State of Beer Enters New Era

In a full-circle moment, North South Hospitality has taken over State of Beer. 

It was on a long wooden table inside the OG State of Beer on Hillsborough Street that the North South Hospitality team sketched out most of the plans for their now-ubersuccessful concepts Gussie’s and Hippo Wine Bar. So when the Trophy Brewing team approached them about taking over the beloved bar, bottle shop and eatery, it was a no-brainer.

“When we were falling in love with Raleigh, State of Beer comes to mind as one of the places that helped with that,” reflects North South’s Katie O’Kane, noting the relationship they’ve built with the Trophy team over the years. “Choosing us as the right fit to usher State of Beer into the next phase is, honestly, the most flattering thing in the world.”

For more than a decade, SOB has been woven into the city’s F&B fabric. But while the Trophy crew admits their time on Hillsborough Street was ticking away, they didn’t want the concept to just disappear. “We’ve been big fans of the Gussie’s folks and the way they run their business for a while,” says Trophy co-owner Chris Powers. 

As such, much of what locals love about SOB will remain intact. The name will live on, as will much of the staff—“The ‘Lady of the Ladle’ is still very much here,” assures O’Kane. The beer program and familiar fare will stay put as well—though North South isn’t ruling out thoughtful tweaks based on community feedback down the road.

One big upgrade is already on deck: a fleshed-out cocktail program aimed at bolstering evening business. O’Kane assures it won’t simply mirror Gussie’s menu, but there will be more spirits behind the bar. 

“It’s so great to hear what people love about the place, and it echoes a lot of what we love about it,” maintains North South’s Vance Daniels. “We’re certainly not here to change that. It’s more to build upon the amazing things already here.”

For Daniels and O’Kane, that preservation is the responsibility that comes with inheriting a local institution. “[Raleigh’s] growth is coming with a lot of change, and I think that’s great,” says Daniels. “But having something that’s been here for 12 years now is important to the neighborhood’s identity—to Raleigh’s identity.”

Judging by the reaction to the announcement, it’s clear the local love for North South runs deep—and they’re eager to see how the Gussie’s gurus shepherd the iconic spot into its next era.

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