"Nick Karres, the man that has managed the Double Door Inn for 35 years, once shared a quote, that in it's simplicity, really says a lot. After talking with him about his business, being present for many of the great shows and coming to know a little more about how difficult sustaining such a business could be, I had to ask him the obvious question. Why would anyone spend their entire working life in a business that's challenging at it's best and quite miserable at it's worst? He looked thoughtful for just a moment and then said, "You either get it or you don't.".....
The Double Door Inn in Charlotte, North Carolina, located in the same location with the same management, has earned the Double Door the distinction of being the second oldest such place in the United States....From the outside, there is nothing to indicate that there is anything special on the inside. The building is two stories high and has two front doors. Only one of the doors is operable. The plate glass windows are smudged and there is a blue neon sign that advertises "Live Blues."
Once you enter the establishment, it may take a little while to realize just what an unusual place you have entered.The lighting is dim and there is nothing glittery about the surroundings. The wooden floor may look dirty. Everything inside definitely has some age on it. But don't be fooled. This is a place with a history that is almost unbelievable and an ambiance that can sometimes feel like a church for those who are fans of blues music.To those who take the time to look at all the pictures of past performers that surround the walls, it is obvious that this is the real deal. This is defintely a blues joint...."
(includes stories and pictures of musicians as varied as The Nighthawks, Sam & Dave, Pinetop Perkins, Eric Clapton, Bob Margolin and many others who have played at the historic "World-Famous Double Door Inn" in Charlotte, North Carolina from the beginning in December, 1973 through the first 35 years to December, 2008.)
