Is Early Entry (via the adjacent restaurant) into The National still a thing?

Submitted by Shanti304 t3_xvqet4 in rva

So, when I was in highschool/college there used to be a restaurant (most recently is was called Vagabond) that was adjacent to The National and, if you ate there the night of the show, you were allowed to enter the concert 30 minutes or so earlier than the door even opened. I'm going to a concert soon and I wanted to make a reservation but Google Maps says this restaurant is permanently closed? Does anyone know if Vagabond is still opened or what the deal is now?

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Thanks!

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ChiliTrees t1_ir2gpg7 wrote

I just checked and my google maps says they’re open, and their website accepts reservations?

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Shanti304 OP t1_ir2jwfx wrote

Iiiiinteresting, I tried to call them but they're not picking up. I'll keep trying though, thank you for the encouragement!

Edit: I messaged them on IG and they responded saying they are closed to the public :'(

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dreww4546 t1_ir2o9xb wrote

How does a restaurant that is closed to public make money?

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wanderingwhiskeywave t1_ir2vh8o wrote

It’s definitely shut down

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Freseper t1_ir3b6jd wrote

Perusing their social media it looks like they are open late Fridays only with a focus on the entertainment and food brought in from Mama J’s, which seems to have common ownership. You might speculate it’s just hard enough to staff one restaurant these days.

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Oh_shit_dat_mee t1_ir3ebfq wrote

Went to a show at the National this week and vagabond, or what is left of it, looked pretty sad/empty/closed. It looked like people were working inside but it was def not open for biz.

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Shanti304 OP t1_ir3fbnv wrote

Thanks for this update, I was kind of figuring that would be the case. Such a shame, I have fond memories of walking through the underground tunnel from there to The National. It was magical and I felt so damn cool haha

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gravy_boot t1_ir8emdw wrote

If you’re planning to go in early to get good balcony seats, you should know they started selling reserved seats a year or two ago, at least for some shows. Might want to verify that’s not the case before you go to all the trouble.

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