Here’s why The Dock, Marriott City Center’s speakeasy-style bar, closed temporarily

UPDATE: The Dock reopened April 1. (This is not an April Fools’ joke.)

Remember The Dock, the speakeasy-style bar at Marriott City Center that opened in November, the one you access from the loading dock? Well, if you haven’t made it over there yet, you’re going to have to wait a little while.

The Dock, which was only open to the public from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays, has temporarily closed, less than two months after it opened.

I first read about the closing in Creative Loafing’s QC After Dark blog. Writer Aerin Spruill said that she showed up to the bar on a Saturday earlier this month only to be told by an attendant that “The Dock had been shut down by the fire department.”

That’s not totally accurate: I reached out to the fire department, which said it was a building code issue, not a fire department issue. But either way, the bar is still closed.

I reached out to the Marriott to learn what happened. Talib McDowell Sr., the hotel’s Director of Guest Experience, told me via email that the closure was temporary.

“Due to the popularity of The Dock, the hotel will need to make some changes to the space to improve accessibility,” he said. “It will be closed for the next few months for the work to occur and reopen by the spring.”

I replied with follow-up questions and also left a message asking for more information, but I haven’t heard back yet. I’ll update this story if I hear anything more about the changes and when the bar will reopen.

But until then, it looks like you’ll have to find another speakeasy-style bar to drink at from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. on Saturdays.

Photos: Katie Toussaint

This story was originally published January 25, 2017 at 11:55 PM with the headline "Here’s why The Dock, Marriott City Center’s speakeasy-style bar, closed temporarily."