There was a time, a time we don’t speak of often, when Torch Velvet Lounge was a hot new bar on King, one we frequented with some regularity. The draw: a regular DJ rotation, frequent painted naked women promos, and, oddly, a two-way video camera/TV in the back room that supposedly broadcast to another bar in New York City. Anyone remember that? Did I dream it? Could have been the shots.
At any rate, Charleston’s self-proclaimed “premier adult playground, dance club, and hookah lounge” is shutting down to reopen as a new concept. (In June Torch closed following a fire.) Torch’s Facebook page shares the following:
“Torch Lounge opened up in March of 2005. Long before streetscape, parking meters, restaurants, and foot traffic. The landscape on Upper King has changed dramatically over the last nine years and we have been exceedingly proud to be a part of it. That said we will be retiring Torch and moving forward with a concept that we feel better serves the ever-changing and more discriminating clientele.”
What that new concept will look like or what discriminating clientele require, remains to be seen. Our prediction, a blending of old and new: a hookah smoked meats hybrid wherein patrons vaporize the flavors of hickory smoked brisket. All we’re saying is inhalable lardcore … think about it.
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