East Bay bar-watchers, take note: Vinnie's Bar & Grill, the longtime Concord music hangout, is packing up its late-night playbook and heading for downtown Brentwood. The second location, dubbed Vinnie's Emporium, is slated for the 561 1st Street block and is intended to mirror the Concord original's mix of food, drinks and live music.
Owner Vincent Parker told WhatNow he saw the potential immediately after checking out the space during a performance and is aiming to open by July 4. He said he hopes to line up the launch with Brentwood's Fourth of July parade, while noting that several key details still need to be ironed out before anything is official.
From Concord To Brentwood
The flagship Vinnie's sits at 2045 Mt. Diablo Street in downtown Concord and, according to the official site, leans on regular live shows, late hours and a backyard patio to draw in crowds. That Concord formula, including its menu and events lineup, is set to serve as the model for Vinnie's Emporium in Brentwood, per Vinnie's Bar & Grill.
The Space
The Brentwood outpost is moving into the unit at 561 1st St, the address tied to the current Brentwood Emporium, a multi-use music venue and taqueria that regularly hosts concerts, line-dancing nights and other live events. The venue listing on MapQuest confirms the 561 1st St address and shows the Emporium operating as a live-music venue.
Food And Music
Parker says Vinnie's Emporium will stick with crowd favorites like deep-fried chicken wings tossed in buffalo sauce and jalapeño poppers served with sour cream, and will line up rock 'n' roll covers, live R&B DJs and even bachata classes, according to WhatNow. The plan, Parker told the outlet, is to deliver the same "relaxation, good food, and unbeatable entertainment" that Vinnie's regulars expect, this time in downtown Brentwood.
If that July target holds, Vinnie's Emporium would slot in as another late-night music option for Brentwood's summer season and give local concertgoers one more spot for food and dancing. Before a grand-opening date can be locked in, city permitting, staffing and final scheduling will all need to fall into place.
