Eclectic dive bar to close after 16 years in downtown Concord. ‘One hell of a ride’
Lil Roberts Place, a quirky dive bar in the heart of downtown Concord, plans to close next month, ending a 16-year run.
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Owner Robert Burrage broke the news on July 24 and described the hangout as “a monster that needs constant attention.”
“I am aware that I am not doing this ‘place’ justice,” he wrote in a farewell message shared on the bar’s Facebook page. “Before it is too late, I will be closing, selling, handing over, or any other way to put it. Unless someone steps up or we are in negotiation.”
The bar bearing his nickname has called downtown Concord home since 2010. Now, Burrage said he hopes to be closed for business by Sept. 1.
CharlotteFive reached out to Burrage for more information on Thursday and was awaiting a response.
Lil’ Roberts Place was one of several downtown Concord businesses impacted by a years-long streetscape project that sought to revamp the bustling food and retail district and draw in new visitors, CharlotteFive previously reported.
The ongoing sidewalk construction limited foot traffic in the popular area, forcing some small businesses — including Burrage’s — to close temporarily. Others were forced to leave downtown altogether.
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“We’re losing friends,” he told CharlotteFive at the time. “Some of them are due to the construction, and they just couldn’t withstand the drought.”
“It’s become a joke, watching people fill the same hole over and over,” Burrage said. “Spend three hours digging and refilling.”
At the time, he also mentioned the financial strain he was under — borrowing money and accepting donations from locals who hoped to keep the doors open at Lil’ Roberts Place.
Fast forward to now, Burrage said it’s time for him to move on.
“I want to say THANK YOU!!! It has been one hell of a ride,” he wrote on Facebook. “But, I’m ready to get off.”
News of the bar’s impending closure and possible sale prompted an outpouring of well-wishes from locals who reminisced about all the fun times and memories made:
This is a developing story and will be updated. Heidi Finley contributed reporting.
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Location: 25 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025
Cuisine: Dive bar
Instagram: @lilrobertsplace
