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.

Longtime owner Robert Burrage broke the news on July 24 and described the local 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 known for serving beer, wine and more against a backdrop of eclectic art and decor has called downtown Concord home since 2010. Now, Burrage said he hopes to be closed for business by Sept. 1.

The Mullet, an adjoining thrift shop and bar, will also shutter if the bar can’t find a buyer in time.

“There’s a good chance it’s going to stay (and continue operating) as Lil Roberts,” Burrage told CharlotteFive on Friday, saying a few people have expressed interest. “I just wouldn’t be the one liable for everything anymore.”

In 2024, 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.

“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 factors unrelated to the downtown revitalization project are ultimately what prompted his decision to move on. He pointed to family issues involving his children, plus the responsibility of caring for aging parents.

Add juggling a business full-time, and it becomes “more than I can handle.”

“I love the (bar), I love the people,” he told CharlotteFive. “I don’t want it to go away. I don’t want to go away. I’m just not doing it justice, and I’m gonna kill it if I don’t pass it on to someone else.”

“I want to say THANK YOU!!! It has been one hell of a ride,” Burrage wrote in a message to fans of Lil’ Roberts Place. “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.

Location: 25 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025

Cuisine: Dive bar

Instagram: @lilrobertsplace

This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 11:05 AM.