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New East Raleigh social space built for unhurried connection
Raleigh is about to get a new kind of third place—one where your night might start with a deck of cards, drift into a cocktail and end with no real urge to rush home.
Set to debut this spring in East Raleigh is Biddy Thomas, the forthcoming “clubhouse” concept from Margaret Rosemond Soler and co-owner/longtime restaurant industry vet Ramón Soler. Southern in spirit with a touch of New Orleans grit, the space is anchored with intention and designed for purposeful connection—built for gathering around good music, good bites and bevs, and good energy.
Alongside Southern-informed fare and a cocktail list meant to encourage lingering, the spot will offer playing cards, stationery, puzzles, books and games—plus a rotating lineup of low-pressure programming. Think bridge lessons and mahjong, spelling bees, spades tournaments, sing-alongs and other social events intended to bring people together—whether they arrive solo or with friends, ready to play in or just observe.
Named after Margaret’s maternal grandmother, Marjorie “Biddy” Thomas—whose character, courage and sense of grace are foundational to the space’s ethos—the concept was a longtime brainchild, born years ago when Margaret noticed her daughter coloring in an illustration with the sign “Little Biddy Boutique.”
“I blurted out: ‘My grandmother’s name is Biddy Thomas. I’m gonna open a business and call it that,’” she recalls. “I have no idea why I said it—I just said it out loud.”
The offhand comment grew into a fully formed vision. And what began as a simple idea—selling playing cards—materialized as Margaret imagined the experience surrounding them. “Then I thought, I would want to be able to set up tables for women to sit down and play cards—but I wouldn’t want them to feel rushed,” she says. “What if they wanted a glass of wine? Or what if they got hungry? … It all just kind of rolled from there.”
Now manifesting as a one-stop shop for eating, drinking and socializing, Biddy Thomas is shaped around Biddy’s intoxicating spirit. Read: A place to slow down, sip, share space and savor what matters most away from the chaos of everyday life, she emphasizes.
Ultimately, the goal is not a members-only mood—but a communal one. Margaret hopes it will feel like a clubhouse with no exclusivity, where as long as you know how to treat people with dignity and respect, you are welcome.
“What I’ve seen is that folks are really lonely, and we really need to connect with each other,” she maintains. “We’ve lost that art of sitting around a table together, looking each other in the eye and unwinding at the end of the day.”
Biddy Thomas aims to bring that art back—serving an easy excuse to pull up a chair, stay awhile and feel at home. biddythomas.com
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What a great idea! So needed in our community. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Where in East Raleigh will this be located?
Gateway Plaza – same place as Mala Pata.