Home Lifestyle The Legendary Double Door Inn of Charlotte:  A History Spanning Five Decades

The Legendary Double Door Inn of Charlotte:  A History Spanning Five Decades

Double Door Inn of Charlotte
Photo submitted by John Martin

HAMLET – The legendary Double Door Inn in Charlotte, NC, 1973 – 2017….  Surely many of you have either attended a show there or certainly were familiar with this nationally known treasure!

Yes, it was quite “legendary” in so many ways.  But first, a bit of history.  It was started by two brothers in 1973.  The area of Charlotte in which the Double Door was located was quite different at that time.  There were many old establishments such as the Athens Restaurant that was across the street in that part of town.  Most have succumbed to the city growing around them and effectively swallowing them up in the name of progress. (More on that later.)

Matt and Nick Karres opened up a neighborhood bar as a place for people to come have a drink and share stories and just hang out in a friendly atmosphere.  Since the location was very near Central Piedmont Community College, they thought the spot would be perfect for fulfilling their dream.  Not long after they opened, various locals would come in and bring their instruments and have some acoustic jams.

 

The brothers noticed they seemed to have more and more people frequenting their establishment when the acoustic guys were performing so in the front part of the building they built a stage and started bringing in more and larger acts to The Double Door.  Somewhere along this journey Nick bought out his brother as he wanted to focus on other things.  Nick kept going and built this into the legend that it soon became.  Then it seemed destiny was knocking and they brought in The Dixie Dregs.  The Dregs were a national touring act and they were brought in for a two-night run; that established The Double Door as a venue for not just local but national touring acts as well.  The Dregs actually opened the door for other national acts to follow their lead.  And it must have worked because so many great acts have graced that stage over the decades that it was in business.  It welcomed Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, and Soul acts from near and far. 

Stevie Ray Vaughn played there at least four times prior to his untimely death.  Along with him, many others frequented the Double Door.  While there are too many to name, here are a few I would like to mention: Willie Dixon; The Nighthawks; JJ Cale; Derek Trucks; Roy Buchanan; Gatemouth Brown; Wet Willie; Drive By Truckers; and yes, it is true that Eric Clapton played on that stage, too!  It was Saturday June, 26, 1982, just after he performed to a sold out crowd at the Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Blvd.  He played to about 100 people there that were completely surprised by his presence as it was an impromptu type of thing.  But in fact it did happen and the ones that were lucky enough to be there got a huge gift.  The Spongetones (a local favorite) were on rotation along with Tinsley Ellis from Atlanta.  The Belmont Playboys played it many times and The Avett Brothers recorded their first live album there at The Double Door.  And yes, I have played it many times myself with The Traffic Jam Band and others, and I am humbled to say I always enjoyed playing that venue as much if not more than any other.  The management, sound crew, the booking agent(s) and the staff always treated me with respect and were very professional in what they did.  And of course, getting to know Nick was quite a treat too; what a nice and gentle man he is.

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This was the oldest Blues Club in America that had the same owner throughout its history.  There was one a little older in Austin, Texas, but not with the original owner so that tips the hat to The Double Door Inn to take the crown.  There was so much musical history here and it was on the walls where many pictures were hung of some of the performers and upstairs in the hall and the green room on the walls where literally thousands of signatures (including my own) were written as proof of who had been there. 

However, progress finally took over the property that housed this venue. Central Piedmont Community College needed the land for continued growth and it took a while but they finally captured the property and sadly this historical establishment succumbed to the wrecking ball and is now only a memory.  There are so very many of us that share very fond memories from many nights of great music played and witnessed in this intimate setting like no other.  Bits and pieces of the building were saved and even parts of the stage were sold square by square as a memento.  A local luthier made a few guitars out of some table tops and then sold them at auction after its closing.

So January of 2017 marks the end of an era for The Double Door.  From 1973 until 2017 it was home to so many musicians and it is and will be missed for a long time to come.  I for one truly miss playing this legendary venue – it was a real gem.