Having weathered the pandemic, Plaza Midwood’s Snug Harbor celebrates the 15-year mark

At the corner of Pecan and Central Avenues, a crane hovers several stories over the parking lot where Plaza Midwood landmarks like Sammy’s Deli, Elizabeth Billiards, Yoga One and Family Dollar once stood. The CVS still clings to the corner lot, but many of the old stops are gone.

Yet, across the street from CVS, an unassuming brown building with faded picnic tables out front flies its pirate flag sign.

This week, that neighborhood bar/live music venue — Snug Harbor — is celebrating its 15th anniversary with back-to-back nights of special live shows.

Thursday marks the return of Shiprocked!, the dance night that started it all. Friday welcomes New York-based Afrobeat guitarist (and one-time Fela Kuti sideman) Kaleta and Super Yamba Band. Saturday, Charlotte’s Yardwork (once one of the city’s most popular acts) reunites for a special anniversary show with Boone’s Naked Gods.

The lineup is indicative of Snug talent booker Zach Reader’s anything-goes style when it comes to building the schedule.

Over its history, Snug Harbor has hosted Country Tuesdays, the LGBTQ-friendly Shiprocked!, rap and break-dance battles during Knocturnal’s run, weird theater, rock operas, cook-offs, and swap meets — in addition to its standard indie rock, punk, and local rock.

“The diversity has always been here,” says general manager Chris Burns.

“And we try to match that with the booking,” McCannell adds.

“It’s hard booking a venue that size,” says Yardwork’s Taylor Knox, whose duties at Tremont Music Hall included lining up the bands. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen something on the calendar at Snug and thought, ‘How did they get this?’”

Much of the club’s success can be attributed to its ability to continue to attract a young clientele without losing the previous generation.

“They don’t live in the past,” Knox says. “They keep up with what (younger crowds) want to see.”

‘I knew it would work’

McCannell was 14 when he started going to shows at the Milestone.

When he was still in high school, he began booking local bands to play fundraisers for The Relatives’ youth outreach program, where he was part of the Youth Advisory Board. He worked at NoDa’s Fat City and the Steeple (where Peculiar Rabbit now stands), and spearheaded short-lived shows at nearby Dish. He also booked occasional shows at the Room/Mojo’s and Tremont Music Hall.

He says he learned a lot from original Tremont and Dish owner Penny Craver. “She said, ‘There’s no money in it,’ but I knew it would work,” he says.

He and a former partner teamed with the late Kelly Call, opening Snug Harbor in the space vacated by Fire & Ice. “The biggest thing is the place is run by musicians,” McCannell says. As sound engineer, he delights in surprising touring bands with the sound quality and his overall demeanor.

“We win them over,” he says.

Over the years, it has hosted music legends Slick Rick, the Pharcyde, Andre Williams, and Mike Watt.

Burns, who’d worked nearby at Thomas Street Tavern and the Diamond, was eager to join the team and started manning the door during Shiprocked!

“They take care of the staff and it trickles down,” Burns says.

“The location is cool. They get good shows,” adds Knox, “but the staff makes that place.”

During the pandemic, which shut down Snug for 15 months, staff members — most of whom had been there for over a decade — were able to get unemployment. On top of that, the owners (including Brooklyn-based Derrick Ghent) teamed with other venues to lobby for aid and rent relief, while Dilworth’s Just Fresh actually delivered boxes of fresh vegetables to the employees each week during the shutdown.

When Snug Harbor re-opened, most of the employees returned.

Since then, the club has started quarterly charity concerts where proceeds will benefit a local non-profit; its first benefited to the Mutual Aid Free Store, which provides goods for homeless people in Charlotte.

And its owners hope Snug can keep doing what it’s been doing for as long as it can.

“It is scary watching everything,” says co-owner Scott McCannell, who remembers similar gentrification on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street and Philly’s South Street, places where arts districts gave way to chains like Gap, Starbucks and Ben & Jerry’s.

Stores like CLTCH have helped Gordon Street retain its funky vibe, but quirky second-hand shops like Century Vintage, Stash Pad and Buffalo Exchange — and hip hangouts like Reggae Central and Nova’s Bakery — have moved or shut down.

“It’s crazy to think we’re one of the older businesses along with Common Market, House of Africa, and Mama’s Caribbean Grill,” McCannell says. “It’s been interesting watching the neighborhood evolve. There’s always new faces.”

Snug Harbor 15 Year Anniversary Celebration

When: 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Where: Snug Harbor, 1215 Gordon St.

Tickets: $10 Thursday; $15 Friday and Saturday.

Details: www.snugrock.com.

This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 1:21 PM.