A new partnership is brewing in the Little City Brewing space.
Little City Brewing is entering a new era. The local favorite Local Icon Hospitality brewery in Smoky Hollow will be transitioning into a brand-new operation dubbed Flour & Barrel, a collaboration between local restaurant guru Anthony Rapillo (of V Pizza, Flask Cocktail Bar and The Side Door Craft Cocktails fame) and current owner Jon Seelbinder—opening at the end of May. A modern-day meet-cute, the partnership began on Instagram.
“I was incredibly fortunate to meet Anthony after he reached out via a heartwarming Instagram message as a young entrepreneur,” recalls Seelbinder. “I have seen few with as much grit, enthusiasm and genuine love for the business. He will undoubtedly continue to excel and grow in this space.”
Seelbinder emphasizes the Little City location has always been a natural fit for a crafted food-driven concept—and Flour & Barrel will certainly fit that vision. Rapillo plans to add a full kitchen; demo one of the bars; and update the bar tops, floors and chairs, giving the entire space a face-lift.
The name a nod to its split intention (read: housemade pasta and bread and barreled spirits), Flour & Barrel will lean heavily on rustic Italian small plates highlighting flour-based dishes—think focaccia sandwiches and deconstructed lasagna, plus different types of meatballs and chicken dishes, with ingredients repeated throughout to create a zero-waste kitchen. And for those who get hungry in the after-hours, a late-night menu will serve up pizzas, sandwiches and more after 9pm (!).
Photo by Sean Junqueira
On the “barrel” side of the menu, F&B’s cocktail list curated by Flask’s beverage director will bring barrel-aged trends like bourbon and mezcal to the forefront. The microbrewery in the back will continue to play a huge part in the new restaurant/bar under head brewer Josh Wing, who was also part of the original Trophy team and ended up at Little City via a 20-year connection between Seelbinder and Trophy’s Woody Lockwood, Wing’s first cousin.
In keeping with its trend-forward, industry-competitive MO, the beer lineup promises to stay fresh and delicious, with new flavors like an Italian Lager to complement the Italian-based menu.
“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with Anthony and to lean on the continued mentorship of Jon to bring crafted food and an expanded cocktail program into this space,” says Wing. “I think the oven-fired menu and Anthony at the helm fill a much-needed void in this part of town—and I can’t wait to brew new beers, reimagine existing brands, and just get really creative to match the innovation that will surely flow from the kitchen and bar programs.”
Also gone is the OG LCB regularly front-parked Virgil’s food truck—because full kitchen—making way for a streetside patio a la parklet (think like Clockwork’s), adding extensive outdoor seating come the warmer months.
With the alfresco op and upscale food and bev menus, Rapillo hopes to add a new upscale flair to the cherished space, separating itself from the DJ-dense Glenwood South party scene and draw in locals looking for a more “adult” outing—sans the shooters, party vibes and hangover. “We don’t want to cater to a college crowd—or even kids who are 22 or 23 just looking for loud music or a DJ and a place to go get really drunk,” says Rapillo. Instead, it’s more of a hot spot for a date, GNO wine night or a friendly group outing over craft cocktails.
“When I first moved here—I lived a couple blocks from [Flour & Barrel]—I was the exact clientele we’re looking for,” Rapillo continues. “We’re going for the working professional living in Smoky Hollow or other nearby apartments or even the condos directly above us. You pay all this rent and there’s not a ton of places within walking distance that fit the vibe you’re looking for… like an elevated cocktail bar.” And there’s no doubt that Flour & Barrel will deliver that high-quality experience. Cheers to change! flourandbarrel.com
Say “high” to a duo of mountain hotels for your next elevated excursion.
If a cold-weather High Country getaway is calling your name, book a rez at one—or both!—of these mountain accommodations helmed by Raleigh entrepreneurs. Peak experiences await!
Skyline Village Inn
Nestled right off the Blue Ridge Parkway—about 100 feet to be exact!—this stylish 17-room mountain chalet boasts stellar views and a sleek home-away-from-home experience. The historic boutique motel is currently under a gradual redesign process overseen by Local Icon Hospitality’s Jon Seelbinder, who acquired the property in January 2022.
“It’s quaint and off-the-beaten path,” says Seelbinder—“but we are gradually moving toward the end goal of a nice, fresh, modern and sleek rebrand that still embraces the old architecture.”
Longtime guests may notice minute changes to the hotel’s branding and web presence, with a lineup of larger improvements coming down the pipeline. Currently, The Skyline Restaurant & Bar is undergoing a makeover that will maintain the space’s classic 1940s charm while adding a contemporary elevated twist, with other upcoming elements like shipping container hot tubs (!) and revamped rooms also on the roster.
“It’s picturesque, there’s a ton to do and see, and we offer a more personal touch,” explains Seelbinder of the inn. Ideal for the chill, go-with-the-flow traveler, the property allows guests to R&R in a place where they can enjoy prime mountain ambiance sans the crowds. See ya in the skies! skylinevillageinn.com
Rhode’s Motor Lodge
From Loden Hospitality (the same folks behind The Longleaf Hotel) comes Rhode’s Motor Lodge—now open in Boone. The renovated midcentury motel showcases a camp-inspired design featuring 54 rooms; cozy patios; and hotel restaurant Canteen, dishing up modern-yet-casual fare nodding to Appalachian ingredients and cuisine.
Inspired by the history of the property and the outdoorsy vibe of Boone, the mountain oasis at once mixes together the luxe amenities and comforts of a 21st century midcentury-mod hotel while flaunting the warm, cozy vibes of an old-timey mountain lodge. Think a spectrum of wood decor in each room, myriad woven materials and rugs made from recycled plastics. And beyond all the excitement Boone has to offer, guests can stay entertained at the lodge with fire pits, movie nights and a lineup of games on deck.
“There is nothing like this—especially if you are a curious traveler,” says Christine McDonald, creative director for Loden Hospitality of the recently bowed lodge. “Rhode’s and Canteen are purposefully designed to appeal not only to out-of-town guests, but locals as well. This isn’t a typical hotel experience.” … Translation: Your ideal resort to camp out: found. rhodesmotorlodge.com
Local Icon’s shipping container concept at Peace & Glenwood is on.
Remember “The Yard” we first told you about last spring cropping up at the corner of Peace and Glenwood in the old Peace Street Inspection Center? We do—and it’s still happening. Now dubbed Embargo—a play on bar/shipping container, get it?—the buzzy concept will break ground in July and deliver (had to) late summer/early fall, transforming the abandoned repair shop and otherwise dead space atop Glenwood South into a dynamic social hub.
Adding another calf to the cash cow that is the thriving district—which doles a $1.2 billion annual impact—the converted OG go-to auto inspection station will expand the district footprint by extending its northern gateway across Peace Street.
From service station to, well, service, Local Icon Hospitality founder/owner Jon Seelbinder and team (think The Merchant, Virgil’s, Little City, to name a few) are upfitting the original building into a hip hangout to max out the space with a unique boundary-pushing concept while maintaining the legacy of that popular Raleigh pocket. Think: unique one-story F&B concepts over towers, a vision shared by local Icon and property owners CityPlat and Modalia Capital, who aim to create synergy with the current area.
Leaning into the surging popularity of shipping container bars (e.g. Boxyard RTP), the main building’s bar and small kitchen will be surrounded by ~20 shipping containers (some multistories) filled with bars and unique food concepts spread among a fire pit- and game-dotted outdoor space, and playing host to rotating food trucks. And it’s gonna be a total vibe.
With a longstanding MO of maintaining the essence of Raleigh while simultaneously pushing the envelope, Local Icon is primed to perfectly play out this avant-garde vision by thinking outside the box (and literally inside the box, in this case.). While the details are still being flushed out, Seelbinder and his team are flirting with three or four casual food concepts—tossing around ops from resurrecting their former famed Linus & Peppers sandwiches to a “really slick burger program,” he says.
“Let’s make it vibe with Raleigh, but also make it unique in our way,” says Seelbinder. “Let’s make it elevated, but approachable. Let’s not go so over-the-top that it doesn’t resonate with our drinking community—but let’s do something really cool” to visually activate one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in DTR.
Ultimately, “this is not just another Glenwood South bar. … More than anything, it’ll be a cool outdoor drinking and hangout space,” says Seelbinder. “And I’m just really excited to bring it to Glenwood Avenue.” Retweet.
Peace and Glenwood will soon be the site of a dynamic social hub—and Raleigh Magazine has the exclusive first look.
We’ve said it before, and it bears repeating, Glenwood South is Raleigh’s cash cow, and more than ever, the district is on fire—and expanding its footprint. But all of that development arguably has been within and east of Glenwood South’s center. Until now.
Extending the northern bookend of the buzzy district across Peace Street—what used to be your go-to annual auto inspection station is about to be your new go-to hangout destination. In a powerhouse partnership between developers CityPlat and Modalia Capital, in tandem with Local Icon Hospitality Group and Redline Design Group, that primo positioned slice of dirt in DTR is now, well, pay dirt—transforming the .32-acre dead space adjacent to Mellow Mushroom atop Glenwood South into a dynamic social hub.
The abandoned repair shop across from uber-popular Mellow Mushroom at one of Raleigh’s busiest intersections will now pave the way for the district’s (and city’s) newest hip hangout spot—completely transforming an otherwise dead zone atop Glenwood South.
Enter The Yard, upfitting the original building into a hip bar and small kitchen, surrounded by upward of 20 shipping containers—some multistories—filled with bars and unique food concepts spread among abundant outdoor space with fire pits, games and the like, and playing host to a rotating lot of food trucks. In essence, come early to mid-June, your new spot to meet up, chill out and hang out.
“It’s a great community gathering place,” says CityPlat’s G Patel, who’s been deeply involved in the Raleigh hospitality industry for over two decades. His intention, he says, has always been to bring unique concepts to our market that are pushing the boundaries a bit and really “maximizing the space we have while not overbuilding and overcrowding with a bunch of towers.”
Teaming up with Local Icon founder/owner Jon Seelbinder (think The Merchant, Virgil’s, Little City, to name a few), Patel says, was a no-brainer. “I know the individuals who can make a concept happen… and execute the best vision and use of the space,” he explains. “Jon’s been doing this as long as I have—he wholeheartedly deserves entire credit for really curating this concept and thinking outside the box.” (As well as literally inside the box in this case.)
“All involved parties are in a shared dialogue,” notes Patel—which, he says, “is where the magic happens.” With a longstanding MO of maintaining the essence of Raleigh while simultaneously pushing the envelope, Local Icon is primed to perfectly play out that shared vision. While the details are still being flushed out, Seelbinder and his team are flirting with three or four casual food concepts—tossing around opps from resurrecting their former famed Linus & Peppers sandwiches to a “really slick burger program.”
“Let’s make it vibe with Raleigh, but also make it unique in our way,” says Seelbinder. “Let’s make it elevated, but approachable. Let’s not go so over-the-top that it doesn’t resonate with our drinking community—but let’s do something really cool.”
The Yard no doubt taps into that cool factor. For its part, Redline Design Group is excited to be a part of such a unique opportunity to visually activate one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in DTR—and to “push the envelope through the reuse of old conex containers and convert them into usable structures,” says principal Jason Byrd.
But no matter what, “more than anything, it’ll be a cool outdoor drinking and hangout space,” says Seelbinder. “And I’m just really excited to bring it to Glenwood Avenue.” … And this is not just another Glenwood South bar. “We couldn’t think of a better way to bring folks together,” agrees Byrd. “We hope to see you there.” And they will.
Serial hospitality entrepreneur puts his best foot forward.
Born and raised in NC, Jonathan Seelbinder only expected to stay in our capital city for a couple of years when he moved here in 1999. But, 22 years later, he says, “here I am.”
Seelbinder cut his teeth in the hospitality business as a way to pay his way through NC State while studying industrial engineering. But, alas, he caught the hospitality bug and, in 2012, opened his first spot (The Architect Bar and Social House on East Hargett Street)—and “tried to never look back,” he says.
From there, Seelbinder bowed such popular hot spots as The Green Light speakeasy, Virgil’s Taqueria, sandwich shop Linus & Pepper’s (L&P) and Little City Brewing. This year, after COVID-19 shuttered L&P, he began working on a new venture, The Merchant, in the Virgil’s building on South Salisbury Street. His fave part? The savvy bar owner particularly enjoys designing and furnishing his properties. “As a guy who lived in a house with a bunch of other dudes and a hand-me-down couch when opening my first business,” he says, “I was quickly inspired by interior design, something that has grown into a passion.” In his free time, Seelbinder says he travels between Colorado and Raleigh whenever possible. And, in his ideal life, he’d fly airplanes and ski every day. Cheers to that.
Hometown: I was born in Spruce Pine, grew up in Wilmington, finished high school in Mebane, then moved to Colorado, then moved to Raleigh—and have been here since 1999.
Your neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh
What you love most about Raleigh: It’s a big town, little city. It’s always been easy to meet people. The food and beverage scene has become as good as any city, and it’s a great home base. You can fly almost anywhere and can get up and down the East Coast no problem.
Currently reading: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. It was a gift from my mom for Christmas.
Currently listening to: Podcasts with Grant Cardone, GaryVee and Tim Ferriss. They talk about real estate, entrepreneurship and life stories. They’re inspirational, informative and give me a good perspective on the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial world.
Style mantra: Timeless and classic—with modern accents. I’ve really been into wearing Air Jordan’s lately though. My preference would be to be comfortable, but it depends on the situation. It’s a fine line between stylish and comfortable. I like to toe the line.
Style influences: I don’t really follow a particular designer, but I believe in staying classic and evolving with the times without being too overly trendy.
Favorite clothing labels: Everything from Chuck Taylor and Air Jordan all the way up to Hermès and everything in between.
Local go-to shop: It was Art of Style—always a good eclectic blend of cool styles. It was local, and Kendra always tried to go out of her way to be involved in the process of purchasing clothes.
Last great lunch: Virgil’s tacos. I happen to think they’re the best tacos in the state… yum yum, delicious!
Go-to piece: Dark denim that fits well and is still comfortable
Favorite piece of jewelry: I always enjoy a classic, understated nice watch.
Travel dreaming: I was thinking about the south of France the other day—never been, would like to go. It just looks absolutely beautiful, and I’d love to have a few carefree weeks after the last year or two I’ve had with work.
How you stay fit: Stress… just kidding. I love to ride my mountain bike and snowboard. Diet is super-important; however, that’s always a lifestyle.
Favorite drink: Coffee, coffee, coffee and then coffee, in that order
Style secret: Everything doesn’t have to be expensive. I once managed a night club, and my favorite suit came from Target, and I threw it in the washing machine on a regular basis. But it’s always fun to have a couple of really nice pieces that you can accentuate with things that aren’t totally bougie.
Moment in your life that inspired your style: My father and my (maternal) grandfather—even when I grew up with very little and not a lot of money—they made sure we knew it was always important to look our best, tuck our shirts in, comb our hair and stand up straight.
Photo Credit: Joshua Steadman
Currently Wearing: Jacket: Calvin Klein; scarf: Versace; T-shirt: Buck Mason; pants: Penguin; shoes: Air Jordan; belt and buckle: Hermès; boxer briefs: Diesel; socks: Ralph Lauren
