News
If you've driven down 49th Street in Pinellas Park in the past decade or two, you've probably noticed Carlie's Lounge. My experience there extended just beyond that of the average passerby, a single visit six or seven years ago. I recall ordering a Johnnie Walker Black Label neat and shooting a game of pool. It met my expectations — a dark and smoky biker-slash-locals hangout with cheap beer, stiff drinks and Southern rock blasting from the jukebox.
Over the years, I realized that Carlie's was a local institution. Then, not long ago, I noticed a conspicuously subtle change in the signage — Carlie's Lounge was now Harlie's Nite Club. One of Pinellas Park's longest running and most recognizable watering holes was under new ownership.
Harlie's opened in 2010 as a refreshed version of the former bar. Its new owners — longtime Carlie's patrons themselves — wanted to preserve the feel of their old haunt. As a result, the similarities between old and new are nearly as subtle as the difference in name. Whether keeping the old-timers happy while making the place palatable for newcomers was the plan of the new owners, I don't know, but that's pretty much what they've accomplished.
If you've been to Carlie's, you know what the place looks like. For others, it's easy to visualize: a large space with two separate bars, a few pool tables, dart boards, a jukebox, arcade games, and a large stage and accompanying dance floor. It's all wood, brick, and stone, with neon signs and beer ads as well as cool hanging lamps fashioned from spare tom-toms from a drum set.
Live music was a big part of Carlie's, and Harlie's is no slouch. Bands perform nearly nightly, whether it's open jam on Thursdays or touring acts on the weekends. The dance floor has been reconstructed with new, polished wood. I'm not sure if a sound system upgrade was part of the transition, but you'd think you were at a full-time concert venue.
Carlie's was notoriously dingy. I was surprised at how much Harlie's has cleaned up in this regard, with overhauled bathrooms, vastly improved ventilation and new carpeting. The blue-collar charm remains, but now, as an added bonus, you can breathe.
One of Carlie's most recognizable features remains intact: a serpentine, 250-foot winding bar that is purported to be the longest continuous bartop in the area. I believe it. The bar is divided into three sections, all manned by a different bartender; we sat at "Bad Brad's Bar," where we received exceptional service from Bad Brad himself.
The drinks at Harlie's are pretty basic, with the usual domestic drafts and bottled imports, a few house wines and all of the wells, calls and basic premium liquors needed for a sturdy cocktail. Drink specials are common, so ask your bartender what the deal of the day is — you'll probably have a few reasonable choices.
Ultimately, Harlie's should appeal to old regulars and newcomers alike. Maybe you'll stop by on line-dancing night for the free lessons, or catch an interesting live performance, like the unbelievably talented 12-year old drummer playing with the house band on the night I went. With the new improvements, friendly staff, regular drink specials and a jam-packed calendar of events, Harlie's is doing a great job of maintaining the landmark status of its predecessor.
Loading...
