The building at 209 East 6th Ave has been many different things over the past 100 years: a tannery, a custom sign store, a local art gallery, a coffee shop, and even (briefly) a residence.“The former owner used to live in the space,” chuckles owner Erv Salvador, “and because it's a commercial storefront, people used to open his front door and be like: 'Hey, is this a coffee shop?' So one day, he decided he'd start selling coffee. And then it was sandwiches, and from there it turned into a coffee shop, and then years later it turned into a restaurant.”
And now, nearly 20 years after it first opened, The Whip Restaurant and Gallery continues to make that space their own. Current owner Erv has transformed the venue into one of Mount Pleasant's best-known watering holes, serving craft beer, cocktails and sumptuous comfort-food-style entrees in a unique, cozy atmosphere.
“It's about listening to your clientele, and seeing what people want,” Erv says. “That's how we've been successful here: we've changed with the times...people really connect with this room. I can't tell you how many people in a week that will come in and be like: 'We had our first date here ten years ago'.”
