. We will do our best to make Nicky and Bessie proud.”
The new Nickyo’s Rodeo was designed with the help of The Plaid Penguin to become an unpretentious and fun bar accented with bold colors and witty illustrations. Visitors will find subtle nods to Nickyo’s Rodeo’s history, along with Western-themed tributes.
Look for a stage with karaoke and live music, plus a DJ booth. Outside, an expansive courtyard known as “The Outpost” will feature a satellite bar and a second area for live music, along with a rotation of food trucks.
Nickyo’s Rodeo
Location: 120 W. Bland St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @nickyosrodeo
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM.
