“My parents taught me everything I know about hospitality,” says Bob Peters, a Charlotte native and acclaimed mixologist who knows how to make a guest feel at home, especially at a Charlotte cocktail bar.
Now, Peters has an opportunity to pay homage to his parents, Chief and Marmee, at Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor. He opened this Charlotte NC cocktail bar alongside the Built On Hospitality group earlier this year. Peters’ team operates out of a 121-year-old mill home located in the NoDa neighborhood. In fact, Chief’s is right next door to Goodyear House (which is also owned and operated by Built On Hospitality). Inside, guests will find hardwood floors, wood trim, upholstered and leather seating, marble top tables, and table lamps. The design, curated by Delgar Interior Design, evokes the warm aesthetic of Peters’ parents’ home with a few modern flares. The bar offers indoor seating for 36 guests, in addition to a patio, “Marmee’s Garden,” which is open seasonally.
Cocktail in Chief
At Chief’s, cocktails take center stage. The drink menu at this Charlotte NC cocktail bar prominently features craft cocktails created by Peters, who has won multiple Best of the Best awards. For example, try his Clarified Malted Milk Punch with Southern Star Bourbon, apple spiced tea, winter spices, orange, lemon, and malted milk. Or, taste his take on espresso martini — the Rise & Grind. This delight combines espresso-washed Southern Star White Whiskey with sherry and simple syrup. In addition to Peters’ creations, the drink menu also includes classic cocktails for the libation purists.
Alongside beverages, Chief’s offers a snack and dessert menu. Designed by Built On Hospitality partner and executive chef Chris Coleman (whose name may sound familiar from stints at The McNinch House, The Asbury, and Stoke), the snack menu includes playful small plates like Tinned Oysters Rockefeller, Churched Up Chex Mix, and Marmee’s Popcorn with “Tickle Your Throat” BBQ seasoning. Borrowing talent from next door, Chief’s tapped Goodyear House’s pastry chef, Becca Rankin, to develop the cocktail parlor’s dessert menu. Expect sweet tooth indulgences like warm cookies, root beer float, and homemade fudge.
All told, the Built On Hospitality team sees a bright future for Chief’s. They expect this Charlotte NC cocktail bar will fill a niche in the neighborhood, much like Goodyear House. “We think Chief’s will be a welcome and needed addition to NoDa. It’s an elevated yet comfortable space to experience Peters’ delightful cocktails paired with playful small plates, with the charm and history that a restored mill house brings,” says Coleman.
Visit Chief’s Monday through Wednesday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday and Friday
5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. for an afternoon quench, a pre-dinner indulgence, or an end-of-evening night cap.
