A long-vacant ground-floor retail space at Bloc[83] is finally getting a tenant. Set to fill just over 6,000 square feet of the development that now houses Dram & Draught, Incendiary Brewing Co., and First Watch is 83 SOUTH, a brand-new “night on the town” experience from locals G. Brooks Splawn, Banks Sinclair and Luke Hanson.
The trio came together in 2023 with the idea of curating the reimagined restaurant and bar—since tapping local restaurateur Anthony Rapillo and Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe to consult on the concept after spending many a business meeting at the duo’s DTR restaurant Flour & Barrel.
So dubbed for its location at Bloc[83], 83 SOUTH technically combines two commercial properties into one—setting the stage of a “thought-provoking, grown and sexy atmosphere,” says Rapillo, with varying elevated spaces upping the cool factor. He teases two huge bars, private dining and a wine room.
A bona fide day-to-night destination, the hot spot will feature lunch, a vibey DJ weekend brunch, and an upscale dinner menu dishing American-inspired small plates—plus craft cocktails, beer and wine. Come 10:30/11pm, tables and chairs will give way to a sophisticated adults-centric lit (literally) late-night lounge till 2am.
“83 SOUTH hopes to bring an elevated environment and atmosphere—the likes of which Raleigh has been craving,” muses Rapillo, “where burgeoning ideas can manifest, grow and build.” Fitting for the new kid on the “bloc.”
What do you get when Ben and Jerry’s core pints, Dairy Queen’s dipped cones and TCBY’s toppings join their frozen forces? Something only imagined in your wildest (sweet) dreams… Enter Simons Says Dip This. Founded in Durham in 2021, the scoop shop recently opened a new location in Raleighat Downtown’s Bloc[83] development.
While vanilla soft serve is the only ice cream flavor offering (there’s also a nondairy version), Simons Says is anything but. Cones, cups or ice cream sandwiches can be dunked in 24 different dips—from butterscotch to cake batter to caramel cotton candy—and paired with 30 delectable toppings (think potato chips, pretzels, Oreos and cookie dough). And if you’re after the trifecta, you can also fill the middle of your creation with one of six different cores, which include fudge, pistachio cream and mango. Read: There’s over 2 million possible customizable combinations (!).
The brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Audrey and Nathan Simons, the Raleigh location—which they achieved with the help of Elm Partners—has always been a natural next step for them. And they hit the sweet spot with this one, given its attractive walkability to Glenwood South and Morgan Street Food Hall. Designed with the brand’s signature nostalgic and childlike joy, the City of Oaks outpost will cater to the whole family, complete with a squirrel spring rider that will be placed in the space. Not to mention the walls will be adorned with ’90s-inspired ice cream decor fit for photo ops. And if Simons Says you’re not in the mood for soft serve, a selection of housemade stuffed cookies, freeze-dried candies, soda floats and Simons Says Spread This artisanal will also be on offer. Without a doubt, DTR’s about to get a whole lot sweeter. simonssaysdipthis.com
Downtown Raleigh, it’s time to welcome a few new neighbors to the block. Relative newcomer Bloc[83]—comprising One Glenwood and Tower Two at the south end of Glenwood—is continuing to amp up its urban appeal by adding a trio of sip and sup spots to its already impressive scad of ubercool amenities. Think a sky terrace (also the venue of our exclusive best restaurants soiree!), Raleigh’s largest urban courtyard, myriad retail/fitness ops, a 126-room boutique hotel and more—NTM local palatable powerhouses Dram & Draught and 321 Coffee. Here, the rundown on what’s coming. bloc83raleigh.com
The early bird gets the million-dollar bacon (!). Famed for its fab breakfast + daytime delights (think droolworthy omelets, stacked pancakes, hearty salads and more), First Watch first rolled into its latest DTR locale this spring to keep us sated with a breakfast of champions whenever we feel like rolling out of bed.
“We consider our Hillsborough Street location to be our crown jewel,” says VIM Holdings President and owner of multiple First Watch NC cafes Bob Frame of the new location. “Combining the energy that comes from being in the Downtown area along with our stylish patio, beautiful interior decor and amazing staff will certainly make it a destination restaurant.” And clearly Raleigh agrees, as the brekky spot has filled a much-needed DTR void and drawn a crowd since the day it bowed.firstwatch.com
Ciao, bella. You can soon grab a slice of ’za in Vic’s third local iteration, slated to bow by early next year with a new spin. Rather than sit-down service, the pizzeria is zoning in on quick bites for nearby desk jockeys (think Citrix, Pendo) and on-the-go locals with a grab-and-go cooler and counter-style service feat. a condensed menu—think pizzas, calzones, stromboli, wings, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Bonus: Patio dining is also on deck. And big news for hungry Dram & Draught fans, you’ll be able to fuel your drink sesh with fare from this neighboring nosh spot.
“I’m very excited to bring Vic’s Pizzeria to the WeWork building and surrounding neighborhood,” says owner Michael Longo, who also co-owns Vic’s other two uberpopular Italian restaurants. “We can’t wait to open and invite guests to enjoy our delicious food and welcoming hospitality.” vicsitalianrestaurant.com
How you brewin’? Founded by two Winston-Salem locals whose homebrewing hobby blossomed into a business, Incendiary Brewing Company is slated to open its third uberpopular taproom—joining Winston-Salem and Lewisville locales—in the Bloc by September (fingers crossed!), complete with private patio.
“We decided over a year ago we wanted to be in the Raleigh market,” says co-founder/operator Brandon Branscome. “So much change and growth is happening there right now, and we wanted to be part of it. It took us a while to find a location we felt would let us showcase our brand, but we believe we have done just that in Bloc[83].” And keeping its City of Oaks offerings stout, the new brewery will boast 24 rotating draft selects—from IPAs to pilsners, stouts and lagers. incendiarybrewing.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE It’s not clear what 2021 will look like for commercial real estate. Many companies continue to work from home without a timeline on returning to the office. In a JLL Raleigh-Durham report released at the end of 2020, vacancies were continuing to inch up. It was also reported that rental rates were holding steady with landlords offering concessions instead of lowering rents to keep property values stable. That said, construction didn’t stop in 2020—setting the stage for delivery of big developments across Wake County.
By April 2021, Kane Realty Corp.’s second phase of Smoky Hollow will be complete. The Line Downtown Apartments is open, and the office building, 421 Harrington, will open later this month. The Hollow, the street-level restaurant and retail concept lining the cobblestone streets will open in April.
The Hollow
Tower Two at Bloc(83), the sister tower to One Glenwood, will open this year. The 300,000-square-foot building includes office space, retail and a parking garage.
Tower Two at Bloc(83)
The first phase of Raleigh Crossing, a two-tower project at 301 Hillsborough St., which will house the headquarters for local software company Pendo, will open at the end of 2021 with 300 apartments, 280,000 square feet of office space and 18,000 square feet of retail to boot.
Main Lobby and 301 Hillsborough Retail
Palisades III office building on Trinity Road near the NC State Fairgrounds is scheduled to open this year. Tenant amenities include a fitness center, lounge, plaza and sky terrace.
Palisades III
Grove 98, known more as the Wegman’s shopping center in Wake Forest, will open in May. The 70-acre mixed-use development will feature apartments, restaurants and retail.
![Restaurant, Bar, Nightlife Coming to Bloc[83]](https://i0.wp.com/raleighmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/83-south-bloc83.png?resize=1080%2C675&quality=80&ssl=1)
