They may still be teasing us with that “opening late summer 2015” bit, but Warehouse owners James Groetzinger and Joey Rinaldi have given us more info on their Parlor Deluxe (207 A St. Philip St.) ice cream and hot dog joint.
The 600-square-foot soda fountain/ice cream parlor may be small, but Groetzinger says they’re planning to pack it with flavor. PD (as they’re calling it) is partnering with Cannonborough Beverage Co. to create a signature root beer and Southern cola sold exclusively at the restaurant. Patrons will be able to buy growlers of the specialty blends and we got a sneak sip of the sodas today. The root beer has a light vanilla flavor that will play well with cream soda fans, while the cola leaves a hint of licorice aftertaste. “We realize these sodas won’t be for everyone,” Groetzinger says, “so we’ll also have classic sodas like Nehi and others.”
The menu will also showcase what Parlor Deluxe is calling an “eclectic variety” of hot dogs, as well as tater tots, waffles, ice cream, sodas, milkshakes, and floats. The “not dog” (it’s a carrot, FYI) has been tested out at Warehouse and we’re told it has received positive reviews. We’ll believe it when we bite it. As for their other hotdogs, in addition to the specialty tube meat chef Emily Hahn will cook up — think shrimp and chorizo dogs — PD is sourcing from Brooklyn Hot Dog. Groetzinger is a hot dog fanatic and took his early inspiration for PD from Manhattan’s Crif Dogs restaurant. The hot dog joint is well known thanks to their dogs and being the site of the secret entry to PDT (Please Don’t Tell), a speakeasy where patrons must call from an old fashioned phone booth to be allowed access to the bar. That said, Groetzinger may have a bar and a hot dog biz soon, but the phone booth idea is staying in NYC.
As for the ice cream, that’ll be coming from Hilton Head Ice Cream. Groetzinger is a Hilton Head native and grew up scooping there as a teenager. “It was like two scoops for you, two for me,” he says of his ice cream slinging days.
While Groetzinger isn’t quite ready to release photos of the space yet, we got a look and it will hold three small round tables, counter seating for four to five people, and will have two standing beverage rails. Guests will be able to eat in or take-out and PD will be open from 12 a.m.-12 p.m., Tues.-Sun.
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.