After 20 years, Vinnie's Grill & Raw Bar has closed up shop at its South Boulevard location.
Former general manager David Luckey said the restaurant's last day of business was Sunday. The closure is permanent, he confirmed.
He said the general economic conditions had caused Vinnie's to struggle. "This economy makes everybody broke," said Luckey, who was helping to clean out the restaurant Thursday afternoon.
There are no plans to close the second Vinnie's location in Mooresville, which remains open, Luckey said.
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
Vinnie's Grill & Raw Bar closes on South Boulevard
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50 comments:
Hmmmm, funny that other restaurants in the area are doing well. Could it be that patrons got tired of average food and having the homeless drinking at the bar? The last time I was there I made a decision that it would be my last.
This place sucked from the inception.
Right, blame everything on "the economy". Never mind competition, places that serve better food at better prices, or who have more courteous staff. And the place lasted twenty years?!? Consider yourself lucky. But we all know it's just because of the economy.
Remember going there years back. Food was fair, oyster were good. Recently very dirty, service poor and did see the "homeless" drinking at the bar? The last time about two years ago and also, made a decision that it would be my last.
I only went there once, for lunch about 14 years ago. My plate came with a roach attached. I never went back.
The economy? Come on. How come every other restaurant in South End and Dilworth is doing fine? It's because the food was bad and the place was dirty. I've been there once in 99 and again about 4 years ago. It was the same. Never went back. Every time I drove by Vinnie's, I was surprised it was still open.
The economy is to blame? Yeah, right! I'm sure the Health Department will be glad since Vinnie's always got bad scores.
Dollar beer Wednesdays....those were the days.
Hate to say it---but no great loss to me. Never forget the time I had a sandwhich there, couldn't finish it, asked the waitress to wrap it up for me. She comes back to the table and a roach was crawling out of the sandwhich, on the tin foil. NIIIIIICE
I was there once with a friend of mine who didn't really have a good grasp of the social graces. It was a warm Friday afternoon and the side porch was crowded with people having a beer after work. Home Boy lit up a pinkie finger sized joint and started puffing. The crowd backed away until he was standing alone in the center of the porch. I haven't been back since.
went once..and that was the last time. food sucks! I could only imagine a cook back there smoking a cig and stratching his butt as he cooked the food.
Good riddance. I went there over 15 years ago and they made my group get up from the table because we were done eating. We weren't done drinking, but we never went back there.
Dollar beers and all you can eat crab legs on Monday nights. Great place back in the late 90's.
I used to work at Vinnie's in 2002 and it was a great place and extremely popular! It was the place to be on Wed nights and the food was good. Granted things may have changed since but I will never forget what fun I had there. Sad to hear it closed.
The Lake Norman location is clean and has good food. Last time I went to the South Blvd location was back in the 90's and watched a friend of mine take a shot poured down an ice block luge.
The last time I was there it was so loud I couldn't hear myself or anyone else talk, but the decor had a lot of personality. Also smoking was allowed inside back then. I don't know if it's the economy. Places like Firebirds, 131 Main, Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Pineville have waiting lines on the weekends.
Well, truth be said, ownership changed hands over the years. As in early days, as some have said,"was place to be" hoppin and bands. Food quality went down as well as "Talent". Cut off by food suppliers, cause of lack of payment over 3 years ago. They were on a cash basis with suppliers, death knell. Sad to see it go, but if you can't run a business, time to go.
If the "homeless" person has money enough to pay for his drink and isn't bothering anyone why would you care snob?
Nothing lasts forever!!!!!!!!!!
This place was disgusting. We're all better off now that it's closed. Food was horrible and staff sucked! When most of the general public already knows that, you know it's bad!
Maybe now a restaurant can take the former space. Good riddance!!
The place used to be awesome. Dollar beers with good food and hot waitresses. Rewind 5 years ago and then you would still be open.
So many haters on here. I'd love to see you sh*t talking morons try to keep a restaurant in business for 20 years. So long Vinny's, thanks for the good times.
Reading the comment thread, you get the impression the same moron is posting over and over again within minutes. Same gripe, same basic story, etc. I want to ask the poster, did you get your butt kicked in the parking lot or something?
I remember one night about 10-12 years ago where I was sitting at this location and some guy puked in a bucket. He then handed it back to the bartender who took away like it wasn't the first time it happened. Can't say I went back again.
Lake Norman will be next! Went there and ordered a burger and they were out of buns, Bud Light, Jack Daniels and who knows what else. Still a great summer time hangout.
No not the same poster. This place was terrible and probably the worst restaurant i have ever been to. TERRIBLE SERVICE AND TERRIBLE FOOD. Gross place overall.
Helps to keep the doors open when you pay your taxes!
Half ass food.
Half ass service
Half ass excuse.
I moved away from Charlotte about 5 years ago, but back then the food was good, the beer flowed, and the waitresses were HOT. Sorry to hear it went awry and then went away.
looking forward to see what bar will buy that place. can only get better
Agree, the first 10 or so comments were obviously by the same person. Very suspicious. Many loved that place, at least at happy hour. Cheap oysters and $1 beers were always nice. Couldn't go wrong with those 2. I still keep up with a couple of hot girls I met there a few years ago as well.
You must be delirious, the Lake Norman location is the same as described for South Bl.
I predict the northern location will go the way of the other one - soon.
The place was good and I had a lot of fun over the years...No...I have never seen a "Rach" there. I remember 1$ beer and the crab-legs.
Yes it is the Econemy...many busines are being strangled by new Obama taxes and it is hard to provide insurance for the workers...Funny how the left leaning Lemmings come out of the wood-work to protect their choosen One and Blame roaches!
"homeless" drinking at the bar".. I thought I was the only one that thought that. Very STRANGE crowd starting showing up at that place.
Regardless of the OVERWHELMING bad experiences at this bar expressed on this thread, which provides some insight as to what led to its demise. There had to be an idiot who defends the Obama theory. Priceless
This place was disgusting… filthy all around. I'm surprised they stayed around this long.
Back when Brit ran it in the 90's, he knew how to attract the crowd with a simple message: Oysters, dollar beer, hot waitresses in a dive with a cool motif. It was one of THE places to go in Charlotte. His personality and business acumen is why the place did well. Personality and acumen doesn't transfer and when he left, it was the beginning of the end. It's been on it's way down for a long time, and it was only a matter of time before it closed.
Vinny's will always be a special place to me..I first went there in 1998 when I first moved to Charlotte. That's the place that I felt in love with my buddy's soon to be wife.
Anonymous said...
Agree, the first 10 or so comments were obviously by the same person. Very suspicious.
December 21, 2012 10:48 AM
Wrong. I'm one of the first 10...the third one, actually...and I had nothing to do with any other posts here. Try another theory.
Luckey wasn't very lucky
Vinnies will be missed by alot of fans! Sad sad day when it closed. Whatever the reason for the season much fun was had. Merry Christmas to all and all a good night.
Vinnie's was a great place until the original owner sold it. Then it went downhill and fast. Look what the original owner has done with the bars he has opened in Elizabeth and Park Rd area.
Vinnies used to be the greatest. Living on Lake Norman is was a great setting with great food! They all went down hill.. service was horrible, then the food, it has all gone bad....poor management has led to their issues. They never advertise so new people never knew they existed! I suggest Steamers for some yummy shrimp!
Hot girls,dollar beers,foolishness in the corner. And how bout that drunk guy who used to dance around with a beer on his head! Someone open another one quick.
lets just end this and say this place had it coming. the "general manager", if you could call him that was a joke. the very few times i did come there to eat i would just see him sitting at the end of the bar playing those video poker games or goofing off with the waitresses his name should be lucky, cause its amazing how he had his job that long. the food and the restaurat were nasty, and the girls thought the place was more of a hangout then a job. all in all i would be embarrased to say i ate there.
That hurts. I feel like I lost a freind. I had lot of good food, good drinks, & great times here. They had wonderful food and the best chicken wings in town. You could just go there and be yourself, whoever you are. I met a lot of younger people there that had been around and they said it was the best atmosphere in Charlotte. I am really gonna miss this place and hope they open back up with better management - can't go wrong with the right people.
A man bought dinner for me and my fiancé for no reason one night ,just said he thought we looked happy.I'll miss Vinnies, there is no other place like it in Charlotte. Come as you are describes it perfectly, in a status conscious town like Charlotte, it was a breath of fresh air.
I could care less one way or another. I do not even know why I am posting this...
Vinnie's in Mooresville is terrible. Here are a few reasons, why:
1. The manager is always dressed in basketball shorts and jogging jacket.
2. They are always out of stuff.
3. They have 12 beers on tap, but only have 2 that are working.
4. Always out of even basic beers, like Corona and Yuengling
5. I went there once, sat at the bar and ordered a clam chowder. The server/bartender brought it to me after 3 minutes. I got a tummy ache that night.
6. There's always a fight there.
7. Bartenders and servers boyfriends always hangout there and if you get decent service if they ever notice you - consider yourself Luckey.
I can not wait to hear that the lake location closes too. Sketchy staff, old drunks, bad food. I am a professional female and have been to the lake location twice, on my own boat that I pay for. Some skeevy nasty man that I was told was the "boss" asked where my man was and if he knew I had his boat out. If that was his best pick up line I feel sorry for him. I informed him it was MY boat and he countered by asking if I needed a captain for that boat. Lol. No thanks. I would hate to embarrass him with my six figure salary and the condo I own in Miami too. Glad to hear, hope they both fail.
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