Cocktails, cornhole + a dance floor: New entertainment venue opens in South End
Sip and nosh, play games or dance the night away at Charlotte’s newest entertainment venue.
South End Hideaway officially opened May 14 at the corner of West Bland and Mint streets. The sprawling two-story locale was most recently home to Slingshot Social Club, which closed in late March after six years in business.
Olsen Hospitality Partners acquired the space soon afterward and has wasted little time reimagining it as the city’s next hotspot.
Designed as an “intentional social destination,” South End Hideaway will lean into a relaxed hangout vibe during the day, then transition to a “dance-driven environment” with live DJs at night.
Creative director Jabari Bradford described it as a bar, arcade, dance hall and lounge under one roof.
“We’re really bringing the best elements of these four aspects together into one space ... because it’s so massive,” Bradford told CharlotteFive.
The 15,000-square-foot space includes two full-service bars, a kitchen and two dance floors (one upstairs, and the other downstairs). There are plenty of games, too.
Think: darts, billiards, corn hole, cards and other group activities.
You can also catch your favorite sports game with friends on one of the venue’s 27 TVs or reserve space for a private event.
The goal is “hospitality first,” Bradford said. “For us, we’ll make sure that our customers feel like they’re at home. And that plays a part in our furniture setup — everything is living room-style, very cozy, very lax.”
“What we want is a neighborhood feel in a luxury space.”
The food menu is still evolving but currently features artisan grilled cheeses and other light bites. Bradford said the venue is in the process of bringing on a new chef who specializes in Nicaraguan cuisine.
As far as drinks, customers will find the cocktails both “incredible and affordable,” with average pricing around $13. Local beers are also on draft alongside a curated list of wines.
For the music lovers, DJ J Good serves as South End Hideaway’s resident DJ. The venue, which focuses on House music at its core, will also host local DJs to come in and spin.
“There’s different realms of (house music) and we’re gonna hit all of them, as well as the timeless music that everyone loves to sing along to,” Bradford said. Expect pop hits from the early 2000s and today’s Billboard top hits.
“More than anything else, we want people to feel comfortable,” he told CharlotteFive. “We want people to feel welcome.”
South End Hideaway
Location: 332 W Bland St B, Charlotte, NC 28203
Cuisine: Bar, light bites
Instagram: @southendhideaway