In Capulet’s sea of divine cocktails, its houseblend gin shines.
The Exchange’s highly anticipated Capulet Cocktail Club recently bowed with a bang, instantly winning over Raleighites with well-balanced cocktails from mixology mastermind Zack Thomas. But beyond the menu’s celestial lineup lies an off-menu gem deserving of its own spotlight. Enter Capulet’s houseblended gin, forming the backbone of many of the ornate Italian-inspired destination’s signature gin-based ’tails.
Like a restaurant’s housemade oil or spice mix—designed to bring balance across dishes—Thomas’ custom concoction combines three of the Capulet crew’s favorite bottles: Conniption Navy Strength and two that remain under wraps. He hints that one leans heavily juniper, while the other brings a brighter citrus profile into the mix.
Altogether, the resulting house gin is “layered, expressive and resilient… balancing citrus lift, botanical depth and proof-driven structure—and performing consistently across stirred and shaken drinks,” he says. No stranger to the gin game, Thomas pulled inspo from his days of blind-tasting the spirit, tuning his palate to how different flavor indicators and styles behave when stirred and served up, or shaken with citrus.
While some bars blend rums for Tiki or tropical cocktails, blending gins is far less common, says Thomas—and allows Capulet to make its spirit a deliberate expression and not just a single-bottle default. “We wanted to do it for our house identity,” he explains. “It tastes like us and not like a brand [patrons] have had somewhere else before… appealing to all cocktails and giving us a unique expression of the spirit.”
Giving the already notable cocktails a further leg up, the house blend features prominently in standout sippers like the Quattro Bianchi—a 1980s-era Long Island Iced Tea riff layering gin with rum, tequila, Cointreau and tart soda—as well as the Ghost Light, a floral gin martini with Luxardo and jasmine, plus standards such as a Negroni or G&T.
A defining detail in Capulet’s already buzzy cocktail menu, the one-of-a-kind gin blend doesn’t just raise the bar—it underscores the team’s commitment to making every pour unmistakably its own. And the proof is in the glass.
Piggybacking off of Capulet’s almost-immediate success, Rosebud will carve out its own lane: a sophisticated midcentury-mod cocktail haven drawing inspo from Japanese culture and ethos, while honoring classic cocktails, multigenerational nostalgia and quality service. Layer in a hi-fi sound system and weekly vinyl DJs, and the mix lands as a distinctive cohesive space tuned to a rhythm Raleigh hasn’t quite heard before.
“Having the opportunity to respect what Ashley [Christensen] and all the great bartenders, including Zack, have done here—keeping what they did well and putting our own new spin on it—it’s really cool to have,” says Shanahan. “This was one of five bars before—now it’s one of 500, it seems.”
Writing a new chapter in local F&B lore, the bar will focus on classic cocktails crafted to perfection—no frills, no smoke and mirrors. “The precision is going to make us different,” maintains Shanahan. Leaning further into Asian influence, an omakase flight will anchor the menu, spotlighting three bevs (one of which may be NA or low-proof) curated ahead of time by the bar team and rotating monthly.
A nod to Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, “Rosebud,” like Capulet, also reflects the local hospitality entrepreneurs’ background in filmmaking and love of cinema while diving deeper into the film’s central theme of nostalgia. That throughline comes to life in retro furniture sourced from Shanahan’s vast 10-year collection, an extensive vinyl selection, layered decor and even the Japanese denim workwear-inspired employee uniforms.
“If Peregrine is like an art gallery and Capulet is a sexy museum, then Rosebud is an analog archive vault,” emphasizes Shanahan. “It’s a very Americanized version of Japanese ethos—still rooted in respect, where everything is an homage.”
Photo by Sean Junqueira
While certain aspects of Rosebud will echo Fox’s iconic past, the basement bar will be almost unrecognizable upon completion—more cinematic set piece than neighborhood watering hole. The exposed brick walls will be covered with wood paneling and cream curtains; the OG black leather booths have been traded out for five different “living rooms” (separated seating areas with a couch, two chairs and a coffee table); and the bar is getting a glow-up from Raleigh Reclaimed, including a black marble bartop. A larger living room, curtain and neon rose will frame the front entrance, lending the space a moody, almost Xanadu-like glow.
Born and bred Raleighites, Shanahan and Opperman’s resurrection of a Downtown icon reflects their hope for DTR’s continued growth. “I’ve seen the ebbs and flows of DTR since I was a kid—and I don’t think you just can give up on a place that you’ve grown up loving and has shaped you,” says Opperman. “Creating new, exciting concepts around Raleigh is really important. That creative energy existed once here—and it’s dying to come back.”
Rooted in Raleigh’s past but built for now, Rosebud carries the city’s creative cocktail spirit forward—pouring something it didn’t know it was missing. @rosebudraleigh
“We’ll never abandon Downtown Raleigh or Raleigh in general—we just have so much hope for it. Now we’re hoping to create something that will bring people back Downtown.” —Robby Opperman
A host of new F&B hot spots are set to join The Exchange.
From the jump, Dewitt Carolinas set out to make The Exchange Raleigh more than just another mixed-use development—the goal was to raise the bar for the city’s hospitality scene. Steering clear of the typical retail-heavy model, the developer instead doubled down on a F&B-first approach, debuting flagship restaurant Peregrine and a mod The Optimist cafe outpost to instant buzz.
“It’s great to work with Todd Saieed and Ven Poole at Dewitt because they have such a vision for what this development can be,” says Peregrine co-owner Patrick Shanahan, who’s set to open Capulet Cocktail Club at The Exchange this month. “I’m hearing what’s coming and I just want to be a part of that and help develop what this little section of Raleigh could be like.”
Now, a fresh wave of bars and eateries are leveling up the 40-acre Midtown destination—and cementing The Exchange as an all-day hub for standout food and drinks. “We’re thrilled to see the first phase of this vision coming to life in really exciting ways,” says Dewitt President Steven Beattie. “We’ve created an ecosystem where each concept complements the others and provides something for everyone at all parts of the day and night.” Here, we dig into what’s coming.
TOASTIQUE
The Exchange’s latest opening at 1000 Social caters to the morning and midday crowd with a healthy dose of wholesome eats made from fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients. A smattering of gourmet toasts (see: avocado, smoked salmon, Greek and tomato burrata), smoothies and smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices, housemade treats, and a full espresso menu make for a nourishing brunch, grab-and-go treat, or quick midday snack for locals, professionals and visitors alike. Guilt-free mealtime? Say less. toastique.com
CAPULET COCKTAIL CLUB
Wherefore art though Romeo? In Raleigh, natch. An ode to Romeo and Juliet’s Juliet Capulet, local hospitality vet Patrick Shanahan’s romanticized “House of Capulet” cocktail bar—debuting this month beside Peregrine—fuses Ancient Rome and modern disco a la a deep red-tiled double horseshoe bar beneath a soaring ~30-foot dome, rich jewel tones, velvet curtains, and antiques throughout. Out front, a lush courtyard complete with flowing fountains, Roman sculptures and its own bar set the scene for late-night lingerers. The result: a sultry Italian getaway sans plane ticket. Ciao, bella! @capuletcocktailclub
PRANZO
Lafayette Village mainstay Bongiorno & Son is debuting a brand-new concept off the 1000 Social lobby early next year to satiate both the lunch slump and post-work aperitivo scene. Ditching the deli angle, Pranzo—which fittingly translates to “lunch”—will feat. Italian-style sandwiches (expect Bongiorno faves like the Italian, prosciutto, and hot soppressata sandos) and salads, plus grab-and-go cases with frozen items and the like. Come 5pm, the spot will shift to an aperitivo-style menu of small plates—think charcuterie, bruschetta, flatbreads, and prosciutto and melon—paired with wine, beer and spritzes. Call it snacking at its finest. pranzoraleigh.com
MEZCALITO
Where queso flows, tacos reign and the margs pour freely, the regional Tex-Mex fave is taking NC by storm with its seventh spot set to open at 1000 Social by early next year. Expect vibrant decor, upbeat vibes and those signature oversize margs that make every meal feel like a party. And the flavor-packed authentic-meets-fresh takes come in spades—ceviche, ACP, chilaquiles, burritos, fajitas and more. Taco ’bout a bold (and delicious) addition. mezcalitogrill.com
Soaring high after Peregrine’s blockbuster debut, co-owner Patrick Shanahan—also of Watts & Ward fame—is having his moment. … And he’s only just getting started.
Dipping his toes back into the bar world, the painter, photographer, filmmaker and entrepreneur will unveil not one, but two new cocktail bars in partnership with longtime friend and fellow filmmaker Robby Opperman: Capulet Cocktail Club at The Exchange, and a new Japanese-American concept in the former Fox Liquor Bar space in DTR—with the beverage programs led by local mixologist Zack Thomas.
Building on the success of RM’s Best New Restaurant, Shanahan’s channeling his cinematic instincts into Capulet, set to debut Dec. 16. The name an ode to Romeo and Juliet’s Juliet Capulet, the romanticized space fuses Ancient Rome and modern disco, evoking themes of opulence and rich textures. Picture a deep red-tiled double horseshoe bar sitting underneath a soaring ~30-foot dome, rich jewel tones, velvet curtains, and antiques throughout, dotted with private booths, a fireplace and a small stage for live performances. Outside, a lush garden a la an Italian courtyard blooms with flowing fountains, Roman sculptures and its own bar.
From left: Patrick Shanahan, Zack Thomas, Robby Opperman| | Photo courtesy of Capulet Cocktail ClubFerdinand | Photo courtesy of Capulet Cocktail Club
“It’s almost as if you found a Roman ruin redecorated in the ’70s,” muses Shanahan… “an Italian fashion house hidden away in a garden for hundreds of years for people to stumble upon.”
Getting back to his filmmaking roots, the vario-medium storyteller approaches the project much like he would a movie—crafting a set through lighting, sound and design. “The nice thing about films is it’s a mix of all artistic styles in one place: music, visuals, art, fashion. All those have really inspired me.”
Cocktails at Capulet will lean Italian via a curated vino program, bottled beers, amaro-driven drinks and spritzes, plus a full European spirit selection. “I’m excited to get back into the world I know—the cocktail world,” emphasizes Shanahan.
Together with Peregrine, Capulet adds another destination to The Exchange—not to mention Midtown’s first bona fide cocktail bar. “I’m hearing what’s coming and I just want to be a part of that and help develop what this little section of Raleigh could be,” says Shanahan. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and having a little corner of Raleigh that I could really leave a mark on and do something special is exciting for me.”
Come early next year, the mastermind will also debut his DTR concept in the former Fox’s basement. Like a “cultural handshake,” the new bar blends shared artistic values of both Asian and American cultures—complete with a Japanese kissa (aka listening lounge), live-band karaoke, plus an extensive sake, whiskey and highball program.
Building off the basement’s bones Ashley Christensen laid, Shanahan’s design nods to the clean lines and natural materials of midcentury minimalism, with a bar top echoing furnituremaker George Nakashima’s work. “I’ve had so many good nights at Fox, and I’m honored to [take over] that spot,” he emphasizes. “When you walk down, you’ll be transported into a whole new realm.”
With two bold concepts on deck, the multihyphenate isn’t just expanding his footprint. He’s reshaping Raleigh’s bar scene—curating immersive worlds where storytelling takes center stage. Both are unmistakably Shanahan. And both will be impossible to resist.
