The Second Chance Saloon: I like this place. A lot. It’s sweet, cozy, upscale enough, but not faux-glitzy. The spaces are small and articulated, yet open to the whole flow of the place. They have table-based shuffle board, which is a great game to play while enjoying a drink or two. Their menu is minimal (which I think is wise and a good strategy). A couple Sundays ago about a dozen friends and I selectively ordered different foods from their menu, and we were all quite pleased with our food orders.
I’ve been there three times, twice while there was a band playing, and I liked both bands. A bit of funk. Nice. A bit of dancing. Nice. Oh, they even have a wood dance floor: a small one, but it’s just fine. The dancers on the floor were mixed. Mixed, mixed, mixed. As in real diversity: ages (from teens all the way up to seniors), an array of people colors, style and sizzle alongside frump and barefooted dancers. It was lovely. Fun. Easy. Community.
I do believe, particularly in a contracting economy and shifting away from the value that more-more-more! = good-good-good!, that it will become increasingly important for communities to choose *which* businesses they are supporting. Personally, I weigh in heartily that the Second Chance Saloon, in the Oakland Mills Village Center, is one of those businesses I’ll be choosing to support. Check it out. Bring some friends there. Have a small party or get-together there, and see for yourself. Maybe it’s your cup of tea; maybe it isn’t.
There are going to be a lot of businesses going down in the coming years. While I’m neither business consultant to, nor spokesperson for, much of any of them, I do want to see the Second Chance Saloon not only survive, but thrive.
Rock on.
(Oh, and if you follow me on Twitter, watch for my next get-together/party I’ll be hosting there.)
4 Comments
January 3, 2009 at 10:40 am
It looks like they have a few veggie items, so I will check them out. However, it will be tough for me to be so close to Venari’s and not get pizza.
January 3, 2009 at 11:54 am
My family is going to Second Chance this weekend at the request of Son#1. He remembers going to Last Chance many times as a youngster and eating hot wings and yummy hamburgers. I would love for Second Chance to become established well enough to survive the downturn. We will try to do our part.
January 3, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Freemarket, Their veggie basket includes fried portabello mushrooms. Also, wouldn’t a Bloody Mary count as a vegetable? (Or kinda fruity-vegetables, given that odd status of tomatoes.) In any case, the Bloody Mary’s and the fried veggie basket were both quite good. I think you’ll be fine.
January 8, 2009 at 3:48 pm
JessieX, Thanks so much for the kind words. FYI we also have a portobello burger if someone were to ask for it . It will be on the menu soon as well as spin art dip, grilled cheese, homemade tortilla chips and fresh salsa and some real good curried egg salad. So we are a lil vegetarian friendly. Say hi next time your in and thanks for spreading the word.