Second Round Results

Second Round Results presented by Circuit City

​Night Life

Corner Pocket (1) v. Dempsey’s (8)
Demsey’s was there at the beginning of the downtown revival, but you can only last so long when your patrons must exit Main Street and go down (unless you’re Coffee Underground) .

Result: Corner Pocket advances.

Diamond’s (4) v. Joe’s Den (12)
Joe’s Den has to be the most 80’s bar name of all time, but this is not the best name bracket.

Keep an eye on Diamond’s.  So far it has been able to lap dance through lower seeds and that could prove problematic next round.  See what I did there?

Result: Diamond’s advances.

Handlebar (3) v. Cotton Bottom Club (11)
The Cotton Bottom Club has a strip club name and a strip club helping of regret when you realized where you were.

Result: Handlebar advances.

Fiddler (2) v. Casablanca (10)
You think you are somebody in this town?  Did you own a bar and hold down the weather from 1978-1992 on the most popular news broadcast? I didn't think so.  The next time you are at Up on the Roof look down on the corner and make it rain in honor of Charlie Gertz.

Trivia: Gertz was replaced at WYFF by John Cessarich, who has now been at Channel 4 for 25 years.  Yes, we are getting old.

Result: Fiddler advances.

Cheap Eats

Hot Dog King (1) v. Shakey’s (9)
Shakey’s was a pizza place with live music (full bands of banjos players) and boater hats that welcomed birthday parties, and it would beat the brakes off of a lot of places open today.

But, you come at the king, you best not miss.

Result: Hot Dog King advances.

Gourmet Pizza (4) v. Zaxby’s in the house (5)
We spent some time “debating” whether Zaxby’s should even be in the tournament since there are still several locations in town. But this was a Zaxby’s in the old mansion on Laurens Road that had previously been a nice Asian restaurant, way before the cookie cutter set ups of today. Imagine if Chick-Fil-A was in the Wilkins house that was moved from Augusta to Mills, or if Bojangles was in the old Wyche house beside Blythe and you will get a sense of what we are talking about. But, just like that location was not meant to last, neither is Zaxby’s in the house in this bracket.

Result: Gourmet Pizza advances.

Charlie T’s (3) v. Sprout’s (6)
There probably are not two restaurants that are more different from each other in the whole bracket. Charlie T’s was a wing-serving bar, Sprouts was a super fast and cheap salad and make your own sandwich place where Luna Rosa is now.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels? Uhh, OK.

Result: Charlie T’s advances.

Campbell’s Pharmacy (2) v. Del Taco (10)
Isn’t it great when a new chain enters the market. “Oh I love Del Taco, it is so fresh.” “Oh their meat soft taco is to die for.” Only to realize it is Taco Bell with a different name. Their location next to Aladdin’s Castle at Haywood Mall did create a dreamland for a kid, but in this bracket it’s game over.

Result: Campbell’s Pharmacy advances.

Finer/Steak

Charlie’s Steakhouse (1) v. Ryan’s (8)
Ryan's basically married a cafeteria with a steakhouse. The Megabar was something to behold and came highly recommended by your cardiologist who needed a new lake house.  But marriages are not meant to last.  Or so I’ve heard.

Result: Charlie's Steakhouse advances.

John Paul’s Armadillo Oil Company (4) v. Stax Peppermill (5)
Before Stax Peppermill’s bananas foster, the only tableside fire you could see in Greenville was courtesy of a Garcia’s fajita. The Peppermill was the top game in town, but John Paul was a big game hunter. 

Result: John Paul’s advances.

Vince Perone’s (3) v. Restaurant O (6)
This matchup features two legendary Greenville restaurateurs and this was a real dogfight. Old v. New. Main Street renaissance vs. suburban high water. Republican v. Democrat. Nickname George (the Gipper) v. real name George . . . oh you thought I was talking about Vince v. Carl?  Nah, this is Reagan v. Clooney.  The Prez celebrated a birthday at one, the A list star spent weeks hanging out at the other.

Hardest decision yet, but just like Clooney’s movie Leatherheads, Restaurant O underwhelms.

Result: Vince Perone’s advances.

Brown Street Club (10) v. Deveraux’s (15)
Brown Street Club got the city to put piano keys on the sidewalk.  What have you done with your day?

Result: Deveraux’s advances.

#YepThose

Capri’s (1) v. Morrison’s Cafeteria (8)
The winner is the place your grandparents loved.  The loser is the place your other grandparents loved.  Care to guess the winner?

Result: Capri’s advances.

Red Baron (4) v. McGuffey’s (5)
Red Baron had everything people flock downtown to experience today. A local feel, unique cuisine, and great service. Only issue they had was they were downtown when no one flocked there. They tried McAllister Square. Their popular German sampler plate could not even save them from losing to a casual dining chain that was located in the “downtown” of our childhood, the Haywood Mall area.

Result: McGuffey’s advances.

Swensen’s (3) v. Garcia’s (6)
A tough matchup between two date night places in Haywood, but Garcia’s is on fire.

Result: Garcia’s advances.

Gene’s (2) v. Ted’s Kitchen (10)
The stretch of Laurens Road between Verdae and Haywood was once the hottest real estate in Greenville and home to one of the best breakfast/meat and three counter restaurants around, Ted’s Kitchen.  Ted’s Kitchen fell victim to someone cashing in on it’s hot location at the Haywood and Laurens intersection.  Now when you get your fluids topped there it’s windshield wiper fluid, not sweet tea.

Result: Gene’s advances.