Scott Crawford is going underground—literally. The esteemed restaurateur has taken over the lease of former The Atlantic Lounge space on Person Street (located right below his Jolie restaurant), with plans to reopen as Sous Terre—French for “underground”—after a redesign + new menu in early 2024. Happy New Year to us, indeed!
Shaking things up with elevated classic craft cocktails is Crawford Hospitality Beverage Director and four-year Crawford and Son veteran Jordan Joseph, who will be leading the spirited program. “We hope Sous Terre will be a thoughtful addition to the neighborhood, to our hospitality brand, and serve as a showcase for Jordan Joseph’s cocktails and the area’s most exciting bar talent,” Crawford emphasizes.
Key-holding members of The Atlantic Lounge will still have access to the creative ’tails down under via the bar’s original key membership. And guests of Jolie and Crawford and Son will continue to have access to the space as well. Pre-dinner drink or nightcap, anyone?!
A bar can be more than just a place to pop in for a drink. It can serve as a second home—and partners Alex Ricci and Justin Tatnell hope their newly bowed watering hole, the Devereux, is just that. Think of it as a spirited “third place,” aka your home away from home and work.
“Everybody has their bar and that’s their place… and that’s the whole point,” emphasizes Ricci. “That’s actually why they call it bartending—because you’re tending to people’s needs.”
Situated in the now-defunct Pink Boot space on North West Street and trading the tiny weird honky-tonk aesthetic for inspo from the Rainforest Cafe (a vibe, honestly), the duo stripped the space of its kitschy decor, Raleigh relics and pink disco ball-lit bathroom (RIP) and replaced them with red tiles, teal walls, greenery and various pop art.
Nevertheless, Ricci maintains Pink Boot was “our go-to bar,” adding… “One could say we loved Pink Boot and Rainbow Luncheonette so much we bought them,” he says with a laugh. Now, the duo see the newfound space as a chill neighborhood drinking den driven by community. A place that’s “comfortable for everybody,” says Ricci, where regulars can repeatedly return no matter the occasion, and where the bartenders know your name and order. (It’s giving Cheers—and we’re here for it.)
Beyond approachable ’tails, Devereux drinkers can sample fare from adjacent sister restaurant Prospects, NTM a late-night menu—starting at 10pm—of mac and cheeses, burgers, sandwiches, and the like.
“Every single one of our friends and peers has shown up and given influence and helped cultivate this thing along the way,” maintains Ricci. “Justin and I weren’t the only ones who helped create this vision.” And, now, Raleighites can see that vision through. @devereuxbarnc
What’s the big deal with the new gas station coming to Mebane?
NC’er’s tend to fall into two distinct categories: they either love Buc-ee’s or they despise it. (Save those who have never heard of it… and, to them, well, brace yourselves.) The Texas-founded gas station chain with a cult following has been itching to set roots in-state for a while now—and, as of January, Mebane is set to get its first one by ~2025 (!).
But the news didn’t come without its difficulties. See: the eight-hour Mebane City Council meeting that inched into the wee hours of the night in early Jan, ultimately resulting in a unanimous vote in favor of NC’s first Buc-ee’s location. The Alamance County pit stop at Exit 152 on Interstates 85/40 will boast a 74,000-square-foot convenience store situated on 32 acres, complete with 120 gas pumps, 24 electric vehicle charging stations and 652 parking spaces.
And so comes the fanfare. While those unfamiliar with (or who even dislike) Buc-ee’s cult-like following quickly dismissed the news, those who get it know the beloved beaver-mascotted store is more than just a gas station.
Fans love it for the cheap gas, clean private bathrooms and freshly made food options—think breakfast burritos, brisket sandwiches and other barbecue selects, tacos, kolaches, and beyond. NTM the pastries (think muffins, scones, cookies, cinnamon rolls) and snack selection, aka enough to fuel a monthlong road trip. Choose from ample flavors of jerky; fudge and candies; chips; and—a crowd favorite—Bucee’s Nuggets, aka brown sugar caramel corn puffs (or, my personal pick, the White Cheddar Buc-ee’s Nugg-ees).
Beyond that, let’s be honest, the beaver mascot is adorable (you can sometimes catch him walking around the store to snap pics with eager patrons!), and the merch is fire. Seriously, almost everything you could think of—T-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel; lunch boxes; beach chairs; even Christmas decorations—is splashed in bright red, yellow and the Buc-ee’s logo and laid out for sale. And these are just some of the attractions that contribute to the passion.
And precisely why Buc-ee’s is more than just another gas station. It’s essentially a tourist attraction. So, fair warning: We predict soon after Mebane’s location opens it will be packed (like, to the point where it may block the interstate—seriously). And as someone who ventured into South Carolina’s first outpost the weekend after it opened in Florence in May 2022, I cannot stress enough how annoying a crowded gas station is. But give it a couple months or so and I guarantee it’ll be your new fave stop.
The tea is hot with local news this month—so much so we couldn’t leave you on read during our double issue. Here’s what has people talking.
WHAT’S HOT
NC’s high-speed rail is on track thanks to a recent $1+ billion grant from President Biden and U.S. DOT officials to build the start of a new Raleigh to Richmond passenger rail line dubbed the S-Line. All aboard!
In literal “hot” news, 2023 was officially the hottest year on record, with global temps reaching 34.52 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than preindustrial levels—and nearing the 34.7-degree threshold in the Paris climate agreement.
Cheers to the wonder years! Raleigh was named the No. 9 Best College City in America by WalletHub thanks to the City of Oaks’ safety, abundant activities, job opportunities and other factors.
Staycation, all I ever wanted. … A 250-room full-service Marriott Renaissance Hotel is coming to Hub RTP, boasting such features as a resort-style pool with patio seating, a full-service restaurant and bar, a coffee bar, a high-tech fitness center, and an outdoor patio with access to 20+ miles of trails throughout the area.
Legoooo! Epic Games recently went live with LEGO Fortnite, a new dimension of “worldbuilding” by the two game companies in which players can play as their fave players—but in LEGO style (!). NTM collect food and resources; battles enemies; build shelters and recruit villagers; and more.
Puff, puff, pass… the money. NC is poised to receive an additional $7.8 million settlement from e-cigarette company Juul as part of a lawsuit filed in 2021. The NC Department of Health and Human Services is using the money to work toward preventing e-cig addiction, helping smokers quit and funding further research.
Work hard… work hard! Job openings in the U.S. hit their lowest in 2.5 years in October, with a total of 8.73 million job openings for the month—bringing the ratio of openings to available workers down to 1.3-to-1.
“We’ll never financially recover from this.” This being college. A recent study revealed NC has the eighth highest amount of student debt on average per borrower, with a total of 1.35 million borrowers holding $51.6 billion of student debt (!).
Take a drag of this: New data reveals health problems related to smoking cost NC $3.8 billion—or $2,599 per smoker—to treat each year. Talking about burning a hole in the state’s wallet (!).
The food and beverage trends we expect to be hot in the new year.
New year, clean slate? More like clean plate! With the turn of the calendar, a host of new food and bev trends are anticipated to emerge, while some crazes (hopefully) get left in 2023. (Looking at you Fruit Roll-Ups and ice cream… like, why?) From nonalcoholic beverages—which we expect to blow up this year—to experiential dining to mushrooms and more, here’s what our team of industry insiders is predicting will be all the rage in 2024.
“Everything’s an experience. … 2024 is no doubt gonna be about the vibe. But more than that, we’re starting to see experiential—even extreme—trends emerge. Glass diamond-shaped bar dangling over a canyon you access by spectacular bridge or bike lane tightrope in the republic of Georgia? Sure! Bathroom-themed dining in Taiwan at Modern Toilet? Promises to be the poo. A horror-themed Burgertory in Salt Lake City? Now popping up stateside—from lunch below a waterfall to drinks in the sky—the sensory-focused immersive trend is set to become a reality because after all… it’s all about the mems.” —Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“I hope pickles and olives finally get the love and attention they deserve! I know they’re unpopular, but I’ve always been a big fan of both.” —Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“Boba tea + elevated Asian options—which I’m very much here for! :)” —Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“I think nonalcoholic drinks are going to continue to emerge—not just mocktails but nonalcoholic beer and wine too. It used to be very hard to come by, but now almost everywhere offers NA options!” —Cameron Rhinehardt, Account Executive, @camrht
“Beer cocktails are everywhere, and I hope they stay. 🙂 I had a pilsner with added black currant syrup the other night at Orange County Social Club in Carrboro. I know Standard Beer + Food does an awesome beer cocktail too.” —Susannah Richardson, Editorial Intern
Photo by Greg Mintel, courtesy of Umbrella Dry Bar
“Nonalcoholic beverages have been on the rise for the past few years, but I think 2024 will be the year that low-proof and zero-proof cocktails officially become the norm. I predict we’ll see a number of bars dedicated to NA spirits pop up in Raleigh, as well as an explosion of creative new options on drink menus across the city.” —Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“I think we’ll see more and more healthy quick-service spots open this year. People want quality food without paying for fine dining.” —Ellie Davis, Contributing Writer
“I think nonalcoholic cocktails are going to keep getting more and more popular!” —Carlee Nilphai, Contributing Writer
“The continued death of the dress code. I am here to feast—why do you insist I forego an elastic waistline and loose fitting clothes? I can enjoy serious cuisine while being seriously comfortable.” —Forrest Mason, Contributing Photographer, @fmasonmedia
“I really see the nonalcoholic beverage trend becoming a thing. Even for those of us that like a traditional drink, but don’t want to overdo it, nonalcoholic drinks (especially cocktails) are fun and delicious!” —Susan Holt, Contributing Photographer, Susan Holt Photography, @susanholtphoto
“Mushroom popularity increasing as both a food and nutritional supplement” —Felicia Trujillo, Contributing Photographer, Food Seen, @foodseennc
