December 17, 2003 News & Views » News Feature

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Tried and True 

Double Door Inn, 2nd oldest blues club in the US, hits 30

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click to flip through (3) RADOK - Clockwise from center: Nick Karres, Mike Martin, Ben - Joplin, George Mandrapilias, Basil Coston, Missy - McCall, Todd Smith, Mark Bumgardner, Les Moore
  • Radok
  • Clockwise from center: Nick Karres, Mike Martin, Ben Joplin, George Mandrapilias, Basil Coston, Missy McCall, Todd Smith, Mark Bumgardner, Les Moore
   

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Karres, who graduated from Myers Park High in 1967 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 1971, married his wife Betty 27 years ago; they have two children, Kelly, 25, and James, nicknamed "Cole," 16.

Karres is described by employees as a father, mentor and advisor -- generous to a fault. "He's like your father, your best friend and your priest," Coston says, "he's always there if you need an ear."

Karres hired Smith when he was 18 and a CPCC student. Smith says, "He's taught me many lessons in life and I would do anything for him." Phillips says, "Nick's only fault may be that he's too kind-hearted. He's a good role model, holds his temper and lets you know you're appreciated."

McCall has called Karres "Daddy Nick" for years and he's hated it for years, she says. "My dad died when I was 10 years old and I've always seen Nick as a father figure -- and psychologist. And he approves my dates -- I haven't had any for awhile." Her cat, born outside the Double Door, is named Nicholas James Karres.

Joplin even credits Karres for saving his life. "If it weren't for Nick I wouldn't be here. I was sick and swollen up about two years ago and trying to act like nothing was wrong. Nick took me to the hospital and I had some big liver problems. He's a super good guy."

This paternal element in Karres has apparently come to full fruition in his business. Employees all allude to or mention the word "family" while being interviewed. "Going to work is like going from one part of my house to another," says Martin, "except one room has live music."

According to McCall, "We're a family, alright, a dysfunctional family yes, but family." The familiarity is apparent at closing, watching the well-oiled crew interaction -- comfortable banter and gibing while making fast work of their chores.

Like any family, they have their quibbles and nitpicks, personalities that combust when combined and the unrelenting everyday sameness of each other that can make any one of us at some time get a glimpse of why people go postal. They all say Karres stays above it, though he did say he sometimes finds himself coming out with things like, "Now children. . ."

The bartenders work in a narrow strip behind the beautiful wooden bar. For three decades nighttime bartenders Martin and Mandrapilias have negotiated around each other, surely tiptoeing and pirouetting at times, in that tiny space. "I've been with George longer than I've been with my wife," says Martin, who by day is a realtor. "We've had our moments of course -- harsh words almost to blows, but we're basically kindred spirits. We feel like whatever you do, do it well. And we like to have fun doing it." Mandrapilias says, "We've been here so many years, we've been through it all -- tears and laughter, both to the extreme."

Had the real estate market not tanked in the early 70s (interest rates sky-high and loans hard to get), the Double Door might never have been. After college Karres worked as a realtor and one of his listings was the Double Door property, then a lamp shop. Eventually, Karres and brother Matt (partner until 1986), decided to buy it themselves and create a live music venue. "There were virtually no other live music clubs in town in 1973," Karres says. "There was the Carafe on Tremont and South, and the Yellow Rose opened just a few months before we did. We just naively dove right into it."

Naive maybe, but with excellent timing. Since opening, the Double Door's been a consistent place for eclectic, relaxed entertainment in an authentic atmosphere (hence the celebrities). The Carafe and Yellow Rose were gone in five years and there were many years in the 70s and 80s when the Door was sometimes packed shoulder to shoulder even on weeknights. The Double Door got its blues focus around 1976, when they hired the Nighthawks, whose former guitarist Jim Thackery hooked Karres up with a network of good blues acts. The Door was also the first to introduce the Queen City to reggae, zydeco and Americana.

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