Solas Bouncers Trample Christmas Spirits
Written By: A Survivor
Written By: A Survivor
In a time of recession, the gift of a company Christmas party is a gift most will not be receiving this year. Due to cut backs, unfortunately, fun natured gatherings are one for the first items on the budget chopping block. Thankfully, my company has been blessed and our company Christmas party was saved. The office was abuzz with excitement and chatter of who's wearing what and who's bringing whom. The party was to take place at Solas Restaurant and Nightclub - a new trendy little spot on Glenwood South decked with bright white umbrellas and a soft glow of blue light. Most of our group had never been to this establishment but had already picked up on the hype that having our party at this new place of sophistication was going to be a treat. Unfortunately, these high spirits were trampled by the meathead Solas bouncers - along with our coworker's fiancé…..
Yes, that is right. A five foot tall, petite blonde, who had spent her night chatting party goers up about her upcoming wedding was trampled by a handful of Solas bouncers. This occurred when the after party of our Christmas party hosted at Solas turned into a lynching comparable to scenes I've only seen in the movies. Who was being lynched? My coworker, that little bride to be's fiancé. She was crying and scuffed up lying on the sidewalk horrified as one Solas bouncer punched her fiancé as he was helplessly held and supported by other bouncers so that he could get FOUR good punches in before they handed him over to a police officer. How did our little after party end this way? Let's discuss…
Apparently, Solas being new in town has yet to work out the kinks of how to host an upscale event. They may pride themselves with being the new hip place for Raleigh's elitists, but they are not ready to handle hosting private events such as a company Christmas party. Upon arrival our coordinator and the staff was extremely helpful and professional. The ice sculpture of three falling snowflakes made a beautiful center piece to the appealing spread of tasty dishes. Drinks were poured, toasts were given, prizes handed out, people were dancing, and everyone seemed to let go of all the stresses of deadlines. The party was running along just lovely until we started to look around and noticed that some unknown guests had joined our party. It was not made aware to us that at 10 PM our cozy little private party would be flooded with the Saturday night club scene. Though our party and open bar had ended, our desire to linger and dance did not. We felt comfortable with staying at Solas for an after party. If it's not broke don't fix it, right. Little did we know there was trouble just over the horizon.
Along with the night club patrons came bouncers. These bouncers were not present during our party, but as soon as the general public were admitted the bouncers ascended on the club floor like a fleet of Blackhawk helicopters. Looking much more like a swat team than bouncers, it was clear they were ready to handle a small riot OR any highly dangerous, nicely dressed gentlemen who had a glass on the dance floor. If you haven't been to Solas heed my words, "NO GLASS ON THE DANCE FLOOR"!!! This is a sin punishable by extreme measures. Though there are signs on the wall, this rule was not strictly enforced while our Christmas party was in full swing. So as my coworker made his way to the dance floor to dance with his fiancé with a drink in his hand the bouncer brigade had him in their sights and the "take-down" mission was put into motion.
The highly dangerous interior designer had a glass in his hand that was obviously going to be used as a weapon or quite possibly an attempt to shatter the glass dance floor below. By any means, he was obviously up to no good and a direct threat to security. Obviously! (Very strong sarcasm should be noted here!) This gave the bouncers cause to place said designer, let's call him Chuck, in a headlock and accuse him of assaulting the bouncer that addressed him on the dance floor. In just a blink of an eye one bouncer became four. Chuck was forced into a submissive position on the floor covering his head with eyes wide with fear. He was pulled off the ground just to be violently thrown back down to the ground, his face smashed into the floor, man-handled down the stairs by the excited mob of bouncers, and smashed against the wall in the stairwell. All the while his hysterically crying fiancé followed at safe distance behind with supportive friends. Witnesses reported that they "opened the door with his face", when they so gently escorted him outside to the sidewalk. The sidewalk scene was just a violent as the scene inside the club, if not worse.
While waiting for the police to arrive to arrest the violent, assaulting, glass-toting offender, one bouncer decided there was enough time to tighten up his fist, hold Chuck in place so he could get in FOUR more punches to Chuck's head and face. A handful of Solas bouncers rushed to pull this rogue bouncer off of Chuck, but not before trampling Chuck's emotionally fragile fiancé on the sidewalk. The big fisted bouncer was provided a clean get away by the Solas staff before any questioning could be conducted by police. Final word was that Chuck had assaulted the bouncer and he was placed under police custody. Chuck was at least rescued from his beating and was relieved to be in the hands of the law instead of the vigilante Solas bouncers.
What happened to his fiancé? While still crying and laying on the sidewalk she was verbally accosted by the Solas bouncers who spoke to her like trash on the sidewalk as club goers were lined up for entry watching and listening to my friend get verbally abused. The bouncers, proud of their actions began to Hi-fived eachother. She inquired sobbingly as to how they could trample a five foot tall female and be proud of themselves. The mob leader/doorman in his long black trench coat informed her with a smirk on his face that her size wasn't an issue because her kind, aka "the small ones" are "always the worst for running their mouths". This verbal accosting ensued until management finally made an appearance and offered only his card and an apology. The manager was informed of the events and unpleasantries of the evening and that they should work on ironing out the kinks of hosting a private event at their establishment to prevent such occurrences. He had coats retrieved and encouraged everyone to send their complaints to the email address listed on his card so someone could get back to them. This was not the attention expected from a manager who's staff had just trampled a female bystander; or that of a manager that just received a very large check for hosting such an event and in danger of losing any type of positive referral.
Though apologetic, the manager appeared to have no control over the situation and the bouncers/doormen received no reprimand. It was almost as if the bouncers were a gang of hired thugs that took over the establishment at dusk, cocky in the fact that no one could touch them including their own management. They transformed an upscale restaurant into a den for VIP party goers unaware that they may be the prey for the pack of testosterone-driven Bouncers.
This was not the only issue we had with hosting our event at Solas. There were other accounts of excessive force to other members of our party, extra charges from bartenders allowing drinks not included on the approved list, charge for the lovely ice sculpture that was supposed to be included, not allowing our group to retreat to the private third floor balcony once they started admitting club patrons, etc. The list could go on! Honestly, all other details aside, the most disturbing event was the one I describe for you above. Something is just not right when you are fearful for your safety when visiting an establishment due to the very staff that is hired and trained to protect you. If you do decide that this hyped-up trendy, South Beach meets Raleigh joint is still the place you need to be, please remember one thing…"NO GLASS ON THE DANCE FLOOR"!!!!
As for me, the bump on my head, and bruise on my arm…I'll be staying far, far away from Solas!! Those white umbrellas and glowing blue lights will not entice this downtowner any longer. The hype is over and I invite you all to join my Solas boycott!
