Here’s everything you need to know to rock the vote.
Early voting is upon us—and Election Day is less than two weeks away. So whether you cast your ballot early or on election Tuesday, just be sure to cast your ballot. Here’s your quick cheat sheet to prep you for the polls because being an informed voter—and voting—is so in.
Countdown:
It’s (almost) time.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Who’s Running:
Check our 2024 City Council cheat sheet, including a run-down of how each candidate would vote, and where they stand, on the most critical issues facing Raleigh—in their own words.
Find My District:
Not sure which district you live in? We’ve got you covered. Type in your address here, where it says “Find Your Council Member and District.”
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 6:30am–7:30pm. Voters must vote at their assigned polling place. Any voter in line by 7:30pm at their designated polling site will be able to vote.
ID Requirements/How To’s:
Photo ID: driver’s license, student ID, state ID card, passport, tribal enrollment card or government ID. The address on the ID doesn’t have to match voter registration records.
No photo ID? No problem. NC registered voters can obtain one from the county board of elections or get a “no-fee ID card” from NCDMV.
Alternatively, voters without a valid photo ID can still vote, as long as they fill out an ID Exception Form.
Sample Ballot + More: Want to preview your ballot? Registered voters can input your name/birth year here to search voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place, sample ballot when available, absentee ballot information and voter history. See the sample ballot for District E below.
What if you could change your city with just $5?Now you can. Turns out, “no act of kindness, no matter how small, [really] is ever wasted.” Embodying the essence of Aesop’s proverb, RM’s sophomore Give Raleigh campaign—where every dollar literally adds up—is launching for 40 days of giving Oct. 1 in partnership with TowneBank/Towne Insurance to inspire the generous spirit of Raleighites.
Coming off an inaugural campaign supernova that raised a whopping $24,242, we look to double down on our community investment this year with a new handpicked trio of local nonprofits: Haven House, Healing Transitions and SAFEChild. As with last year, every dollar raised will stay right here in Raleigh and help families just like yours and ours. And our benevolent partners TowneBank/Towne Insurance will again match the first $10K of every donation—think $1, $5, $10 and beyond, donated to the one that most resonates with you or split three ways—and thereby doubling your dollar’s impact.
“Your donation matters,” says Nicole Stewart, former Raleigh city councilor and current director of engagement for the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. “Once upon a time in Raleigh, there was a group of 20-year-old women who pooled their fresh-in-their-career dollars together to donate to causes they cared about. Together, with even more of their friends, they raised nearly $10,000 in one year (and that was in 2007!). Over the course of their 14-year run, they raised and donated over $425,000. Small dollar donations add up and make a huge difference—especially for our local nonprofits.”
Raleigh is one of the most charitable cities in the country. Beyond sheer Southern hospitality, we donate, volunteer and buy tickets supporting boots-on-the-ground charities whose hard work wraps their arms around local families in their time of need and gives hope for a better tomorrow.
I’ve seen firsthand, over and over again, that Raleigh is a city full of passionate and generous people,” says Stewart. “When there is a cause they care about, they give what they can to support it.”
And each of these impactful organizations make a difference in our city each and every day across all sectors—strengthening and empowering families, youth and all, including the uninsured and underserved, through child abuse services, housing, crisis management and addiction recovery. Together we hope to galvanize our community’s inherently good nature to come together and propel these critical purposes.
Read about these three impactful organizations—and give hope where otherwise there may not be any. Then, from Oct. 1 to Nov. 10, let’s smash the funds raised last year, Raleigh! It’s giving generous! Donate at giveraleigh.com.
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of Healing Transitions
Recovery for All
At the core of every community is its people—all of them. And Healing Transitions is a beacon of real community for all Raleighites via its “Recovery for All” MO: Always open. Always free. Always everyone. Always another chance. Always community.
Regardless of birth year or bankroll, addiction likely touches each one of us in our lifetime—whether ourselves, a partner, a parent, a peer, a child, a colleague and so on. And it doesn’t always look the way you’d imagine. It affects individuals and families from every community in all walks of life—tearing at the very fabric of who we are. Separating us from everything we’ve known. Alienating us from everyone we need.
And no matter who we are or how it begins, we all come to the same realization that we’re powerless to control that addiction alone. But there’s a way to prevent “from OD to RIP.” And a glimpse of hope can reroute the course of an entire life.
Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives.”
“Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives.”
A lifeline for neighbors in need, with a focus on “healing” (recovery) and “transition” (rekindling desire to return to meaningful and productive life), so-named Healing Transitions is dedicated to the notion that addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With open doors 24/7, the organization is Wake County’s only long-term, peer-based recovery program, serving the needs of all those struggling—with no financial barriers.
“Most importantly, Healing Transitions turns people’s lives around who can’t afford expensive recovery programs, but it also cleans up Downtown significantly,” says Healing Transitions board member David Meeker, who also serves as partner in Trophy Brewing, which has dedicated much of its resources and efforts, including the popular Trophy Trot, to the healing org. “We are so lucky to have Healing Transitions in Raleigh.”
Through its on-demand and innovative peer-to-peer addiction services ranging emergency drop-in shelter and nonmedical detox to long-term services and sustained sobriety, the recovery-oriented organization is dedicated to meeting anyone where they are, including those who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. In short, Healing Transitions saves lives. Period.
What I love about Healing Transitions is they don’t give up on people who need help,” says local hospitality titan Scott Crawford, who, beyond his dedication to nourishing the community via his boon of best-in-class concepts, also serves as a distinguished member Healing Transitions’ board of directors—and is marking his 20th year of recovery with his inaugural October Freedom Harvest event to benefit the nonprofit.
“There were people in my life who didn’t give up on me,” adds the renowned chef/owner of Crawford Hospitality and five-time James Beard semifinalist—including for Outstanding Hospitality this year. “And this is the reason I can celebrate 20 years of sobriety now—there’s no better way for me to celebrate than to give back to my sobriety community.”
To that end, every dollar donated to Healing Transitions saves lives—“and the impact doesn’t stop there,” says Budnick. “It ripples out, touching families, friends and the broader community. And it’s our neighbors’ support that makes this possible.” healing-transitions.org
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of SAFEchild
Stop Abuse for Every Child
Safety is not a birthright.But it should be. And they don’t teach parenting in school. Fortunately, bringing healthy families to the forefront is SAFEchild via its roster of support and education services you won’t find anywhere else.
“We are the place for parent education and support, children’s medical evaluations when there is suspected abuse, and school-based programs in every Wake County public elementary school, plus several charter and private schools,” says SAFEchild’s Executive Director Cristin DeRonja.
Established in 1992 with an MO to Stop Abuse For Every child (aka SAFE)—because “every child has the right to mature in an environment free from abuse and neglect”—it’s the only child-abuse prevention agency serving Wake County and providing a full range of no-cost critical prevention and intervention services for children and families.
[SAFEchild] took a horrible experience and made it as comfortable, manageable and safe as possible considering the circumstances… without causing any additional harm,” says a local parent whose child was served through the SAFEchild Advocacy Center.
“We are that safety net for children and families in Wake County. Every dollar means so much to us,” says DeRonja. “We raise over $3 million annually to be able to provide life-saving and life-changing services to children and families. And every dollar raised through Give Raleigh to ensure SAFEchild’s mission can thrive is critical to the health of the community”—not to mention having more people involved and aware of the prevalence of child abuse and to advocate for the children, she adds.
In short, in a world where access is everything, SAFEchild is saving lives. “I describe it as free counseling,” says a former participant. “It was such a breath of fresh air to actually… have someone who truly understands where you are, like right there.”
Today, the org’s reach has expanded far beyond physical safety. Raising a tremendous $11.1 million in just two years, the nonprofit bowed its 20,000-square-foot Raleigh facility last fall, allowing it to further empower children and caregivers and build stronger families via a range of programs, classes, parenting resources and support groups.
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of SAFEchild
“As Wake County continues to grow, so does the need for supportive family services,” says DeRonja. “The new space positions us to provide more for a growing community in a very time-sensitive manner—which all ties back to resources. For us to meet families and children in a time-sensitive way and provide more of what we do, it all ties back to people financially supporting our mission.”
As one local parent who learned multifarious avenues for positive parenting puts it: “It’s an education you won’t get anywhere else. This is a program you need, a group you need, before you know you need it.”
Thus, as little as $5 can have an immediate impact on programs and services that change the trajectory of—and even save—several lives and strengthen the safe and healthy community it fosters for all of us.
In a group of people sharing their stories, “you realize it’s not just you that feels this way,” says another program participant. “You come to realize mine can change too.” safechildnc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5
$10
$25
$50
Child care for a family attending SAFEchild parenting classes
Medical gown for a child seen in SAFEchild’s Advocacy Center
Funny Tummy Feelings programming for a Wake County first-grade classroom
Parenting classes, meals and child care for three Wake County families in SAFEchild classes
For 51 years, local youthhave been lifted up by a haven for hope. Building strong young people and bright futures for five impactful decades, Haven House’s legacy is one for the books.
With an MO of empowering youths ages 6–24 who are homeless; in crisis; or having difficulty at home, school or in the community to thrive and be safe, supported and successful, the transformative nonprofit has altered the course of tens of thousands of vulnerable youths’ lives and futures for the better since its inception in 1973.
Helping them understand, work through and overcome challenges, Haven House is the place for youth to find their way—and find the help they need. “Haven House served over 1,500 youth last year—a 25% increase from the year before—reflecting the urgent and growing needs in our community,” says Haven House Chief Executive Officer Michelle Zechmann.
The Give Raleigh campaign is vital to meeting those needs by helping us reach more young people struggling with homelessness; mental health challenges; and problems at home, school or in the community,” Zechmann continues. “Every donation, no matter the size, is about coming together to provide hope and a brighter future for all.”
A critical asset to the health of the entire community, Haven House meets our local young people and their families where they are. Together, its 10 essential programs have helped youth navigate and overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges; be better prepared to transition into adulthood; and find paths to success by providing critical access to resources, counseling, connections, mentorship and community.
Of those programs, Wrenn House answers a critical call by providing a safe space through the only homeless, runaway and crisis-intervention program and shelter for ages 10–17 in the Triangle. Meanwhile, point-of-entry Street Outreach provides runaways, homeless and street-dependent youth under age 24 with their most essential needs and resources, and transition-in-place assistance helps homeless 18–24-year-olds (and their minor dependents, if applicable) move into transitional housing.
Doubling down on bright futures, myriad programs work with at-risk, court- or juvenile justice system-involved youth—from physical to mental. Innovative Second Round implements boxing, weight training and fitness to teach discipline, teamwork and leadership, while the January-launched Outpatient Therapy program provides guidance and resources to address growing mental health matters via clinical assessments, individual and family therapy sessions, and education.
Haven House was exactly what my son needed,” says one parent of the program. “For a while early on, I wasn’t sure [graduating high school] would happen, but I knew it could, and Haven House made it possible.”
Ultimately, Haven House is there for all of us when no one else is. And every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference in the life of a young person in our community. Just $5 can quickly add up to rewrite a child or young adult’s worst chapter for a better ending. Donate for a better future. Because it takes all of us. And we are “stronger together.” havenhousenc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5
$10
$25
$50
One meal for a youth (10–17) at Wrenn House
One pair of athletic shorts for intervention program
One day of outreach and basic needs for youth experiencing homelessness
One hour of crisis counseling to youth and/or their families
What if we told you you could yield a 10% productivity increase that could conceivably pay for your office real estate every year? Talk about an ROI.
In an age where office talk echoes from social media memes and headlines to the water cooler, gym and even (quite literally) the bank—and beyond—the best business investment isn’t in real estate. It’s in people.
That’s precisely the thinking behind Highwoods Properties’ EVP/COO Brian Leary’s 1/9/90 rule, where 1% is spent on annual recurring costs like utilities, 9% on real estate and 90% on people. Yes, 90% on people—though to be clear this is for a typical org, not, say, one building nuclear power plants or airplanes, quips Leary.
“A lot of people focus on the 9%,” explains Highwoods SVP and Raleigh Market Leader Thomas “Skip” Hill. “‘Oh, I got a great deal on price per square foot.’ … But you have to focus on the 90%. What do they need or want? [The rental rate] is important—don’t get me wrong… but people need to be centered on the talent.”
That doesn’t mean you just throw up “pickleball courts, a beer tap and rocking chairs out front,” says Kimarie Ankenbrand, Raleigh/Durham lead and managing director of global commercial real estate leader JLL. To attract and retain talent, she says, there’s a different definition of activated space, a compelling ecosystem, which dovetails into the 1/9/90—a concept similar to JLL’s 3 / 30 / 300 mantra, illustrating the average weight between a company’s costs for utilities ($3), rent ($30) and payroll ($300), all per square foot per year.
“Developers can go build these beautiful buildings and all these nice amenities,” clarifies Ankenbrand, “but you have to have leadership who are helping bring their teams along to see the bigger picture of how, when they come into the office and are moving around within the community and spending dollars, that is impacting making this a thriving, vibrant community everyone wants to be in.”
Ultimately, “having too much space or having ‘dumb’ space isn’t smart,” echoes Leary, “but many decisions about the office—most particularly prepandemic—were made from a spreadsheet, and not from a true understanding of outcomes.”
Ankenbrand nods to Centennial Campus as indicative of the 1/9/90 rule in action. There’s a reason people want to be part of the NCSU ecosystem, and they’re willing to pay a premium rate to be part of it. “It’s not just amenities—it’s a different definition of an activated space and a compelling business reason to be part of an established thoughtful ecosystem,” she says, “where a more holistic approach has to be considered—and puts pressure on more collaboration between developers, the city and the private-sector community leaders.”
The mantra could explain why we see some newer in-market construction buildings on an island struggling to lease up. Just because you go build a shiny new building and put a really outfitted gym in the bottom doesn’t mean they’ll come. “It really has to be part of a broader ecosystem hitting on a number of different wishes, wants and needs from not just the office-users—but from the people living in the community, the visitors, etc., that they can all take advantage of,” says Ankenbrand.
We’re seeing that in DTR and North Hills; Hub RTP will check all those boxes—as will the development around Lenovo Center by visionary Dallas-based developer Pacific Elm Properties serving up sports, hotel, office, live music, commercial and entertainment retail, all wrapped in one. Think like The Battery in Atlanta, adds Ankenbrand: “You can kind of see where the puck is moving.”
In essence, it boils down to what Leary calls a “commuteworthy” elevated workplace experience. That is what positively impacts the health and happiness to improve outcomes and recruit top talent—“and in some cases increases productivity on the order of 10%.” So, basically, you get what you give.
At a time when new Raleigh commercial developments have all but stalled—a handful of hotels serve as a harbinger for Downtown as a tourist destination.
If you didn’t think Raleigh was a tourism town—think again. And answering the call to host, a bevy of boutique and unique elevated hotels are set to unfold some 500+ rooms, plus rooftops and hospitality concepts, in DTR—transforming Downtown into a dynamic destination where locals and tourists can gather and connect.
Starting this month, this new cast of high-end hotels will further cement Raleigh’s ascending rank as a top U.S. destination for tourists, business travelers and locals alike. And just in time, as DTR saw 3.8 million unique visitors from July 2023 to June 2024 alone, with this June surpassing the most visitors in a single month since prepandemic. Not just a colossal stat—it’s also a huge boon for the Cap City as a whole.
“The more visitors we have Downtown, the greater the vitality of the area,” maintains Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards. “More visitors to Downtown will drive additional activity to retail establishments, restaurants, bars and attractions.” Not to mention it attracts events, conventions, activities and developers—also a draw for Raleighites—to fill out an already long list of offerings.
According to Edwards, the three primary factors that drive business and activity Downtown are residents, workforce and tourism. And DTR tourism is clearly having a moment (think 410 hotel rooms under construction and another 1,590 in development). At a time when no commercial developments broke ground in 2024, it’s the wave of hotels that is solidifying Raleigh’s attractiveness and rise in the ranks as a place people want to visit—and live.
Serving as that driver are at least five new hotel projects coming down the pipeline—Tempo, Hyatt House, Omni, a Blount Street boutique hotel, and a 16-story proposed hotel between South McDowell and South Salisbury streets. And these highly anticipated concepts aren’t just delivering a handful of mediocre beds and a less-than-ideal breakfast buffet—but unique elevated experiences catering to both guests and Raleigh residents.
“These new hotels will add to [the city’s] impressive numbers,” emphasizes Edwards. “The success we’re experiencing not only boosts our local economy, but also strengthens our businesses and supports essential community initiatives. We are already seeing more interest from private developers to build additional hotels and open new restaurants and bars, which will only enhance our offerings.”
So, while some say Downtown has hit a stalemate with development, it’s more like the calm before the storm—in a good way.
“I hear these people dismissing Downtown like it’s kind of done, and that’s such a wrong statement to me because you can never get the feeling of a Downtown anywhere else,” says local developer, architect and Clockwork bar owner Souheil Al-awar, who’s adding a boutique hotel to his résumé already touting The Saint townhomes.
The future of tourism is very bright in Raleigh and Wake County.” – Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards
Boutique Blount Street Hotel
BOUTIQUE & UNIQUE
Bookending DTR opposite Michelin-recognized The Longleaf Hotel on the northern end, a new boutique hotel emerges at the hands of Raleigh hospitality titan Souheil Al-awar of Clockwork and The Saint townhomes fame.
The food & beverage, architecture and design mastermind behind these “very Raleigh” concepts is embarking on his next chapter by adding his unique vision to a historic pocket of DTR. “I really want to do something very specific and very Raleigh at the same time,” says Al-awar—“make a splash, make it a destination.”
A long time in the making, Raleigh City Council approved the hotel rezoning at 423 S. Blount St. (now a parking lot) in late August for roughly seven stories, requiring the first three to match the adjacent Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in height—and three-quarters of its nonglass facade to be red brick a la the guise of the historic hall.
This boutique birth no doubt promises to catapult this area of Downtown into a new era, much like The Longleaf did for its northern DTR counterpart—and perhaps bring Michelin calling once again. Likewise an ode to what makes Raleigh, Raleigh—and retaining her storied history sans skyscraper status—the hotel will nod to approaches in such distinctive Downtowns as the Holy City. “I stayed in Charleston not too long ago and their approach is really good,” muses Al-awar.
Beyond the facade, “I want to give it an interior and a feel that is really original,” he says. “A lot of hotels are becoming very generic—if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to many. So you have to also give it that feel of hominess—like you’re home when you get there.”
Serving ~90 boutique rooms once it bows late 2026 to early 2027, the project could break ground as early as this summer, complete with a pair of local-leaning concepts via a ground-floor restaurant and rooftop restaurant and bar.
There’s the element of restaurants and bars and nightlife I’d like to bring back to that part of town,” says the magnate, who’s been in the local nightlife business now for 18 years, even prior to Clockwork. “I want to lure people to come into Raleigh—and [hospitality] would be very important for that. I think Downtown will definitely come back and will come back strong. And I really want to be there for it when it happens.” Time to check back in, Raleigh.
Boutique Blount Street Hotel Renderings by Souheil Al-awar
Omni Raleigh Hotel
ENERGIZING & TRANSFORMATIVE
A good hotel fulfills the needs of overnight guests, but a great hotel bridges gaps in local aspirations. And that’s exactly what the Omni Raleigh Hotel is aiming to achieve ahead of its slated 2028 opening. Adding a dynamic—and transformative—addition to the DTR skyline from its Fayetteville Street perch across from Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and the Raleigh Convention Center, the first-to-market elevated Omni is partnering with the latter to cater specifically to the growing market of event attendees.
“We think of our hotels as being the living room of the community,” says Brian Zelman, VP of acquisitions and development at Omni Hotels. “As people are going to an event at the performing arts center, how would they progress through the hotel? We want to curate that experience and blend it with the existing landscape.”
And Omni Hotels is indeed curating an experience for guests and locals alike, with a swanky lobby bar, all-day cafe and market, and a Bob’s Steak & Chop House—NTM a rooftop pool upfitted with a spa and sauna and complete with poolside F&B service.
As far as who those other tenants will be, “we always like to go with local flair and authenticity and local cuisine,” says Zelman. “[We] understand that Raleigh is a culinary haven, and we certainly want to leverage the talent uniquely—but also complement what’s in the market.”
Answering the local call for a new Downtown destination—and serving Raleigh’s hungry sports fans—Omni also aspires to activate Fayetteville Street as a drinking destination with a sports bar. “As we are thinking about where restaurants go within the [hotel] footprint, we are being mindful of where people are going out,” emphasizes Zelman. “We are counting on the local community to [come and] enjoy the hotel.”
That said, the hotel’s 550 guest rooms will cater to visitors and locals from all walks of life, with standard guest rooms, elevated suites, and presidential suites upfitted with walk-in closets and double vanities. Unique accouterments will lean more pool tables than uncomfortable hard couches. Meanwhile, the vibe of the lobby interior is set to draw local inspiration from the City of, ahem, Oaks.
“We feel like Raleigh is a sleeping giant of a city,” emphasizes Zelman. “You can see it with the growth in businesses and population. The city has all the attributes of a really dynamic city, and we’re encouraged by the trajectory. … It’s an incredible market for a lot of reasons.” omnihotels.com
Rendering courtesy of Brian Zelman
Homewood Suites and Tempo by Hilton DTR
UPLIFTING & URBAN
One of the major draws of this incoming class of hotels is they aren’t just for visitors—but for Raleigh residents as well. And that ideal is at the core of Tempo and its open-to-the-public rooftop restaurant/bar Urban Oak, both of which are slated to open at the beginning of November.
Rendering by ODA Architecture, courtesy of Tempo
“We definitely view it as for the community, for Raleigh,” emphasizes Dual General Manager Robert Ambersley. “This is not just for our hotel guests to hop on the elevator and grab a drink. We see it as a destination.”
The brand chose Raleigh for its first Tempo by Hilton in North Carolina—not to mention second of its kind to open in the country and only the fourth Tempo in the world—due to the city’s impressive list of accolades in recent years, not least of which is our ranking as the No. 2 Best City to Live in America.
“We couldn’t have chosen a better city than Raleigh for the brand’s second locale,” maintains Seraj Patel, VP of CN Hotels, which owns the property. “We are excited to add to the city’s growth and build on that reputation by bringing a new, stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel to the Downtown area.”
And Tempo is indeed bringing a new class of hotel to DTR, what with wellness suites feat. in-room Pelotons and other upgraded room features like power-up/power-down zones; valet parking; local art throughout; a state-of-the-art fitness center; and yet another F&B concept, Moonsong Cafe, which will be open to the public all day with the likes of coffee, breakfast items and cocktails.
Photography by Juli Wade
Elevating Tempo and its appeal even more is Urban Oak, now touting the title of Raleigh’s tallest rooftop destination and offering guests and locals alike a sophisticated space to enjoy cocktails, gourmet tapas and DJs—while tapping into DTR’s yearning for an elevated experience, according to Patel.
“We feel we’ve been received by Visit Raleigh and the Downtown hotels as a new partner that’s going to grow the area and enhance their hotels,” says Ambersley, with McKibbon Hospitality Dual Director of Sales Laureen Cooney adding: “It’s important we recognize there’s room for growth and things have changed. We’re excited to be part of that.” hilton.com
Hyatt House Seaboard Station
NOSTALGIC & PROGRESSIVE
Delivering a blast from the past while easing Raleigh into its future is Downtown Raleigh’s first Hyatt House. The visionary project by Hoffman & Associates and Concord Hospitality joins the ever-growing lineup at Seaboard Station, already poised to be a mini-gateway to Downtown from Capital Boulevard, also connecting Smoky Hollow to the Person Street area.
Rendering courtesy of Hoffman & Associates
Designed with living in mind, the Hyatt House team anticipates its apartment-like rooms—some even equipped with full kitchen and separate living area—for extended stays, say when a Raleighite needs a place to crash for a couple weeks before their lease starts or parents move their kids into NC State or Peace U.
But whether prolonged or swift sojourn—or just proximal play—entertainment ops abound, from the pool bar opening onto a leisurely pool deck (also shared with adjacent apartment The Point) to the indoor open-to-the-public bar pouring Tiki-style cocktails, frozen drinks, RTD bevs, and serving a simple food menu (think sandwiches, wraps and tacos) that will really scratch the itch for lunch. Not to mention the ample meeting and event spaces that will play host to watch parties and the like.
Also open to the public is highly anticipated rooftop bar-with-food High Rail, the name a nod to the historic rail yard the building is situated on. “We’re excited to be part of Seaboard Station, honoring the rich history around us while offering a unique perspective with exceptional views from the north end of Downtown,” emphasizes Food & Beverage Director Jeremy Powers.
Powers also calls out the before-unseen vistas—from Village District to even the Western Boulevard cathedral—the fresh perspective serves as “one of the first places with exceptional views from the north end of Downtown.” Best enjoyed from the rooftop patio perched by the rail, natch, or from the two interior bars, complete with an accordion door and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Adding to the allure are seven high-end cocktails and 15 wines by the glass, including Veuve Clicquot, with a reserve list of top-notch bottles to boot—plus fare by head chef Henry Ramos at the ready when hunger strikes. Think main-style dishes like pesto rigatoni and steak frites, “quirky hybrid things” like the Hot Now Chicken made with a Kristy Kreme doughnut pressed into a waffle and topped with fried chicken and hot honey, plus myriad handhelds, dips and bowls (olive, pickles, nuts) that will move through the room.
But the elevated spot is more than just a brand-new vantage point for Raleighites and out-of-towners to relish in the sights and sounds of the city—it’s an ode to Raleigh as well. “I’m doing all my favorite things that other places in town used to do,” says Powers, who is also the president of the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, and has spent several years working in the local bar and restaurant industry via stints at spots like C. Grace and The Blind Barbour.
Think weekly live jazz feat. Powers’ Rolodex of former C. Grace musicians, tap takeovers and, eventually, Sunday late-day brunch for that 1–6pm crowd (hey, Sunday Funday!) with build-your-own mimosa flights a la recently closed Plates Neighborhood Kitchen.
People either want really great or they want to stay home and save some money,” says Powers. “So we want to be a place that knocks people’s socks off. Our goal is to try to get you to gasp at least three to four times.”
So while Raleigh already touts great food, cocktails, wine, hospitality and rooftop views, “it’s rare to find all of these in one spot,” maintains Powers. Now, enter that one-stop mecca for it all. hyatt.com
A first look at Trophy’s upcoming taproom & restaurant
Raleigh, meet Trophy Five Points. Few F&B announcements have yielded the fanfare of Trophy’s blue Electric Supply Co. building takeover.
A Five Points East icon embedded in Raleigh’s history, Trophy’s foothold on the mammoth ~22K-square-foot iconic now-defunct blue warehouse at once sates Raleigh’s thirst while tapping into the collective cry for outposts that retain her unique Southern charm and herald her into her fortuitous future.
The brewer behemoth’s eighth outpost—first dubbed “Trophy Brewing Outpost” in its fledgling conceptual days—is slated to tap the keg on its highly anticipated dual taproom and restaurant early 2026 after breaking ground as soon as early this year.
Transforming the space, the taproom will be stocked with 10+ taps sporting Trophy’s prized brews and out-of-state collabs, with cocktails and vino to boot, not to mention a full restaurant that promises to live in your mind rent-free long after the last bite. While bevs won’t be brewed on-site, barrel-aging Trophy products in the famed blue building is in the cards.
Ample outdoor seating a la the Trophy way will accommodate hungry Raleighites via the “front porch”—as Trophy co-owner Chris Powers calls the outpost’s huge front patio—in the back greenspace with bonus room to let the kids roam, as well as in a large indoor dining area. Feeding the frenzy will be a menu akin to the Trophy Brewing & Pizza on Morgan—except more extensive. Think pizzas, natch, and other fan faves from the F&B kings.
For those further looking to relish in the vibe, there’s a flexible 9K-square-foot space for events and community-building, says Powers—as is also the Trophy team way via such concepts as Maywood Hall & Garden. (Um, who’s ready to party?!)
“We are excited to become a part of the Five Points neighborhood, and to be making such an iconic building our home,” muses Powers. “Five Points presents such a great opportunity to be a part of a vibrant neighborhood.” And Raleigh is clearly here for it. @trophyfivepoints
