Fenix Lounge is a new business located where our beloved Hoppy Daze used to be. The space is…read morewelcoming with two vip areas featuring couches, while the rest is your typical bar set up. The venue itself is on the smaller side, but it has a lot of character.
I attended their soft launch, and the staff appeared to be very friendly. They had a live band perform, Alicia the Band, and they were great. They definitely got us all dancing and singing. This place has the potential to become the favorite local dive bar with all the great vibes.
Unfortunately, they way tabs were handled put a damper on an otherwise fun night. My husband opened a tab and noticed a $250 charge pending on his card, in addition to the actual amount we spent. At the time, no one explained that this was an authorization hold, so naturally we were concerned. My friend, who was with a separate group, experienced the same thing. His group ordered 12 beers at $9 each (about $108 before tax and tip) and also saw a $250 pending charge. The pending charge remained for several days before it was eventually removed. In our case, the hold dropped off after four days.
While I understand this was a soft launch and they are still working out the kinks, the unexpected authorization holds caught us off guard. A little communication upfront would have gone a long way in preventing the confusion.
As I mentioned, I really the venue and what they are bringing to the area. They have great drink options, from local breweries to aesthetic cocktails, and they even allow you to bring in your own food, which is a great touch. The atmosphere, music and overall vibe were all great.
Now that the authorization hold has been removed, I am relieved it wasn't an actual charge. My hope is that they either adjust how their payment system handles tabs or simply let customers know ahead of time that a temporary authorization hold may appear. I really would love to see this business succeed and look forward to coming back.