Area 23: A happening pub/music house in Concord, with ‘Gonzo flair’ and so much more

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The Area 23 experience: Worth the drive.

NEC LOGO GSM“It’s not just a pub,” says the owner of Area 23 Pub in Concord, Kirk McNeil. “It’s an experience.”  

I love that.  I like when a pub, a bar, a cinema or music venue strives to be more than just a “get em’ in, get em’ out” type of joint.  And for McNeil and his strong-minded, forward thinking, hearty staff of creative people, there seems to be a sense of, not just service, but a purpose, that goes into any working day.    

And, well, it has worked – big time!

Area 23 Pub, located in the Smoke Stack Center on North State Street, has a little bit of everything going for it.  There’s the Gonzo flair, inspired by the late, great writer, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.  There’s the creative food, the Korean ribs and Surprise Sandwiches. Then there is the poetry, the cribbage tournaments, rant nights, movie nights, and of course, the live music, where local bands can “shine” and express themselves fully.  

Soundcheck wanted to talk with McNeil about the success of Area 23 over the past two years and find out why the pub on the outskirts of town has become one of the most sought after places to sit down and enjoy a Belgium beer while feasting on a crispy bacon bowl.

Obviously, you’re a man with a vision, a plan.  How much of Area 23 is directly tied to your initial business plan?  And how much of its success kind of just happened, grassroots style?  

I’m sure that you’ve heard the phrase that no plan ever survives initial contact, and that is certainly true of Area 23. Many of the basic elements remain in play, but almost everything has been tempered by experience and feedback from our customers. Maybe the best way to answer this question is to say that part of the plan was to be a neighborhood pub, and the neighborhood, and Concord as a whole, have shaped the growth of that concept. 

Were you surprised that a brew pub on the outskirts of Concord, nestled in the smokestacks, has turned into one of the most popular spots in Concord to hang out at?  

Not really surprised, but certainly gratified. We’ve got a solid tap line of brews, good food with a bit of a creative twist, and we’re an open and welcoming crowd with an amazing staff. The trick was always just to get people to find us. The ongoing challenge is to make it an experience worth coming back to. I think it’s fair to say that Area 23 isn’t just a pub, it’s a bit of an experience. 

Music has arrived at Area 23 in a big time way. Many of the best players around now perform there on a regular basis, and you keep it fresh.  Was that part of the plan or another example of where there’s a microphone there’s a singer somewhere?  

I have been a music aficionado since I can remember, but I am not a musician myself. We’re lucky enough to have Emily (Weber) as part of our weird little family, who played a big part in getting our music scene off the ground. In a larger sense, I’m a huge proponent of self expression. Our open mic Wednesday night welcome music; but also rants, stand-up, storytelling, and poetry. I think in a world of giant media corporations and mass produced “consumable” music, having a local outlet to express yourself is one of the most important things we can facilitate as a business. 

What do you think the key is to maintaining that success and growth in business? 

Patience, perseverance, praise of success, thinking of the people who work with you as co-workers (not subordinates, but co-contributors to the success of the business). 

What have you learned about the people of Concord and the surrounding town since you opened?  

The Concord area is a fantastic place and I’m very happy to have located Area 23 there. I can’t say enough good things about our customers, they are amazing people and we’ve been lucky enough to be the place where many of them share their talents and interests. 

You have movie nights, cribbage nights, open mic nights.  What other kind of “nights” have you got planned this summer? 

I’m hoping that our open mic attracts more school-age music and talent this summer when people don’t have to worry about getting up for school. We’re classified as a restaurant and I’d love to give some of those folks an opportunity to shine. I’m also looking at some once-a-month multi-band days, April 22 will be our trial run for that sort of thing. 

This weekend, Area 23,  has Queen City Soul playing for St. Patrick’s Day and Turnsoul is playing on March 18. A short movie screening in conjunction with the SNOB Film folks is happening Sunday March 19 at 6 p.m.   

Area 23 is located at 254 North State St., Concord, NH, 603-552-0137


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Rob Azevedo from Manchester is the host of Granite State of Mind on 95.3 FM WMNH Fridays at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. on WKXL 103.9 FM.  He also hosts a monthly series at New England College in Concord which features live performances by artists from around New Hampshire.  cleardot.gif?zoom=0He can be reached at onemanmanch@gmail.com

 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!