Around Town: Luxury Movie Theater Debuts at University Place

Posted on Jan. 15, 2016

When moviegoers at Chapel Hill’s new Silverspot Cinemas pick a flick, they also can reserve leather slouch seats, with plenty of legroom, or one of the front-row loveseats, each accompanied by an ottoman.

It’s all part of the luxury experience the theater is offering with the aim of setting it apart from typical theaters, and it’s part of the strategy at University Place — the new name for the former University Mall — as it adds upscale retail and activities to its mix. Silverspot is in the space previously occupied by Dillard’s; when the mall opened in 1973, that space was an Ivey’s.

Silverspot operates Trilogy, an onsite restaurant and bar, and its concession stand includes lobster rolls, sliders, nachos, specialty pizzas and Caesar salads, beer and wine (by the glass or bottle) as well as soft drinks and water.

Ticket prices top out at $14.50; they start at $7 for the first show of the day on weekdays. The theater company says the premium prices support higher wages and benefits for staff. Silverspot has two other U.S. locations, both in Florida.

Silverspot Cinemas, 201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 919-357-9887

Restaurant Caters to Late-Night Diners

If you get a late-night hankering for quail eggs or seared pork belly, The Northside District restaurant and bar can take care of you until the wee hours.

The Northside District opened in October in the space that used to house Industry (formerly The Standard), offering late-night dining seven days a week. Its menu is limited in number of items but wide-ranging in taste experience, including Asian, Italian, German and Mexican.

Owners Dave Chong ’96, Stan Pickens, Eddie Sanchez and Darrell Kirby are well-known downtown. Chong and Sanchez owned Fuse in the West Rosemary Street spot years ago. They sold to restaurateurs who opened The Standard, which later changed its name to Industry. Chong, Pickens and Sanchez also bought the dive bar Hell in 2011 and converted it to Chapel Hill Underground, then sold it in 2015.

When the three learned that Industry’s owners wanted to sell, they brought in Kirby and bought back the space. They’ve added heat lamps for the patio, hired a DJ, made room for dancing, offered karaoke and, once a month, stand-up comedy. They are renovating the small front lounge into a game room. The work of local artist David Rose hangs on the walls.

Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday and Monday.

The Northside District, 403 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, 919-391-7044

Bar Aimed at LGBTQ Community

Last summer, Daniel Payne and his husband, Chris Payne, wanted to go out to celebrate some good news. Their Internet search for “gay bar” mistakenly led them to Chapel Hill Underground — and the realization that Chapel Hill had no bar aimed primarily at LGBTQ clientele.

With experience in running bars, the Paynes bought the below-street-level space and in October reopened it as Underground Chapel Hill. They plan to host events of particular interest to the LGBTQ community while creating a relaxing and safe atmosphere that welcomes all sexualities.

Hours: Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

Underground Chapel Hill, 157 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, 910-240-5859

Mechanical Bull Gives Country Music Bar a Kick

When weather permits, Country Fried Duck brings its mechanical bull out to play.

The country music bar opened on East Rosemary Street last summer in the space once home to the short-lived bar The Heel. Scott Kleczkowski and Lauren Fortkort ’13 teamed up to renovate the 4,400-square-foot space next to Bub O’Malley’s and set up the front-yard patio with picnic tables and a bean toss.

Chapel Hill’s only mechanical bull stays in its pen just inside the front door until Friday and Saturday nights with clear weather, when Kleczkowski leads him outside, to avoid tossing a rider into the ceiling. The bull has many moves and speeds, so no two rides are identical.

The full bar serves cocktails in cowboy-boot-shaped mugs and stocks local craft beers and eight bottled beers. The interior was outfitted with aluminum walls, wooden tables, neon signs and poster art, with space for dancing and pool tables.

Hours: 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Thursday-Sunday. The club is private; patrons apply for membership online at countryfriedduck.com. Want to ride the bull? Sign a waiver at the bar.

Country Fried Duck, 157 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, 919-537-8752

Pizzeria Has Distinguished Culinary Heritage

James Beard Award-winning chefs Ben and Karen Barker, who owned Magnolia Grill in Durham for more than 25 years, are returning to the restaurant business. They are partnering with their son, Gabe, to transform into a pizzeria the storefront on West Weaver Street in Carrboro that once housed Summerwind Pools and Spas.

Gabe Barker, who has spent the past five years cooking in San Francisco, including in a pizzeria, is running Pizzeria Mercato, named for its proximity to the Carrboro Farmers Market. The menu includes soups, salads, pasta and meatballs, craft beer and wine, and homemade gelato, sorbet and simple desserts.

Pizzeria Mercato, 408 W. Weaver St., Carrboro

Closings

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill at 140 West on West Franklin Street closed at the end of 2015. The national chain, owned by Ruby Tuesday’s, brought its organic Mexican menu to Chapel Hill in April 2013. Rubio’s Restaurant, a national chain of fast-casual coastal grills, has made a bid to acquire the space. … Hummus Cafe closed in November after two and a half years at 169 E. Franklin St. Owner Abbes Khelfa said he faced too much competition on Franklin Street and is focusing his attention on his cafe in Morrisville. … Tom+Chee closed its Carrboro store at 370 E. Main St. just before Thanksgiving. Local owner Craig McDavid cited insufficient sales. The soup-and-grilled-cheese-sandwich business model seemed promising at the time it was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank and attracted investors. The franchise still operates in about 30 locations, mainly in the Midwest.

— Nancy E. Oates