What’s the deal with 3 high-profile restaurants that closed in September?
East Boulevard seems to bring in a tough crowd these days. While the strip of restaurants and shops has blossomed with newer locations like cocktail bar The Queen & Glass, plus longer-time favorites like Copper, 300 East and The Summit Room, two places shuttered suddenly at the end of September.
The Rogue
1315 East Blvd., Suite 130
This Irish pub opened barely a year ago, with the initial intention to be called Milestone. The name got a bit of pushback, since Charlotte already had a beloved music venue called the Milestone Club. The pub was dubbed The Rogue instead, and was designed to screen soccer, rugby and football games while serving up beer, frozen Irish coffees and Irish-inspired pub fare.
The Rogue was locked and dark when we passed by on Wednesday, Sept. 19, and the website shows a note about being under construction (with blue waves rolling across the screen).
The explanation: Staff did not respond to an email inquiry about the closure, although a group called The Queen City Outlaws that sought The Rogue as a soccer viewing party location wrote in an email that “sadly we were informed that due to family issues The Rogue will be closing permanently.”
Babalu Tacos & Tapas
1511 East Blvd.
This taco joint (excuse me, this Southern-style tapas restaurant with a Latin flair) made it a tad longer, after opening in summer 2016. The Cuban name was a nod to an old Latin American music standard known as “Babalú.” It was an interesting concept when I tried it during the soft opening week, but the food wasn’t as vibrant compared to the Cantina 1511 (pre-2012) in that same space. The guac made tableside was good, as was the warm corn salad, but the tacos we absurdly tiny.
The explanation: Charlotte Business Journal reported that Babalu had closed when Hurricane Florence started rolling in, and then chose to not reopen. Babalu Dilworth’s Facebook status sharing the CBJ link was simple on Sept. 20: “Sadly, it’s true. Thank you to all of our loyal Dilworth fans and neighbors. We hope to see you at Waverly!”
So yes: Although Babalu closed in September, another location will open in the Waverly development in 2019.
As for Uptown closings…
Cantina 1511
205 N. College St.
Speaking of Cantina 1511, the third location of this restaurant (sold to different ownership by FS Food Group in 2012) just shut its doors. It had only been open since fall 2017.
Another location exists in the StoneCrest shopping center, as well as in Park Road Shopping Center.
The explanation: Uptown Cantina’s PR group shared an email announcement on Sept. 28 about the restaurant closing at the end of the same month, with team members transferring to the other two locations. Meanwhile, Dick Campbell, owner/operator of Cantina, has another venture up his sleeve with a new partner. The new concept will be called Poco 1511, set to open within the next few years.
My only question: Why keep the “1511” with this new concept, when it was a reflection of the original restaurant’s address? Either way, fingers crossed for tacos.
This story was originally published October 2, 2018 at 1:45 AM with the headline "What’s the deal with 3 high-profile restaurants that closed in September?."