Scorpio Returns with New Location Just in Time for Pride
Charlotte's oldest LGBTQ+ nightclub is back
“To the haters: talk crap if you want to, but we were packed tighter than a drag queen’s suitcase!” – Scorpio Charlotte Facebook post on its recent grand opening success.
I’ll never forget the first time I visited the original godmuva of LGBTQIA+ nightlife in the Queen City. My gaze fixated on the whimsically gnarled nails of the door person as they grabbed the $20 bill out of my hand.
The faceless, tight-cropped, 15-second opening scene of phalangeal extensions coiled like Bubble Tape became synonymous with the only proper way to begin the night at Scorpio’s.
From drag shows featuring glittering baddies from RuPaul’s Drag Race and local DJs to pepper spray and parking lot fights, anyone who ever visited the iconic LGBT hotspot located on the fringes of Wesley Heights on Freedom Drive knew a time was going to be had with every visit.
We knew Saturdays were always poppin’. We knew we were going to drink and drive (learn from our mistakes kiddos, Uber wasn’t a thing then). We knew we were going to have to pay a cover and swallow ATM fees to do so. We also knew we were going to sweat our hair out twerking and chase our drunken shenanigans with a tray at Cook Out before it closed at 4 a.m.
But most of all, whether good, bad or sassy, we knew that while we were there — gay, straight, Black, white, or furry — that we were at home.
That’s why when The Scorpio, often called Scorpio’s and now, per IG, just Scorpio, announced a temporary closure in the fall of last year, I knew I wasn’t the only one who had a sinking feeling that the longest-running North Carolina gay bar wouldn’t return for a second act. But apparently, God does in fact save queens.
Despite sociopolitical forces threatening to force the LGBT community into a back seat, Scorpio officially took over center stage at the former RSVP space in South End with their grand re-opening on Aug. 2, just in time for Charlotte Pride. Can I get a “Yas, queen?”
Read More: Charlotte’s Oldest LGBTQ Nightclub Denies Transphobia Allegations Following Incident
While RSVP hoped to shake things up when they popped into the nightlife scene in January 2023, I think it’s safe to say many invites got lost in the mail or returned to sender. Five months later, not even Gen Z sheep could keep the team behind the four-moods-in-one complex from announcing a major shift from in-house programming to private events.
Drag queens, assemble! And they did.
The true vision for the next chapter is still in the works, but Scorpio 2.0 is already working it as images of long entry lines and jam-packed dance floors circulate on social media just days shy of opening.
Will the 15,000-square-foot space featuring three full bars and two rooftops be big enough to fill the platform stilettos or to accommodate the main character energy of the Scorpio we used to know?
Most of our favorite LGBTQ destinations carved space in the nooks and crannies on the periphery of the QC. Historically, this makes sense as the margins have often provided a refuge for the outcasts, oppressed, and closeted to be whoever the hell they wanted to be unapologetically.
Scorpio’s move to RSVP creates a powerful visual of societal pariahs taking back space in the spotlight of city centers like South End. But will the sequel live up to the hype of the seedy, sinful, and subversive OG?
Only time will tell. In the meantime, those of us nostalgic for the days of pregames and poor decisions are ready to slay and sashay the night away with our rainbow flags flying high with pride.
Even though Scorpio has a new home, we already know the legacy of unforgettable live entertainment, drag shows, and events will continue. But a few things have changed, so take notes queens and kings.
Cashless ousside, how bout dat?
RIP to ATM fees and calculating the minimum withdrawal needed to cover entry, drinks, and tips while standing in line. That’s right, Scorpio is officially high-stepping like Zenon into the 21st century as a cashless venue.
Pay to park
*Clutches pearls* While Scorpio still has plenty of parking, you’ll have to pay $15 at the new location. According to Facebook, this is to keep patrons from other venues from trespassing. However, to offset the parking fee, Scorpio will give you a $10 credit to spend at the bar!
Pay to play
For those of us who remember waiting to show up just in time for late-night reduced covers, entry fees aren’t a surprise or a deterrent. In fact, we’re tickled pink we don’t have to get cash out and can pay without transferring money from savings to checking.
New hours for the night shift
OG Scorpio stayed open until 4 a.m., which meant a 3:30 a.m. transition to Cook Out for a quesadilla tray with double chicken nuggets. According to the website, curtain call is now 2:30 a.m., which is perfect for the now-old heads. As of now, Scorpio is open Friday-Saturday from 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m., and starting Aug. 14, they will also be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the same times.
New addy
Check them out at 225 Fairwood Ave.
