After operating only five days in January, things got rough for The Alley, a small venue that is part of The District, which also includes The Mini Bar and Staff Only at 1200 Central Ave. in Naples.
“It was a long time coming. I think it’s one of those things that’s worth the wait,” said Christopher Shucart, who co-owns the CMC Hospitality venture with Marty Kenney and Christopher Lee.
Their application seeking revisions to the approved outdoor dining concept to allow indoor dining at The Alley opened a can of worms that wasn’t resolved until a City Council meeting in September. The Alley finally reopened Oct. 25, nearly 10 months after its initial launch early this year.
Inspired by a New York City alley with street food and a variety of intoxicating beverages, The Alley veers from sophisticated Naples with a dark, urban space that connects to The District’s outdoor seating. Its faux-grungy look is achieved with exposed brick walls, a bar behind a chain-link fence and a community table made from a graffiti-covered dumpster. Overhead is a fire escape, a laundry line with tighty-whities and strategically placed plastic pigeons.
“It’s just such a unique concept and such an extreme theme throughout the entire room. Literally from top to bottom there’s things round every corner,” Shucart said.
A fake ATM on the wall has a QR code that can be scanned to control the music in the room. An old pay phone in the corner has a recorded message for adults only.
“The unique part is that we’re serving food until one o’clock. There’s not many places around that you have an option to go in and have some food late at night,” Shucart said. “We’re doing service industry nights Sunday and Wednesday.”
The menu includes a trio of tacos: chicken, al pastor and blackened mahi mahi; and a quartet of sliders: barbecue pork, fried chicken, pimento smash burger and fried mahi. Snacks include a huge soft pretzel, a nachos board and guacamole with tortilla chips.
“Our drinks are throwback, too,” Shucart said.
For instance, The Big Lebowski with vodka, Kahlúa and cream is fit for the Dude. The beer case behind the bar includes dubious libations such as Colt 45, Sweetwater 420 and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
“All of our beers are served in a paper bag,” Shucart said.
The city also took issue with external signage for the various parts of the local business, so now the entire business is called The District. The Kitchen name was retired but it still serves as the kitchen for the other concepts.
“There are just three different dining rooms,” Shucart said. “You have the outdoor dining room that’s The Mini Bar. You have an indoor dining room that’s The Alley, and The District sushi bar is the indoor dining room with it.”
Each space has unique food and beverage menus. Staff Only is the speakeasy room within The District lounge.
“We tried to simplify it a little bit,” Shucart said. “I like it. I think The District is a great name anyway. I think it worked out good. It’s one of those things that something good happened out of it.”
