The Reptile Upstairs brings together original artists and community

The couple behind The Reptile Cantina has opened a new upstairs event venue in downtown Morganton, giving original musicians a place to share their talents while creating an inclusive gathering space for the community.

About 100 visitors from the Morganton area, Asheville, and Boone filed into The Reptile Upstairs’ soft opening on July 18, where performances by The Bleach Boys and Them Teasters brought owners Cutty Bage and Isaiah Stronach’s vision to life.

“We’re really trying to provide a space that gives musicians the creativity and the freedom to play,” Stronach said.

The upstairs of 108 E. Meeting St., which was previously home to Wisteria and then Bage’s tattoo shop, already had a full bar, but now includes a full stage and sound equipment. Not only will The Reptile Upstairs bring in musicians, but the space will also be available for private events like birthday parties, fundraisers, company events, and weekly events like open mics, karaoke, trivia, and bingo.

The live music schedule will depend on what bands are touring and other events happening in the community, but Stronach said they’re planning on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows. Tickets for a touring act with a serious draw could be between $15 and $20, though Stronach said the goal is to keep prices as affordable as possible.

A musician himself, Stronach is a member of Them Teasters, a rockabilly doo-wop band, and The Karloffs, a punk rock band. He added that he and Bage are open to all genres, but want to prioritize original musicians and original art.

“There are some really great bands here that tour and play big shows in Asheville,” Bage said. “We have friends in Small Doses, FantØmex, and The Bleach Boys. We’ve seen even younger folks that are playing in bands that sound pretty good. We definitely want to support the up-and-coming Morganton bands as well as bringing people in from other towns, too.”

Bage added that they are starting to look at bands to plan out bookings for the rest of the year. Interested musicians can submit an application online at The Reptile Cantina’s website. Because the venue includes a bar, shows will generally be limited to patrons and performers 21 and older, though the couple said they may host all-ages shows in the future.

“We’re just kind of creating a rolodex of bands so we can mix and match, and create cool bills that fit well with each other,” Bage said.

The new venue won’t change restaurant hours but will allow concertgoers to grab a bite to eat and a creative cocktail while listening to music as The Reptile Cantina will continue serving food until 10 p.m. on Thursdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bage noted that the venue was open Friday for the last TGIF concert.

The restaurant has been open since May 2024, serving southwestern-inspired meals and drinks to the Morganton community. Bage’s tattoo parlor helped kickstart the restaurant financially, but after about two years, The Reptile Cantina was able to stand on its own. Bage moved the tattoo business, opening the upstairs to new opportunities.

Though the restaurant and downstairs bar will be open during the shows, the upstairs bar will offer a more lowball beverage selection.

“It’s more like your Jack and Coke or your vodka soda,” Stronach said. “This is a little more about speed. We want people to get their drinks and go back to watching the show.”

Reptile Cantina customers will now be able to access the restaurant from the street-level East Meeting Street entrance, even when no events are happening.

Stronach said that just like the restaurant, all are welcome in its upstairs space.

“The space that we’re creating here is an all-inclusive space,” Stronach said. “We want people to feel safe here and we won’t tolerate racism, bigotry, or any of that stuff. We are running a tight ship here.”