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BIG SHOTS entertainment sports bar and grill (Big fun and big things for all!)
By Val Jones
The motto of Fayetteville’s new premiere entertainment sports bar says it all: "Big Fun and Big Things at BIG SHOTS! And, yes, the owners do believe in doing everything "big" at their establishment.
Opening in October of 2006, owners Craig Davis and Eric Green have seen big growth in a short time at Big Shots Entertainment Sports Bar and Grill, located in the Yadkin Plaza. They attribute this growth to having big plans and an even bigger vision for a better entertainment venue and party place in Fayetteville.
Says Craig Davis: "We had visited the sports bar scene and we wanted to have something similar with a dance floor for a more diverse audience, particularly people of color. I had already been in the club scene for a minute, managing different clubs in the area. So, I wanted to do more and do something a little different. Plus, I knew that including a restaurant would give it that extra bonus and more longevity."
A former club and house party deejay, owner Eric Green had similar visions, adding: "My vision for Big Shots was one of a big ole house party. You have food, you have music, you have drinks, you have people who want to come out and have a good time like they used to do back in the day without all the rift raft and concern for safety. We also wanted to give a variety of entertainment for people who are not from Fayetteville. Because we have such a large military clientele who’s from around the country and around the world, we wanted to give them different types of entertainment or music like they are accustomed to back in their own home cities. So, we just didn’t want be your average local flavor; we wanted to have a more cosmopolitan feel as well."
Cozy, comfortable, casual and cosmopolitan are good words to describe the atmosphere at Big Shots. And did I mention things always seem to come in "big sizes" there?
"We like to do EVERYTHING big," laughs Craig. "Thus the name ‘BIG SHOTS.’ We give more alcohol than the average place. Some places only give you an ounce of liquor. However, we give you an ounce and ¼ so you get more for your money."
He continues: "The same goes for our food. Most folks stack a lot of things on their burgers to make them look big. However, we offer a bigger juicier burger — an 8-ounce burger called the ‘Big Shot Burger,’ actually giving you 8 ounces of 100% flame-broiled ground beef and not just a lot of lettuce and tomatoes piled on top. We also have these ‘King Henry the VIII-style’ huge turkey legs and turkey wings. If you look at our menu, we‘re always giving you larger portions and a bigger bang for your buck."
When it comes to space, Big Shots comes up "big" in that department too. The entertainment sports bar and grill is a 5,000 square foot unit which easily accommodates 150 people. Big Shots is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video systems, including 10 large HD TVs, pool tables, video games, dance floor, a full service bar and a delicious menu.
The grill is open daily at 11am and breakfast is served on Friday and Saturday nights after 12 midnight.
Big Shots is also an excellent place for briefings, meetings, birthdays, retirements and more. The variety of nightly entertainment creates mass appeal for Cumberland County’s rapidly growing diverse population and includes the following:
Sunday night is "Oldies but Goodies" for the 25-plus crowd. Usually catering to the older side of the 25-plus demo, you can come out and socialize, dance to ole school R&B and more as well as frequent the sports bar. Even though there is no real dress code, clientele on Sundays usually come out dressed to impress.
Monday night is "Monday Madness" with 25-cent wings and $2 Bud/Bud Light. It’s a great sports night, especially during the fall with ‘Monday Night Football.’
Tuesday night is "Game Day Night" with free pool as well as pool competitions, basketball competitions, card games with spades, bid whist, poker and dominoes.
Wednesday night is "Poetry & Spoken Word/Open Mic" with area poets and musicians coming in and creating an eclectic vibe that is reminiscent of the movie "Love Jones." Every other Wednesday is a live band and, occasionally, well-known national poets drop in on the scene to rock the spot. (And did I mention one of the owners, Craig, is an excellent poet in his own right? Stop on by Wednesday nights and urge him to get on the mic for a special treat.) Free all night.
Thursday night is "Karaoke Night." June 7th features a karaoke contest finale with a $500 prize giveaway. R&B singer Ginuwine is scheduled to come in and host as well as help judge the grand finale.
Friday is "Fabulous Fridays." It’s a great way for the 25-plus crowd to kick off their weekend as the deejays pump up the party mood by playing current R&B and ole school, spiced up with rap and hip hop.
Saturday is "So So Sexy Saturdays" and usually caters to the middle section of the 25-plus crowd. According to Craig, "It’s a sports bar, so dress is always casual. But we do have one rule…and that is the fellas must have on a collared shirt on Saturdays. We play a less hip hop and rap than on Fridays and a lot more current R&B and ole school." Ladies get in free before 11pm.
Other events to look forward to in June include a "Pajama Party" in celebration of the birthday of one of Big Shots’ deejays. And the last Saturday in June will feature special guest deejay — New York’s own "DJ Lazy K."
With great variety, great atmosphere and great prices, it is no wonder why Big Shots is quickly becoming the premiere place to go to in Fayetteville when you’re looking to party or socialize.
Eric adds: "We’re not too big, we’re not too small; it’s a cozy, classy place. You have your different rooms to do different things. If you want to party and dance, we have the entertainment room. You want to watch the game? We have the sports lounge. You want to play pool or shoot basketball? We have the game room. Everything is in separate rooms. So, whatever is your taste, we got it. And, of course, if you want to come in and eat or just have a few drinks, we have the restaurant and bar. After coming here, you won’t even have to consider going anywhere else because we have everything right here — a one-stop shop with a great respectful atmosphere."
Craig remarks how the great atmosphere reflects in their clientele: "We have a lot of professionals who frequent Big Shots. We have plenty of small business owners, government employees, military and senior military — officers and enlisted, schoolteachers and educators…just a variety of professionals. We’re primarily 25 and older. However, we do welcome the mature 21 and older crowd."
With every tasteful establishment comes a certain amount of exclusivity…and Big Shots keeps it’s venue comfortable, cozy and classy by being an exclusive club. Unless you’re a member or know a member, anyone can’t just come in off the streets and walk in to the place. (Wow, just like that ole school house party custom from back in the day.)
As far as the dress code, Craig says: "It’s not so much about how you dress because it is a sports bar. So, you can come in here in a polo shirt and a ball cap on most nights. It’s more so about your attitude and your professionalism."
Big Shots has even bigger plans in the future…including opening up a franchise of the entertainment sports bar and grill in various cities across the country.
Owners Craig and Eric would like to give a heartfelt thanks to those who helped them in the beginning make their vision of Big Shots a reality, including: The Women’s Center of Fayetteville (who helped with the business plan and start-up loan), Ed Sullins, Ronald Pearson, David Corbitt, Cedric Hinton (their "do-all" maintenance/handy man), Kelvin Green, Denise Green, DJ E Z Hutch, Gina Norris (their very first employee), Keasha Hairston, Edwin Bourne, UK aka One Life and Breeze.
Open seven days a week, from 11:00am to 2:30am, Big Shots Entertainment Sports Bar and Grill is just minutes away from Fort Bragg and the Cross Creek Shopping Center and conveniently located in the Yadkin Plaza at 5112 Yadkin Road in Fayetteville (formerly Kyoto’s Japanese Steak House). For more information, call 910-480-4883 or go online to their website at www.bigshotsnc.com.
Visit one time and you’ll realize why their motto is: "Big Fun and Big Things at BIG SHOTS!"
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