Isaac Hunter’s Oak City Tavern Now Open

smitty
11/29 11:45 PM

I had a beer there, very nice looking bar.

ben
11/30 11:41 AM

look forward to checking this place out.  that drop ceiling is unfortunate.

MCM
11/30 12:24 PM

Judging by the tbls, chairs, and barstools this place won’t make it.

richardfoc
11/30 12:54 PM

MCM said: “Judging by the tbls, chairs, and barstools this place won’t make it.”

Um, huh?

CF
11/30 01:13 PM

I’m guessing this prediction of failure is sarcasm, aimed at the usual barrage of doom and gloom predictions when a new place opens?

MCM
11/30 02:48 PM

Not sarcasm. It looks cheap, much like what you see in a cheap Chinese take out restaurant. These guys put a lot of time and money into this place. I just don’t understand why they decided to go with such cheap furniture. I geuss it just doesn’t live up to what I envisioned. Oh yeah, and the ceiling, where do I start…

CF
11/30 03:35 PM

Alright, Nostradamus.  I will be sure to hurry up and have a few beers now before the inevitible shut down in a few weeks.  If only I could predict the fate of an establishment based on a small fuzzy picture on the internet.

JRD
11/30 03:56 PM

Does look a little cheap.

MCM
11/30 04:02 PM

It’s a gift.

Jamlaski Jones
11/30 04:23 PM

I understand the skepticism of MCM’s remarks but they do look like cheap Chinese restaurant chairs. I don’t see that as the demise of a new bar but what the hell do I know.

Jon
11/30 04:53 PM

Personally, I don’t give a fcuk what the table and chairs look like. I’ll give them a try and what matters to be is the service, the selection, the prices and the atmosphere. Hopefully, you douchebags complaining about the chairs won’t go b/c I don’t like hanging around your types anyways. The use of old bar hard woods for the rafters sounds pretty damn cool to me.

Jamalski Jones
11/30 06:22 PM

You’re right Jon. I don’t give a fcuk either. I’m going to change my ways from now on and not give a fcuk about anything. So fcuk you and the fcuking horse you road in on!

Drew B
11/30 07:02 PM

I can’t speak to the cost of the chairs, but did drop in this weekend and was impressed. The space there is beautiful in a way completely not captured in the photo above, especially the bar itself. Plus they have a shuffleboard table and a section with big comfey couches. Beer and liquor selection is a little sparse at the moment, but they’re planning to expand it as business picks up.

Clay
11/30 07:32 PM

Fine, I will bring Chinese take out if they let me, but another place to have a drink is fine with me. As long as someone is willing to stick their neck out there and make a go of the business then I will do what I can to support them.The more alternatives the better.

Now, what kind of cocktail with my take out…

DPK
11/30 08:43 PM

Are you guys really arguing about chairs?  They’re just chairs.  Go to the bar and form an opinion instead of critiquing it from behind your monitor.

MyMonitorIsBetterThanYours
11/30 11:00 PM

MCM is right: The chairs look cheap.  How he got Chinese restaurant tells me he needs to expand his culinary horizons a bit, but I digress.

Jon, do not fear. You will not see any of “Us” there.  It will be closed by then as the location scuks.

smitty, did you bite me last week?

This place is not The Borrow (sic), as in a neighborhood bar with lots of parking, easy access and 100+ people that live within 50+ of the front door (who used to get discounts but that stopped).

I shall frequent as long as it is open (and I can be sur that Jon is not there).

topanga
12/01 11:54 AM

those look like the chairs from when it was Fayetteville Street Tavern.

I’ll have to try this place out this weekend - looks great!

ambrose
12/01 12:15 PM

All the people critiquing the chair selection sound like GIANT idiots.  I hope someday you do eventually get lives. 

A big thanks to all the morons arguing about chairs.  I got a long overdue belly-laugh. 

Chairs!  HA!

EG
12/01 02:30 PM

I stopped in Sunday night and had a couple beers.  $2 pbr drafts—an affordable beer staple nowadays.  they have other local beers as well.  (hint: get carolina brewing co ipa on draft.)

It was a nice cozy environment and no, I didn’t even look at the chairs.  I sat at the bar and it was fine. 

As with any new business, it takes time to establish a groove and get the vibe the way you want it…gotta start somewhere and then work from that point.

I’ll definitely be back.

MCM
12/01 04:21 PM

Say what you want people, but those chairs will be the downfall of Isaac Hunter’s.

Chico
12/01 04:52 PM

If the drinks are well made and reasonably priced I’ll bring my own damn chairs.

Jon
12/01 05:00 PM

A few of you clowns need a chair up your ass vs. a fancier chair to sit on. Jack’emlaski Jones - you were right in the beginning, what the hell do you know. YourMonitorsucks, since the location sucks, stick with The Borrough - I am sure you will prefer the handjobs in the bathroom there much better.

Chair Enthusiast
12/01 05:40 PM

What you sittin’ on?

MCM
12/01 10:54 PM

The editors obviously don’t like my chair comments. I commented on a few other post and they’ve been deleted?

MCM
12/01 10:57 PM

How do you sit 4 editors on 1 chair?

Flip it over!

Jedidiah
12/01 11:18 PM

The comments on the other posts about chairs were completely off topic. While we do find a little humor in the comments, our readers would not understand your relevance to this “conversation” about furniture. Hence their deletion.

Chairface Chippendale
12/01 11:34 PM

Nothing burns me like anti-chairites.  We are here for you to put your sweaty, smelly bums on, and you dare nitpick our appearance?!  I have half a mind to laser my name into the side on Moonlight Pizza.

Bradley
12/02 02:09 AM

The place looks great. I love the name, idea, and love all of the old wood. I am going to check it out after I get over this cold.
I have never walked out of a place going, “I’m never going back there, those chairs sucked!”. IT DOESN’T HAPPEN!! People stay in business because they maintain good service, and a warm environment for their customers. Bottom line.
To the owners..Keep up the hard work! Don’t listen to meaningless critisicm as it is hard enough to maintain a business these days.

GB
12/02 02:12 AM

God.Damn.Chairs.

I really hope this bar fails because even though their chairs perform their function, of well, providing a place to sit, goddamn they are obviously fucking ugly and unacceptable….

Chair Enthusiast
12/02 10:02 AM

I often sit back and reminisce about my favorite bar back home.  The chairs in this place would bring a tear to your eye.  They truly were things of beauty.  Many a night was spent in seated bliss.

MCM
12/02 06:32 PM

I will die jealous… Please you must tell me where my ass and I can experience this slice of heaven on earth you refer to?!

Chair Enthusiast
12/02 06:48 PM

‘twas the Cop a Squat Tavern in Chairy Point.  Ah, memories.

kyle
12/03 11:37 AM

I stopped by last night, and was impressed.  I was greeted at the door by one of the owners, who spent a little time going over some of the details of the bar.  Very cool place, hope it makes it.

Marie
12/03 12:18 PM

I have been to the bar and absolutely love the atmosphere.  The chairs are comfortable and the bar has hooks on it so the ladies can hang their purses.  I like that the owners wanted local artists to come in and paint their art on the tables.  It gives it a very local feel.  I like that they are trying their best to give this bar some “local” feel to it.

C
12/03 01:55 PM

I am thrilled to hear about the hooks for purses! This is a typically unacknowledged treat. Who cares about chairs when I can hang my purse? (No, seriously.) The atmosphere looks nice and I’m excited to try it out.

miamiblue
12/03 04:21 PM

Stopped in last night with a big group. We had been running in the rain and were soaked, but they welcomed us in anyway. They even let one guy bring his dog inside. Very friendly staff and the atmosphere was great. There were only about two tables worth of the “offending” chairs. I don’t recall seeing the barstools in the picture at all. From what I remember, all the barstools were wooden. The painted tabletops are a really nice touch.

TheWaveLife
12/03 05:38 PM

Forget chairs. I’ll sit in Chico’s lap if the beer’s are good enough.

Dave
12/04 12:31 PM

Sucks their site hasn’t been updated….would be nice to know their beer offerings…

Drew B
12/04 12:58 PM

I know that on tap at the moment they have Bad Penny, Red Oak, PBR and one other. No idea about the bottle selection.

Zack
12/04 01:19 PM

Dave- good point! We’ll get something up on the website this weekend.

Our beer selection is ever growing as we figure out what people would like. On tap today we’ve got Bad Penny, Red Oak, Triangle Pale Ale, and of course, $2 PBR pints. Our bottle selection has everything from Magic Hat to Stella, with plenty of domestics in between.

There’s a TON of room left for more options, so give us some suggestions. What local beers would you guys like to see at the Tavern?

Drew, should we reserve a seat for the mayor tonight?

As for the chairs, I’d encourage everyone to come on by and see the place in person. We are always looking for ways to cater to our customers tastes, but it’s probably better if you actually see them for yourself so you can figure out what you think. If the chairs suck, and everyone agrees.. well then its time for new chairs :-D

Bradley, C, Clay, and everyone else, I look forward to seeing you guys soon! I’ll be around all Sunday so stop in and say hello if you don’t get a chance to come in tonight.

Clay, make sure you bring enough Lo Mein for me!

Wayne G
12/04 01:40 PM

forget the chairs.  i liked the bar and will go back. 

i tried a triangle draft & agree with expanding the local draft beer selection. get something like an ipa on draft.  last night at raleigh times, big boss brought in a keg of big stinky cask ipa. gone in 20 minutes @ $8 a pint.  folks loved it.

Chico
12/04 02:36 PM

Made it to the bar Wednesday night, and it was completely a nice, chill, friendly vibe. I told Castro that I’ll patronize any joint that plays Daft Punk. I sat in a chair and it was fine, but K, your always welcomed to sit in my lap. The owners/bar staff were extremely cool, and the drinks prices were more than fair. These guys are just starting out and have a tight budget, but they are headed in the right direction. Two thumbs up.

MyMonitorIsBetterThanYours
12/05 01:26 AM

Jon,
You do not even try to vail the hostility - must be a Yankee.  Personally, I prefer the talent at 606 - a little snow and away she goes!
FWIW, the location still sucks and you are a douche.

MySpellingIsBetterThanYours
12/05 03:47 AM

It’s “veil” and not “vail.”  Have fun.

Kansas
12/06 01:42 PM

Chairy on my wayward son
There’ll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don’t you cry no more.
<cowbell>

Scott
12/06 02:49 PM

Friendly staff, comfy couches, nice crowd mix, reasonably priced whiskey.

JRD
12/06 04:43 PM

I stopped in and had a great time saturday night.  I loved the vibe, the people were great.  However, heres my two cents.  The chairs are functional, however in time they may want to think about replacing them with reclaimed wood chars.  The drop ceiling does suck.  Eventually they may want to replace the flat tiles with ones with a design to better match the old feel of the rest of the place.  They may also want to do something nice or creative as a a backing to the bar.  It seemed empty.  I do like the place though and will go back.  Thats just my opinion on the decor.

ForgetAboutTheChairs
12/06 06:34 PM

I stopped in on Friday night - we all need to stop harping on the chairs.  The fact that you can play soccer in there without running into anyone will not change with new chairs.  Even if they are the highest quality “reclaimed wood chars” [sic].

It was said before but needs to be restated - Fayetteville Street does not have enough foot traffic these days to support anything that is not a “destination” that people will seek out.  For the ups/downs and tons of plastic people that are there every noight, Glenwood thrives/survives because it is a destination and not a location like Fayetteville Street. 

And new signage on our dime will not help that.  Nor will a few more drunk busses at $660K each.

Perhaps a new Success tax for businesses on Glenwood so that they can fail and force their customers to go to Fayettevile Street?

smitty
12/06 06:59 PM

Man, I don’t know where you were hanging out last night, but every bar on Fayetteville St was packed, from IHT, all the way to the Marriott.

LOL
12/14 11:47 AM

^^Poorly disguised troll is poorly disguised.  This goes for MCM as well.  Anyone who has ever been to fayetteville street knows parking there is atrocious because of all the activity in the area.  I was at IHOCT and enjoyed it thoroughly, and my only complaint was I had to go home.  Maybe your’e thinking of the big easy.

Chair Lover
12/31 07:59 PM

New favorite place, hands down.

Hoping they come out with some calendars with photos like these for the new year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/huntersoakcity/4163930535/

maybe i’ll get lucky and take one of them home tonight… giggedy

Eve
01/03 01:34 PM

To Ben and other owners: Your tavern looks wonderful! I am proud of you, starting a business takes balls (I know I did it and was successful) I will be in Raleigh in the spring and can’t wait to see you and your new place.  I wish you good luck and many loyal patrons. Happy New Year, Love, Aunt Eve

maggie
04/25 01:13 PM

Jeez, what’s with all the debate about chairs?  Are you there to critique furniture or to enjoy yourself with good friends and some cold drinks?  We recently visited the bar and found it to be more than comfortable.  And, hey, where else do you find a bar that has a perfect place for your arms to rest?  Keeps you from hitting the bar face first when too many drinks have your arms sliding out from underneath you!

Great job and good luck!