MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 10, 2016) – Chalk up another victory for Dale Earnhardt Jr., as his Whisky River location in Charlotte-Douglas International Airport has won Best Airport Bar in America.
Airport Restaurant News Magazine & USA Today 10best.com collaborated for the online vote, and as has happened so often in the past, JR Nation came through.
The winner was announced last night at the annual ARN convention in Dallas. Whisky River, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary in the airport on March 14, received the most online votes. The eatery features its signature rustic décor from its flagship location in uptown Charlotte’s EpiCentre, a model bull and stage for live performances. Its popular menu includes favorites like the Carolina Q Burger, chipotle queso and Dale Jr.’s signature barbecue sauce. Cocktails made with Midnight Moon Original Moonshine (from legendary racer and whisky maven Junior Johnson) also are featured.
The commercial success of Whisky River is especially pleasing to Earnhardt Jr., since it began as a labor of love as well as business. His appreciation of the western lifestyle runs deep, as evidenced by the Western town that sits on his property near Mooresville.
“We’ve only been open a year at the Charlotte airport,” said J.R. Rhodes, who directed the project. “It’s been a tremendous success since day one, working with great partners in HMSHost. To be named Best Airport Bar in our first year is awesome.”
Rhodes, who handles special projects for Earnhardt Jr., said that the eatery and bar is well-received for its ambiance and great food, and Earnhardt Jr.’s legion of fans helped make it a champion.
“It’s an online vote, and we were fifth in the voting before they even told us about it,” he said. “I told Dale about it at 10 a.m., and by noon, we were first. We never really lost the lead from then on.”