The Penguin Drive-In, which has been in the hands of owners Brian Rowe and Jimmy King for the last 10 years, will change ownership at the end of October.
Rowe and King will be moving about a block away to the Diamond Restaurant, which they are in the process of rehabbing, but Rowe told Creative Loafing leaving the Penguin is a shock.
“We have to go; they’re going to take over and we don’t know what they’re going to do,” Rowe said.
King and Rowe had signed two five-year lease agreements with the building’s owner, listed on the Mecklenburg County tax records as Ballentine Family Investments LLC. The current lease agreement was about to expire and Rowe said the building’s owners — who also own the name — came to him and King with an offer.
“We have no say in the matter, really. The offer they made us was unacceptable, and then they came back with a second offer that was even worse. It’s only so much you can do,” Rowe said. “They own the building and the name, and they see that it is a very busy place, and they wanted to join up with us and we couldn’t do that.”
Rowe said he and his staff have to be out of the building by Nov. 1 and it will take about a week to clear their things from the current location. “We created this kind of thing, you know. When we got here the building was empty, and I pretty much played [general contractor] here. It didn’t start out busy here. The first year it was slow, the second year it was slow. Around the fourth year, things started to pick up and the sixth and seventh year we were very busy. Then that Food Network thing aired and we went nuts,” he said.
The Diamond — which Rowe, King and Andy Kastanas own — will open at the same time that The Penguin’s new owners take over. The change in ownership, which Rowe said made the rounds on Facebook after he told the staff of the plans of the building’s owners, has already sparked an online effort to boycott the Penguin after Oct. 24.
“We did something special here, the whole city loves it. All walks of life, young, old, black, white … everyone is very fond of the place. I don’t know what’s going to happen because I know it’s not the building that makes the place. It’s the people inside,” Rowe said. And when the current owners move, the staff is going to the Diamond with them, he said.
Rowe didn’t get into details about the offers the building’s owners made to him and his partner for legal reasons, but he did say that neither he nor King were interested in a Penguin franchise deal.
“We had a franchise deal on the table a while ago, but it didn’t work out. We’d lose too much control,” said Rowe. “Money is important, of course, but when you go for the money, you lose something else.”
** UPDATE: Today (Sept. 21), a representative of Martin Sprock founder of Raving Brands e-mailed CL this statement:
Charlotte is not going to lose The Penguin.
Despite what you may have heard in the past 24 hours, The Penguin is not moving an inch, losing a bit of its character, charm or any of the wonderful things you have grown to love about this Charlotte landmark. The Penguin is the beating heart of Plaza-Midwood and has been an institution since 1954 when Jimmy Ballentine first opened the doors!
The Ballentine family has decided to give their restaurant a new lease on life while staying true to the dreams their family has always kept for The Penguin. Together with Martin Sprock who has unearthed such restaurant jewels as the Flying Biscuit and Moe’s and Greg Auten who was one of the original creators of the current Penguin menu, they are excited to make some structural updates that the Penguin has needed for some time.
The most important thing to the owners is keeping the soul and spirit of the Penguin as unchanged as it has been for the past 56 years. There will be the addition of a patio to allow for more seating and to enjoy the gorgeous Carolina weather. The bathrooms are going to be redone, a website will be built, but the idea of a cultural icon that serves the best food at great prices will never change.
Since the restaurant, name and logo belong to the Ballentines and some of the original staff is coming back, The Penguin is sure to keep the fan base happy with hits like the famous fried pickles, burgers and milkshakes. It will remain the spot where you are as likely to see a banking executive chowing down a bowl of Brunswick stew as you are to see a young family sharing a basket of onion rings.
Being traditional (and non-traditional) is the soul of this neighborhood and that means the world to the owners and staff. Sometimes, people move on to other ventures and business moves forward, but it should never change the passion that people feel for the food. The Penguin will always strive to provide the old favorites while keeping it fun and interesting on the menu.
People come and go. People talk a mile about a story. People love great food. Those things are always true, but sometimes change comes in a way that is unexpected and exciting. When all is said and done, The Penguin will still stand strong and still make the meanest food around. This landmark will never lose its place on the Charlotte map; it is simply going back to its original roots. This “Bird” is here to stay.
** RE-UPDATE: CL just received this press release; it seems to be more of an official word from Jimmy King and Andy Kastanas:
The Penguin Drive-In is changing ownership after 10 years of business in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. The popular restaurant was leased to current partners Jimmy King and Brian Rowe in 2000, who took the spot from relative obscurity to a thriving hotspot known for their handmade burgers and fried pickles. The Penguin has won numerous awards and received national recognition, including a feature on the Food Network’s series Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The building’s original owners, the Ballentine family, will not renew the current lease and will retain ownership in the building and the Penguin Drive- In name.Partners King and Rowe have announced plans to provide many signature items in their new venture, The Diamond Restaurant. The Diamond is a joint venture that includes Andy Kastanas of Soul Gastrolounge. Located at 1901 Commonwealth, The Diamond is currently undergoing extensive renovations with plans to open as a 24-hour diner in late October.
Partner Jimmy King states, “We wish the Ballentine family the best in their endeavors and thank all of our patrons for 10 years of incredible loyalty. We remain firmly committed to this neighborhood. Regardless of The Penguin’s future, we will remain in Plaza Midwood and continue to provide the quality of food and service that we have since re-opening The Penguin in 2000.”
The Penguin Drive-In will cease to operate under the current ownership effective October 24th.
** RE-RE-UPDATED: We caught up with Penguin partner Greg Auten and he addressed the current controversy surrounding the change in the eatery’s management:
“With all that’s in the news that’s going on, especially with them finding the killer of the girl that disappeared from Thomas Street, I was really upset that that was the main local Twitter thing that was going on,” said Auten. “I thought that was a bit absurd. It’s just food after all. I was surprised, but we’ve always had a good following there, and people are passionate about things in their area.”
“Martin Sprock, owner of Raving Brands, has a deal with the Ballentine family that if they want to go nationwide or statewide or whatever that he would be the one to do it. For right now, it’s more or less the family wanting to restore the old Penguin. We just redid it 10 years ago, but that’s been a hard 10 years. They are way busier than what we built the place for. It’s taken a toll on the building, and they just want to upgrade it, maybe streamline it a little. Maybe put a patio outside, and get that one up and running — and then the one over here on Freedom and Morehead, then proceed from there and see how it goes.” The Penguin on Freedom and Morehead will be called The Penguin Drive-In Westside; Auten grew up on the westside, and he said he wanted to do something culinary on that side of town. He and his partners, Dave Rhames and Andy Cauble, will be 100 percent owners of the Penguin Westside and have stock in the Plaza Midwood location.
“I saw a lot of people on Facebook yesterday who have known me for a long time, and they know that I’m not greedy. And I’m far from a corporate-acting machine. People know that I’m not like that. What I’m trying to do is save the Penguin. The owners of the building, the Ballentine family, we’re just respecting their wishes and are trying to carry on the Penguin name in a good light. A lot of people see it as selling out, but whatever. I guess you could call it selling out but really, all we’re doing is trying to go back and give the same atmosphere and service feel and everything that we did for 10 years. I respect people’s opinions, and I would love to have the opportunity to talk to some of these people and let them know that just because you never really leave a certain area, life does go on outside that area. I understand the passion, but it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.”
** RE-RE-RE-UPDATED: According to Helen Schwab at The Charlotte Observer Greg Auten is out of the Penguin business and Pinky’s is going to be Pinky’s instead of The Penguin Westside.
“We are 100 percent Pinky’s, nothing to do with the place over there… It happened last-minute last week; some legalities are preventing me from participating.”The grill, at Freedom Drive and Morehead Street, will be fast-casual, he says, with fish tacos, falafel (“I took some lessons with a guy from Israel, so they’ll be authentic”), burgers, sandwiches and some “healthier items,” such as salads. But will there be pickles? “That’s still up in the air,” he says.
More to come.
Related Stories
The Big Reveal: What’s replacing the Penguin?
This article appears in Sep 21-27, 2010.
I will never do business with the new ownership, I will make sure I let everyone I know that they should boycott the new place as well. That’s just wrong for greedy jerks to capitalized on these guys blood sweat & tears they’ve invested with.. NO ‘NEW’ PENGUIN FOR ME!!!!
Yep. I broke this story. Creative Loafing sorta hopped on board a few hours late. You’re welcome, Loafy.
“Ballentine Family Investments LLC”? I wonder if that company is related to the founder of the Penguin, Jimmy Ballentine. Maybe the “new” ownership is really the “old” ownership.
Looks like I’ll be eating my hush puppies and block burgers at the Diamond after October 24th.
IVE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE THE 70’S WITH MY DAD,I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE NEW PEOPLE,BRIAN AN JIMMY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND OWNERS OF A BUSINESS,THEY WORK JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THERE,MEET YOU AT THE DOOR,READY TO FIND YOU A PLACE TO SIT,TO THE NEW GUY’S,GOOD LUCK,YOUR GONNA NEED IT
I’ve known these guys for half my life and was so happy for them when the brought The Penguin back to life. I will joining the these guys at The Diamond when they reopen. So sad what happened to them. I will never return to The Penguin……
I too will now be dining at The Diamond. I hope the greedy building and name owners are really happy when The Diamond is packed and The Penguin is empty.
Some things are just WRONG!
Very simply put, the people that are taking over the penguin are cutthroat, and have disgusting business practices. Our Plaza Midwood community will continue to support the true people that have rebuilt our business district. Not the people that are greedily using a name that used to mean “stay away”( which was how everyone viewed the previous ” penguin”). How strange they made Brian & Jimmy keep the name to get the original lease..
12 years ago, you would be considered hard-core crazy to walk into the rat trap that Brian and Jimmy turned into what we affectionately call “the bird”.
ALL HAIL THE DIAMOND!
You know, that place was a hang out for bums and smack heads before Brian and Jimmy breathed life into it, and it’s a damn shame the owners of the property think that it’s OK to let someone else build it up into a fantastic place, and then snatch it out from underneath them. Well I can guarantee you I wont be eating there after the 24th!
WTF EVER.
Probably won’t be going there anymore either. Pinky’s is coming along nicely and The Diamond I’m sure can more than make up for the loss with the right people.
Onward burgers!
I’m done! Where is Diamond located at?
alright charlotte, time to act against the ballentyne scumbags. get some molotov cocktails up in that bitch! class war! put your hipster-ass “i spent $80 to look like a hobo” fashion statement to use!
RIP Penguin. :'[
They should rename Diamond “The Bird”
@expat charlottean:
Dude – “Ballentine” (the family/ building owners), not “Ballantyne” (the South Charlotte neighborhood).
This isn’t about who lives where…
Is there someone within the “new” ownership company we can write to and complain/protest?! There must be some way we can all band together and stop them from making such a huge mistake (aka doing something so horribly wrong as to try to turn a beloved landmark into a corporate cash cow)!!!
Fuck them. Da Bird is an institution. I need to buy a plane ticket to come home for a furneral it seems. Love y’all and can’t wait to see what you do with the new place. As long as my drinks are still made by Heather and my food by GDubz, I’ll be happy. The Diamond it is!
Rumor has it that Pinky’s is going to be a second location for The Penguin – as in a franchise.
Add me to the list of people who won’t support the ‘new’ Penguin. Looking forward to good times at the Diamond.
This will be the easiest walk around the corner ever. Thank for making the Penguin fun. New owners step off. We are Diamondheads now!
Sadness. After October 24th, I can’t imagine spending money at The Penguin – walking around the corner to The Diamond will become the standard, whereas before standing outside of the Bird was common place.
Respect for Brian and Jimmy – stickin’ it to the man.
I hope the remember to take the jukebox with them!!!!!
Call me nuts, but I want to hear both sides before passing judgment on the original owners. If it’s as stated with a outrageous offer then I agree, but if they offer coincides with a supply/demand business trend then I can understand where they property owners are coming from as well.
Way to go Charlotte Absorber. You’re the man.
No more Penguin for me after 10/24 🙁 Thanks to Brian and Jimmy for 10 years of this great institution!
the owner who created all the good stuff (pimento cheese sandwiches!!)for the last ten years, greg, is part of the new penguin…I never saw these other two guys who sound like they are crying cause they missed out on the deal…sorry, I’m sticking with the penguin.
To Sharon, two post above:
You are nuts! To hell with the owners agenda! It seems obvious that they wanted to cash in on some of the wealth that the penguin was creating but, now they get nothing other than a bad rep in the hood and no local support. The penguin was like a home to me but not because of the building or the name but, because of Heather, Katrina, Brian, Ned, Justin, Jessica, Brea, Jimmy, and Elisa and not to mention the slew of regulars that lean against the bar every Friday and Saturday night i.e. Mike and Courtney T (love y’all). I loved being with people who I could be comfortable around. Those people and ALL the loyal regulars will be going to the Diamond so how could I ever step foot in the penguin again knowing that it would suck?
Do I really need to hear the other side of the story???
Jonathan,
you are crazy as well
You people have no clue to the history of The Penguin it was a famous N.Charlotte dive before you wannabes ever knew it’s name! and 99 % of you types would’ve been rolled outside the doors talk the big talk the place will survive all you freaks….ride on losers!!
yeah eric,
i grew up in there eating hotdogs when i was a kid. I remember it when it was a shithole as well. wow, how times hae changed fro the better and now the worse.
My pops has been dining at the bird since before it was the werd (since back in the early 70’s, yo) and he was sad to hear this news as well. He loves the new life that Jimmy & Brian have breathed into the restaurant. The bird has been there for me through thick and then and it’s not about the four walls and the barstool under my ass, it’s about the people that have been there in the good times (my wedding) and the bad times (unemployment). So I’ll park my car at the “Penguin” and mosey on over to the Diamond. At least the parking lot will be good for something. Oh, and Lee? Love ya baby! 😉
Lee, If being educated on a topic in order to make an informed decision is nuts then move over nutella! It sounds as you are speaking from the heart, and not from a completely unbiased point of view. I admire your loyalty and devotion to the guys that work there and run the place, but at some point people have to be practical. Maybe this is a “Diamond in the the rough” and would be better due to a spacious environment where patrons would not have to wait as long on a table. 🙂
Hate to hear about this blatant money-grubbing move. Tacky, tacky, tacky…
Don’t worry guys, we know it’s the people that make the place. See you at The Diamond!
Sharon,
Thank you. I do not believe that you are nuts, It’s just been a hard day hearing this. I feel like i just got punched in the stomach. I will miss the building and all the good times but, I guess things start a new. I as well as Shezbot have both immortalized the Da Bird in our own way. Can’t wait to see all my friends at the new location! Sorry for calling you nuts.
The service there has been sucking lately anyways, they act like they don’t need your business. They will now.
Well, well, well!
It seems as if there are some toes gettin’ stepped on, and as far as I can tell from history, when toes get stepped on you need to tuck them in.
I am a part of this family, and very proud of what’s going on!
Rock on Greg, fight fire with food!
Tim
This sucks! I’ll miss the penguin, but hopefully what come out of The Diamond will be even better. As for the having to take the name on, as part of the original lease, maybe that was the owner’s plan all along. Let someone come in revitalize the business and then cash in on it, whether or not the ones who rebuilt it are in on it or not. That’d be one mean way to make a few bucks…
While it’s scummy and disgusting that they would do this to two independent business owners, boycotting The Penguin (whomever it’s owners) isn’t going to do a lick of good. The business will fail horribly, and the community will have lost yet another business. There will be no righteous retribution or return of the original owners just because a bunch of stupid hipsters call themselves pulling a boycott because the same guys names arent on the window. It’s stupid. It’s still the Penguin if the food doesn’t change, and if it hurts you so damn bad that jimmy and the other guy are gone then GO TO THE DIAMOND. Or maybe it’s not “cool” enough yet…
tim,
so sad, what a douchbag
Bu-bye Penguin. Hello Diamond. I absolutely hate the gentrification of my favorite neighborhoods. It happened in North Davidson (R.I.P. Fat City), and for the past few years, it’s been happening in Plaza-Midwood. It’s only a matter of time before they change the neighborhood’s name to Pla-Mi. I hope the boycott is effective and these assholes close down within a year.
Chris B,
Oh how I miss Fat City. KC made that neighborhood. It was great when it was dangerous over there and you could damn near do anything, like burn down a car and nobody goes to jail. Ah, the good ole days. I rarley go there now, it’s rather boring. 🙁
“And when the current owners move, the staff is going to the Diamond with them, he said.”
Awesome! Maybe the food at the Penguin will actually be worth eating now. That place is positively disgusting.
The “regulars” are going to boycott? Even better! The only thing worse than the nasty, greasy garbage they call “food” at the Penguin is the collection of wannabes and aging losers who frequent the place and believe they have some kind of “scene” in that neighborhood. Good riddance! It would be even better if they packed up and left the neighborhood entirely.
@ ftpisb: Obvious troll is obvious. Maybe you’ll get a few bites and you’re epeen will be happy.
@ Lee C: I’m with ya, man. I only go to North Davidson if I’m invited to something, and even then only occasionally.
Lets stick it to the new owners of the penguin they do not deserve all the good things that The original owners and staff have done goto the Diamond and let the old tired bird fail. I have supported the people at the penguin for ever and think that what the landlords are doing SUCKS. Got The Diamond and leave the penguin alone after the 23rd.
ftpisb,
dude, you are way off.
Has everyone forgotten that it is places like Ace Tattoo, CM, Fuel Pizza, Reggae Central, No Grease, Fresh Produce(RIP) and The Penguin that make that neighborhood what it is. You can have the name the Penguin, who cares but, you can’t recreate the aditude or emotion. It’s sad that people think these can be bought and sold. That’s good old fashion capitalism at work for ya right there. Good luck just riding on the penguin name, you’re gonna need it.
I think you people are missing something: Jimmy and Brian had NOTHING to do with the food. It was all Greg and his name hasn’t even been brought up. I highly doubt that all the staff will follow them to the diamond. The penguin isn’t popular for Jimmy and Brian. It’s popular for fried pickles, pimento cheese, big burgers, and cheap beer. Throw either one of those guys in a kitchen and see what they can cook, they don’t have a clue. The Ballantine family owns the building and the name, can you honestly say that if you were in that position that you wouldn’t want to make some money off your family’s business? It seems like they were dumb to not accept the families offers. The penguin is always going to be the penguin. Most people that walk through those doors don’t have a clue who those two even were. They know Greg he was the face and personality of that place and no one has even said where he is in all this… Long live the penguin.
Well, They recruited the 3rd partner, Greg Auten sold out his friends and partners. He is even dirtier than Sprock in my mind. Whomever the clientele was, whether hipster or yuppie. They were there because of Jimmy and Brian’s blood sweat and tears. The Penguin was allowed to rot and become detritus before the previous management failed and closed the first time. They will fail again.
I love Brian Rowe. If you knew how much he cares about that neighborhood, you might say the smae.
This sucks….
First it was Whisky Warehouse (which belongs downtown, not in this area) moving into the neighborhood and now it’s this happening to Brian and Jimmy… There goes the neighborhood… I thought it was bad enough with all the stupid, corny ass, uncultured, rich white people moving into the neighborhood….
Well I guess its time to finally find somewhere else to live now that all these ugly condos and townhomes keep getting built and corporate interest is finally looking into the neighborhood…
ps – fuck those two stupid smoke shops opening up as well… What is this? Myrtle Beach? and on top of that they ruined the old morris costumes building.
While it sucks to lose something so many people hold so dearly, if you really care about the neighborhood letting another business fail, and leaving another building empty isn’t going to do a lick of good. You can be supportive of Jimmy & Brian without letting the whole damn neighborhood suffer.
This situation is so slimy. I will no longer be frequented the Penguin under the new ownership.
I will also not be giving business to Pinky’s. I’m sure those former Penguin owners had something to do with this deal. C’mon, Pinky’s has been in “the works” for how long? I guess they realized they already have a dying business even before it opens! How sad.
The timing all seems a little suspicious to not question those guys.
WT! Are you kidding.. How greedy! It will never be the same without Jimmy, Brian and the staff! I look forward to the Diamond opening. The food was awesome at the Peguin and the people who worked there made it all the more enjoyable. I will not be supporting this place any longer. I look forward to seeing the the ole gang at The Diamond!
RIP Peguin!
from what I understand, Greg will be back at the new penguin, and Brian and Jimmy will be down at the Diamond, however, all three of them are in together on Pinky’s. so if you really want to support the original team, go to Pinky’s.
The Ballantine’s who are forcing this are the second generation, their parents loved Greg, Brian, and Jimmy. When the father Ballantine passed, the kids took over, and are money-grubbing. They tried to oust them and start a franchise deal 2 years ago, but when their mother found out, she told them they were out of their damn minds. So this going through makes me think that she either doesnt know whats going on, or she’s passed too, otherwise the penguin would be there for years to come
Sorry guys spell check is very important
RIP Penguin!
by the way, that all came from Greg Auten’s momma right after they tried to take over 2 years ago
Sweet, a boycott! This means I’ll be able to get a table.
As long as the food still hits the spot, I don’t care about all this drama.
And if the Diamond is amazing too, all the better!
I think the franchise idea is doomed to fail though, because you can’t recreate the neighborhood support plaza-midwood provides.
This area has enough room for the both of them
Yes it is sad but with the long waits to get a table clearly both will do just fine
Corp BS always fades an original
Cant wait to see the Diamond all fixed up!
agreed, I wil never set foot in that place again after the 24th of Oct….end of an era….beginning of a new one
“Ballentine Family Investments LLC”? I wonder if that company is related to the founder of the Penguin, Jimmy Ballentine. Maybe the “new” ownership is really the “old” ownership.”
can I just say that the old ownership let the penguin turn into a heroine den before Jimmy and Brian invested all of themselves into it?They’re only interested in the Penguin to make money off of the hard work of Brian and Jimmy. Almost everything in that building they put into it and I know that as far as people who have lived and worked in plaza midwood for years will no longer eat or drink at the Penguin franchise after October 24th.
Get over yourself Charlotte Absorber. What a blowhard…
Can’t be mad at the ownership group for trying to make money. It’s business, never take it personal.
The reality is The Penguin is still gonna be popular no matter how many people on this page or circle boycott it.
This entire thing is great for Plaza Midwood b/c now they get press for a week about this legendary food joint.
Same thing happened at Common House btw…$ trumps character and the good guys lose
“That’s good old fashion capitalism at work for ya right there.”
Actually, it’ll be good old fashioned capitalism at work when the Diamond soars and McPenguin flops.
I live in Atlanta now, but Charlotte is my home. I went to Garinger High and Plaza-Midwood was one of my stomping grounds. The Penguin was a major player in my life while I was in the QC.
It’s always a shame to hear when folks do things for “business”. Brian, Jimmy, the staff and the great folks who came to the Penguin are the heart and soul of the place and I feel confident that they will follow their hearts and souls and move with them!
JJ
I think some people need to get some things straight. The penguin is famous for the food. Jimmy and Brian don’t know anything about the food. He didn’t “sell out his friends”. From what I understand he was forced out by the two of them months ago. And if you still dont understand this: he alone created the menu. When people come to the penguin they expect to see Greg. Jimmy and Brian are pretty shady people. This whole media outcry for boycott is total bs. They want to say that the penguin is going corporate when they’re partnering for the diamond with someone who owns half the establishments in Charlotte.
great insight from Sharpi here.
^^LOL at comparing Andy K. to the capitalist behind Monkey Joe’s and Doc Greens homogenized strip mall chain “concepts” and looking to similarly franchise The Penguin by way of forcing out those who made it the success it is.
Yes, the chef deserves the chance to clear his name, but it seems apparent what happened here.
@ Riley: If you think The Penguin’s appeal was solely its menu, then you clearly have never been there.
First of all, Charlotte Absorber is right. creative loafing is a joke. But as far as the ballentine family and the statement that the penguin will remain a place where you’re likely to see a bank exec alongside a young family. What about those of us that like to go in and see normal people covered in tattoo’s drinking and playing loud music on the jukebox. Screw a franchise. I hope they open one on the westside and southend so the original fails because all those rich douchebags that have been hanging out at OUR penguin because of food network stop coming.
Congatulations to the Ballantines for their forsite in protecting their asset,and their place. I started going in 1978 and I commend the new guys for protecting the integrity of the place. As that partnership broke up, the Ballantines hd to choose the best outcome for the business and the family.
This is Mr. Ballantines place and his family will insure it’s longevity by trusting it to the best caretaker’s possible. Adns if they build another one, ore several, this wil still be “The Penquin, where I got 65cent beers, 99 cent barbeque and the five cutest sisters working behind the bar.
You can’t fake history. Don’t abandon the Penquin, you’ll miss it
ITs all BS If the Ballentine’s had cared about the place they would have keep the building up not let it almost fall in. Jimmy Brian and the people there have done an amazing thing they along with Blair at Common Market and Hope Nichols have totally redone the neighborhood and now when they are starting to reap the benefits of what they have wrought they are getting taken over by Carpetbaggers such as the Ballentine kids. Look until you have sweated bleed and suffered for something it is not yours. Brian and Jimmy and many others have and now this is just down to a greedy money power grab to steal from them what they have worked so long and hard for. Where were these people and the money to upgrade the place all those years ago? When did they become concerned with helping the neighborhood? Never they sat on their collective tails and collected rent and watched and waited and now are stealing from the people who made it what it is now. Did any of these people bus tables mop bathrooms break up fights get burned running the grill like Jimmy and Brian did. NO THEY DID NOT. The praise goes to the victor in the arena JFK.
An offhand comment from a wise friend has stuck with me this past year: “Everything ends, it’s a matter of when and how.”
Sounds like their “how” could’ve used a little more finesse.
Such “jewels” as Flying Bisquit and Moes? They have good/decent food but are simple chains with simple food that can be found at many chain restaurants. What a glossy, silly, version of what happened. Glad “Daddy” had the Penguin years ago, but it went to hell and was reborn and now the good – new version is going to be a franshised chain. Wow. How not exciting. I’m sure some will eat there, but I doubt those actually in the neighborhood will. Hope Karma exists and “The Bird” migrates elsewhere to a Diamond in the rough.
I could not be happier! I was treated so poorly by a manager , the staff & given a weak apology by an owner there. Karma is a you know what!! Good bye I for one will not miss this overated greasy burger hipster wannabe dive!!!!!
well I despise banking execs and young families alike. they can drown in their precious brunswick stew for all I care.
Be sure to take a look at this Facebook event, supporting the current Penguin owners & staff:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149194901785607
the watcher is on point
This is truly a sad day for Plaza Midwood. The support that this community and it’s residents have recieved from the Penguin will never be matched by the new owners. For those people that do not know the inner working and relationships of Plaza Midwood, I would not expect you to understand the hurt and pain this sitution is causing. This district is truly a family, sometime dysfuntional, but still a family. You can get greasy hamburgers, hotdogs, fries and even fried pickles at many dives, BUT you cannot get the atmosphere and genuine community care and support that you get at the Penguin anywhere else. They have been a stronghold for this neighborhood for years. Along with Blake, Hope, Allison, Robert, Penny and Gary… these business owners created the special district known as Plaza Midwood. I had the pleasure of getting to know these gentlemen over the past years and I am shocked that anyone would pull this Shit with them. They truly believe in the ‘Hood and all of his misfits… hey treated everyone with respect. When there was a question of crime, these gentlemen stepped up to the plate and provided security for the ALL customers in that neighborhood. Whenever anyone from the local neighborhood associations asked for support or donations…. The Penguin always stepped up. I for one will always have a special place in my heart for the Brian, Jimmy and Staff of the Penguin. When I was fighting the fight of my life with Cancer, I could ALWAYS depend on a smile, a Patty Melt and a place at the bar to sit…. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART…..THANK YOU.
To those who think Pinky’s is an alternative, think again. They are part of this whole thing. According to the Observer, the not even finished yet Pinky’s will now be a Penguin, franchise style. Was this the plan all along?
“It is simply going back to its original roots.” Seriously? When Jimmy, Brian and Greg took it over it was as if everyone in there walked away mid-day and left food in prep trays, meat in the freezer, holes in the ceiling. Those guys worked their asses off to get it where it is today. Sure Greg made the menu but you can’t run a successful restaurant on the food. It takes dedicated consistent effort – in other words, GREAT management. That’s what Brian and Jimmy are. Viva la DIAMOND!
It will not be the same. Stop trying to make this look like it will be better for the community. This is just really upsetting.
Thank you Daniel. I built a business too from $1000.00 loaned to me by several friends and lot of sweet pain and stitches and more. I would rather watch it burn than something like whats happening to them happen to me. Its your child your second wife your mistress, you love and hate it at the same time but will never give it up. Now you know my passion in this matter.
Times change. Ownerships change. People go out of business. New businesses open. Nothing lasts forever. These occurrences are all part of the American way of life. The Penguin is reverting back to the original owner. Everyone made money in the interim. I don’t think it’s healthy for the neighborhood to turn away from the Penguin. True that it languished into “obscurity” some time ago, and the Penguin was part of a restoration of sorts. When I lived in Plaza-Midwood 20 years ago, there was nothing resembling civilization other than Will’s Park and Pawn. Regardless, the property owners and the Penguin licensees couldn’t come to terms, so leave it at that. The Penguin staff will be right around the corner at the Diamond when the get it open.
So there’s no sense in being angry about it. Call it fate, kismet, or maybe even luck… sometimes these things happen for a reason. In a few months this will all be forgotten.
It’s not like the city closed them down because of an obscene performance by GWAR, or anything like that.
Michael G. Plumides, Jr., JD
awesome to see all of the support for the BOYCOTT on here! I hope this is the busiest month ever for “The Bird” before some five-guys-esque chain takes over. If the family was really so greedy and wanted to take it corporate, they should have just sold that property to Starbucks.
it’s also great to only see only a few uninformed yuppie scum on here as well..
@ Mike G: you were probably a complete moron and were thus, treated as such,
@ Michael Plumides: shut up, dude. no one cares what you think after you wrote that god aweful book.
@Riley on comparing Martin Shock to Andy K….you are an absolute idiot with not a shred knowledge on this….. best to keep your mouth shut.
How messed up is Charlotte that stories about $700 billion bailouts and a $13 trillion national debt and soldiers being killed daily in Afghanistan garner hardly any comments, yet when a greasy spoon dive might close the entire f@#king town goes nuts?
Riley- you must have been in Special Ed. when the rest of us were paying attention in reality school. YOU said “This whole media outcry for boycott is total bs. They want to say that the penguin is going corporate when they’re partnering for the diamond with someone who owns half the establishments in Charlotte”. To compare Andy K. with those butter-balls is an example of your obvious stupidity. Turn off the computer and go back upstairs- your mom is calling you to dinner.
@ TheObamessiah, this is the same society that can’t be bothered to research independent news and stay informed ,but we now have created a demand for no less than 4 ridiculous reality shows about a bunch of pilled – out, drama – causing housewives all over the U.S. just sayin’.
Plumides – plugging your shitty book here is a total dick move. At least some things in Charlotte won’t ever change
Are they going to make the servers yell when you enter? I’ll never eat there after the 24th.
Oh, and Michael G. Plumides, Jr., JD … the best luck, kismet, etc. would be your shutting it up a hot minute. You are as relevant as a porcupine in a nudist colony.
The owners of the land saw Brian And Jimmy work hard, build their clientele, actually get a spot on Food Network, and generate more clientele. Who was it that made 2 hour waiting lines for burgers happen? Not the land owners. Jimmy and Brian worked hard at that place, and they were shucked and jived by their own partner, nothing more than a simple knife in the back.
@ Michael Plumides: skinheads drink in the parking lot across from the ALE offices. Nuff said.
Buzz, J.E., and Dash… never heard of you.
Greg,
Congratulations. You have just put the nail in your own coffin, so to speak. You’ve also managed to completely bastardize any credibility you have left with the neighborhood.
After the 24th, the Penguin name will just be drug through the mud and by one of the very pioneers that turned that place around years ago.
“some may call it selling out, but, whatever” and “it’s nothing personal, it’s just business” wow, really?!? what, did Martin Sprock send you off to some Amway/ Walmart / Starbucks crash- lingo course?
I’m glad it’s not personal to you any more, because that would make this really hard for you and you obviously are having no problems at all. good for you. I hope the money was enough and congratulations, again. I officially wouldn’t believe you when you said “good morning”.
Michael G. Plumides, Jr., JD,
I doubt seriously you’ve heard anything but the sound of your own voice for years now, and it shows
Dash. I told the manager that I didn’t agree with their seating policy & that it should be posted. He told me verbatim ” You are entitled to your WRONG opinion sir” Then he asked me if I wanted to take the discussion outside trying to instigate a fight with me. Now I ask you is that the way a customer should be treated? I am not going to sling bad words at you like you did at me. I will never visit that place again no matter who runs it. The Dish treated my friends and I like gold the same night. They earned my business & respect.
“What I’m trying to do is save the Penguin. The owners of the building, the Ballentine family, we’re just respecting their wishes and are trying to carry on the Penguin name in a good light.”
Greg – save the Penguin from what? Good management? Steady business? Or the greedy landlords who have aligned themselves carelessly with folks with money, sold you on a shiny financial package (they’ll probably kick you to the curb in six months, you know this, right?), and swiped it away from Jimmy and Brian? Is that the best you can do to try to spin this away? That and exploiting a local tragedy to suggest that our attention to this is “absurd”? Nice try but I suggest you stay away from the press until you can get a good publicist. Several very large mistakes have been made here and I think the “new” regime has grossly underestimated the community’s reaction to this deal. Sure it’s just business, but folks can run their businesses taking the high road too.
Mike G. just responding to the nasty tone of that first comment you posted.. The Dish is a great place and there are 2 sides to every story.
on the up side..you may want to retry the McPenguin though…I hear chains usually have a suggestion box and surely no one that currently works there will be managing.
Greg Auten, “the girl that disappeared from Thomas Street” has a name. It is Valerie Hamilton.
Dash, my suggestion is that you should think before assuming folks are morons. I will never visit The Penguin again in any form. I ate there many times before the last incident and before it became popular & never found it especially good or charming.
Mike G, awesome ;-)!
Taking things at face value is what started the war in Iraq.
I’m just sayin’…
Looks like I’ll be checking out The Diamond in the coming months. It’s really too bad to see this happening to The Penguin I’ve grown to love.
I remember when I moved here how EVERYONE told me I needed to check this place out. Guess I’ll be giving the recommendation for The Diamond now.
Gross. Moes and Flying Biscuit are great dining spots? The new Penguin wants to replicate that?
Sickening.
Stick to the authentic: Common Market,The Diamond and Dish. Support the locals!
I’ve known Brian Rowe for over 14 years. I met the rest of the crew 10 years ago and have supported them ever since. My 66 yr old father grew up in Plaza-Midwood and was surprised that the Penguin was refurbished (no longer a dive for smack heads and such) and made into a thriving business 10 yrs ago. Today, it has become more than a dive, but a “must experience” fun atmosphere for locals, travelers, family and business people. The current owners made it what it is today, not the Ballentine family, that sat and collected whatever rent they could get during the decades that rolled by. Whenever I went in to the Penguin before, I was welcomed, treated well (just like every customer new or old) and used it as a gathering place to meet up with my friends. “Southern-Style Cooking, Grilling and BBQ” was not “invented” by the Mr. Auten. He got it right, but the execution of the hospitality, service and atmosphere was an everyday occurance that kept me and many old/new faces returning. The new company states that they won’t homogenize the restaurant…really? That’s what it takes to do corporate. I know, it’s just business, no feelings involved…and that’s exactly how big business comes across to me when I’m sitting at the table…simply depleted of anything that makes me consider it memorable.
My father also said the Diamond was considered a great place to eat on Sundays. Now it will be the new landmark for locals and travelers to eat, meet and greet. I’m not wishing the “original business owners” good luck, I’m sure they’ll need more than that to hold on. Also, the name Ballentine could have easily been changed to Ballentyne for the “elevated” look of the name, just like many name changes in this town. Diligence and elbow grease were never their forte previously…I hope they won’t be too hard on the new hires when they can’t pull in the revenue that the Penguin once did.
Diamond, I’m on the way to celebrate your opening and make you thrive.
Do you hear that? It’s me not giving a shit about your opinion. You pontificate about matters you can’t interpret or understand, and my stomach turns at each belligerent and ill-informed key stroke you make. As you’ve never done anything of merit in your life, save berate and abuse people on this lowly blog, I feel ashamed to even comingle my existence with turds like you. I’m glad I live in the suburbs so I don’t have to be anywhere near your bus stop, or next crime spree. Plaza Midwood is all yours, Dash-bag. I hope you choke on it.
“…just because you never really leave a certain area, life does go on outside that area.” Really, Greg? You’re going to insult the people you depended on and will depend on? Could you be any more of a douche?
Hey abarber – Nicely done.
Hooray for the voices of reason that are Dash, Geekstress and abarber. Your eloquence and passion are appreciated. Good people don’t look the other way when a wrong is being committed, they speak up. Thanks again.
I once texted to a friend that we should eat at “The Pemguin”, accidently typing an “m”. Now that’s all we call it.
Brian & Jimmy should call the new joint “The Pemguin” & put the old bird out of business.
Who is this Michael G. Plumides, Jr.? He sounds like a douchbag. Am I alone in this?
Thanks, Mark and Lee C, no you are absolutely not alone in this 😉
Agreed – you’re DEFINITELY not alone in this. Sounds like a tool to me.
What I really don’t understand is those that say the Penguin is full of hipsters and wannabes and the food sucks. If this is what you think, then why would you want to go there and why do you care about what’s going on. The hipsters, wannabes and shitty food are what we apparently like and who we are, that will change when we’re gone, so what will be your reason for wanting to hang out there then, the name? The soul of this place obviously doesn’t turn you on.
For the record. I am Mike G and I was treated like dirt by the current Penguin staff, manager & owner and I am giddy beyond belief that this has happened. If they were smart they wouldn’t have been caught with their baggy pants down around their trendy tribal tattoed ankles. I visited with friends who seemed to think The Penguin was more than the greasy spoon it is, because it is hip and was on tv. Seriously the food isn’t great, there is no room and they have an arrogance that has backfired in their face like a cheap Ford Pinto, HARDY HAR HAR HAR!!!!!
PS: I am not Michael G but he seems to make sense too.
Sad to hear, the people there definitely made The Penguin what it is today. I will gladly follow them to The Diamond! Sad to see the demise of The Penguin come so suddently 🙁
Although I loved the vibe at the penguin and LOVE the greasy food, I too was treated in several occasions with a “eff this kid coming to try us because we’re popular” attitude.
I guess the problem with good things is you can’t keep them to yourself though.
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a complete prick move on the Ballintine’s part. Regardless of business and wanting to make profit, there is such a thing as right and wrong. Aaandd Greg, should’ve just kept quiet, now everyone knows you’re a total deusche.
Hope it’s all for the best.
“For right now, it’s more or less the family wanting to restore the old Penguin.” Growing up in Chantilly, the old Penguin was alcoholic men bellying up to a nasty roach-infested dump so I don’t think that is what the family plans to profit from. No, they plan to profit off the sweat-&-hard-work of men that worked long hours and produced a product that people would drive across the city/county to eat not some franchise food! Basically this f@*ked up family thinks they can make a go of it with a name and a menu? With a surname like “Ballentine” in Plaza Midwood? hahaha – Dumbass!
It really isn’t the Ballentime family taking advantage of Jimmy and Brian.
Other partners WITHIN the Penguin are the sellouts.
Wonder why Greg gave such a positive spin to almost all of his co-workers being out of a job? You guessed it. He is staying with hopes to “rake it in”
They went in underhanded, made a deal, and now are going to be running Plaza-Midwood branch of the franchise.
Everyone thinks its a big money-making devil that came in to steal the hardwork people put into the Penguin when really it other workers and partners of the Penguin who sold this place out and jobs out from under their co-workers.
Mike G and Plumides,
thanks so much for replying…you’ve proven my points better than I ever could. Have a truly AWESOME day!
Thank GAWD! I loved the Penguin until they got so full of themselves over the past 1 1/2 year that it wasn’t a fun experience anymore. The posers and wannabe’s pretending to be hipsters were annoying…the employees attitudes soared (and soured), the food suffered a little, and of course the wait became so obnoxious that (coupled with the staff’s attitudes) I (and many of my friends and family who supported it through the lean years) all but abandoned the place:( Nice to know they are going to clean it up and expand it some (finally) and that it’s being done by THE OWNERS WHO STARTED THE PENGUIN TO BEGIN WITH! Also nice to know if we want some fried pickles, with some attitude, smugness, and arrogance, we can go around the corner to the Diamond.
Shame on you Dash, Geektress, JE etc. Show some respect. Michael Plumides is a real author. His book “Kill The Music” is available at Dollar Tree in Kannapolis. Seriously
I’m curious to see how many of you actually know Brian and Jimmy or would even be able to pick them out of a lineup. People fail to mention that among the people who toiled night and day to put their blood, sweat, and tears into making the bird successful were Greg and Andy, both of whom were there for the first 9.5 years of the new penguin. I know personally that nearly every time I came in, Greg was there, with the other cooks, working and putting his work in to make sure everything was running smoothly and to his original specifications, while I can probably count on both hands the times I’ve seen brian or Jimmy in the restaurant over the past 10 years, and 4 of those times have been in the past 6 months. I’m sure they put in more work when they first opened the joint, but I know that for at least 6 years Greg appeared to be almost single-handedly managing the place, and 2 of those years, he was also helping to run Alley Cat, so you can’t act like all he ever did was design the menu, then sit back and wait for the money.
His handling of this situation might not have been the best, but everybody directly involved is okay with the way things are going, why can’t yall seem to be? Go to the Diamond if you want, it’ll be there, or you can go to the Penguin, or Pinky’s if you want. The way I see it, after this, instead of having one awesome place to hang out, we’ll have 3.
I’m pretty sure it was Andy who treated me very poorly so my feeling remain the same no Penguin for me old or new.
This story is real life evil versus good. As usually happens in real life, evil wins the fight.
Sprock and the Ballentines want to grab what Jimmy and Brian created, pretend it is theirs and then franchise the magic. What a crock!
Auten is a tool. Sprock wants him, but Auten knows his name and reputation will be mud – or something organic that looks sort of like mud.
Jimmy and Brian say they’ll just do it again at the Diamond and not get bogged down in a fight.
No way will you see me or anybody I respect at the “new” Penguin.
Mike G. your an ass I was there at the shows during the time your book was written about, well you suck. If you pulled the attitude with the Penguin staff you pulled back then and still now well you still suck.
Anybody know–have Brian Rowe and Jimmy King got the Diamond up and running?
If so, I’ll have to stop in next time I’m in Charlotte.
And as for The Penguin, Won’t set foot in the place.
Great Article. Thanks for the info. Does anyone know where I can find a blank “change of ownership form” to fill out?