New restaurants and bars will open in South End and Lake Norman (and a floating bar!)
More cocktails paired with wood-fired pizza are on their way to the Charlotte area over the next two years as BAR ONE Lounge and 800° Woodfired Kitchen are opening new locations in South End and Lake Norman, while finishing an expansion at its flagship spot in the SouthPark area.
The scoop: Bar One is taking over the former Sycamore Brewing space in South End, and the lounge will also be home to Lake Norman’s only floating, boathouse-style bar when its new Mooresville home at Queen’s Landing is complete.
Bar One + 800° Woodfired Kitchen = a successful business pairing
Steven Jensen, who co-owns the concept with food industry expert Kyle O’Brien, said the pairing of Bar One and 800° Woodfired Kitchen is “different than anything else that’s out there,” leading to the explosive growth. The restaurant and lounge opened in early 2021 in Phillips Place.
“When you go down the hall from the dining room … you feel like you’re going someplace different,” he told CharlotteFive in an exclusive interview.
The entertainment industry veteran crafted the concept and design elements for Bar One based on Los Angeles bars he’s frequented since the 80s.
Even the Bar One name has roots in Tinseltown, although that original spot has since closed.
He credits their business style for making customers feel welcome — noting that they compensate staff well, among other perks. And that, in turn, pays off with a good experience for customers. In October, the restaurant even gave away free pizza for life to its 400,000th customer.
“Treat people the way you want to be treated, and people will come back,” Jensen said.
Bar One Phillips Place
The 86-seat expansion at the Phillips Place location is nearly complete, set to debut on Valentine’s Day. The new space will carry the same moody feel, with mahogany and leather seating, and dark walls hung with artwork.
Many of the design elements come from Jensen’s late night searches on Etsy or eBay, he said, explaining that he’s working to craft an environment where customers can relax and talk about the art on the wall, rather than just sitting on their phones at the bar.
He’s even put his own kids — 12 and 14 — to work at the restaurant. “They’re learning every trade, making pizza and salads. They know how to prep and bus and run food. They do it all and love it here,” Jensen said.
“We’re more involved. Me and my partner are here all the time … that vibe will transfer to all our locations,” Jensen added.
Bar One Lake Norman
In Lake Norman, Bar One and 800° Woodfired Kitchen will move into a 15,000 square-foot, two-story space.
Downstairs, guests at 800° Woodfired Kitchen can dine on refined dishes such as Filet Mignon or Woodfired Salmon, or savor the Prosciutto & Burrata pizza.
Upstairs, Bar One will feature a spacious private dining area with lake views and offer live entertainment.
Outdoors, a floating, boat-accessible bar on the lake will offer full service with 25 seats.
The plans are part of the Arnold Companies’ restoration efforts at Queen’s Landing. The restaurant project is expected to open in winter 2023.
Bar One South End
In South End, Bar One will move into Sycamore Brewing’s former space, which is now undergoing demolition for the transition into a luxury residential high-rise, complete with ground floor retail. It’s expected to open in early 2024.
The upscale cocktail lounge will serve a full lunch and dinner menu from 800° Woodfired Kitchen that’s specifically curated for South End. You’ll find the pizzas, salads and other fan favorites from the other locations, but with a few subtractions and additions.
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Southwick Architecture will design the 2,500-square-foot space to match the existing look of the Phillips Place location, along with the Lake Norman spot.
“What’s appealing to me is we’re really part of the fabric of the community,” Jensen said. “At the end of the day when we’re done expanding, we’ll employ over 600 people making 5 to 10 times minimum wage, with health insurance and matching 401K. To me, that’s more of an accomplishment than opening three restaurants. What people can look forward to is spending time with people and good food. “
Bar One Lounge and 800° Woodfired Kitchen
Location: Phillips Place, 6815 Phillips Place Court, Charlotte, NC 28210
Location: 1459 River Hwy., Mooresville, NC 28117 (projected opening winter 2023)
Location: 2161 Hawkins St., Charlotte, NC 28203S (projected opening winter 2024)
Cuisine: bar
Instagram: @bar1lounge
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
