#

Back

Curating Raleigh

Curating Raleigh

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Buzz, November 2024


Developers craft a dynamic balance of tenants with intention.

“We’re trying to be intentional—instead of just leasing the space to the first person who shows up and says they’re interested.” 

So says Highwoods SVP and Raleigh Market Leader Skip Hill of a new wave of competitive—and deliberate—placemaking to ignite energy and create spaces people want to frequent. So, in essence, ushering in a new era of developers shopping for specific concepts to fit the exact vibe they’re seeking, where the “play” component ensures people will want to live, work and hang there. 

Local restaurateurs like Matt Bettinger, owner of Cary’s Hank’s Downtown Dive and SideBar, have seen this shift firsthand. “The larger developer scope seems to be more rigid in terms of expectations,” he says. “There’s a lot less flexibility. You’re seeing a lot more, ‘We want coffee service. Or ‘We want this to include cocktails.’” 

That’s precisely how it played out for Highwoods’ Charter Square building, where they began scouting an all-day cafe for the former B.GOOD space to entice people back to the office. Enter popular Sir Walter Coffee’s vibey cafe-meets-cocktail bar with a second intentional interior entrance that flows into the lobby.

“It’s not just a one-off disconnected restaurant, it’s a part of the life of that building,” says Hill of the thoughtful approach. “And that building now becomes part of the life of Downtown—because Sir Walter brings community to the area there.” He adds the same goes for Birdie’s, which recently opened—and is already igniting—the opposite end of Fayetteville Street from its perch on the ground floor of Highwoods’ 150 Fayetteville.

Continuing that shift to evoke a specific ethos, the ground floor of Kane Realty Corp.’s highly anticipated Dix Park-proximal Rockway development blends amenities like BK Pilates and Benchwarmers Bagels’ expanded menu of pizzas, sandwiches and cocktails to yield an attractive destination.

Likewise deliberate in their approach, the development team behind DTR mixed-use 400H,  including Raleigh’s own HM Partners, sees its ground floor as essential to its success. They passed on a sushi spot for sheer surrounding sushi density, determining Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails fit the vibe and operational model for the building, says HM Partners Managing Partner Gregg Sandreuter.

And uptown, Hill is looking to bring a similar curated cast to Crabtree Corridor’s GlenLake via upcoming Wong’s Tacos, Crooked Hammock Brewery and a coffee shop in the works. But “it has to fit,” he emphasizes. 

GlenLake photo by Brian Mullins Photography, courtesy of GlenLake

It’s a tango felt on both sides of the concept curation. Bettinger himself got a taste of this approach when he pitched a concept for the former Ladyfingers location in Highpark Village. “We were kind of thinking on our feet. We saw the space and knew we liked it, so we put together what we thought would be a lot of fun,” he says. 

But when the lease ultimately went to DC-based Michelin-lauded Timber, Bettinger wasn’t discouraged. “To be honest, it looks great—I think it’s going to be a nice addition,” he emphasizes. “I totally see how, if you own the property and you’ve got a couple people vying for it, you would pick the group saying, ‘We’ve got this system that’s worked up here, and we think it’ll work there.’”

But one rejection isn’t stopping Bettinger. He’s still keeping his ear to the ground waiting on his perfect match. “You’ve got to be OK with hearing ‘this doesn’t fit here’—even if you think it’s a great idea,” he maintains.

While competition is fiercer than ever, it also makes room for more creativity, says Bettinger. “I think it provides challenges,” he adds. “But hopefully it makes for healthy competition.” 

Nine New Coffee Shops Brew Big Business

Nine New Coffee Shops Brew Big Business

by | Aug 27, 2024 | Buzz, September 2024

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is becoming an increasingly familiar scent in the City of Oaks as a wave of new coffee shops are percolating around town. From out-of-town franchises setting up shop to homegrown cafes making their debut, the local scene is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. Not shocking given coffee is the moment—and Raleigh ranks among some of the top cities for java junkies. 

Already serving a host of creative coffee shops, the nine (!) recently announced or opened cafes add brewing diversity. And it’s not just Raleigh. The country as a whole is seeing exponential growth in the coffee industry, with the market currently estimated at $28.06 billion and expected to reach $33.64 billion by 2029. Driving those dollars, smaller specialty coffee shops are especially having their moment—and giving big-name brands a run for their money.

And, really, with so many locally owned options, why choose a chain? “I was a daily Dunkin’ or Starbucks drinker until this past winter because I lived and worked in a veritable local coffee desert,” said one avid coffee drinker we spoke to. “Now I would sooner skip coffee than drink the chains—and am obsessed with the sudden abundance of selects.”

Locally, owner Jason Cox of DTR newcomer and already uberpopular Press says the caffeinated surge of entrepreneurial operators bringing their own unique ideas to the area is reflective of Raleigh’s continued growth—“not just in its population, but its stature as a rising city and the desires that come with that,” he says. … “A growing market appreciates the variety itself—in products, in atmosphere, in ethos and so on.” 

To wit, Raleigh’s coffee shops aren’t just about coffee; they offer a variety of experiences that intentionally cater to different tastes. Press, for instance, blends European-inspired offerings with local flavors, while Wilmington-based Drift’s new West Raleigh location made an instant splash with its MO of modern wellness and menu featuring seaside breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites. Raleigh Iron Works’ upcoming Fare&Fellow, meanwhile, promises hyperlocal products from Homeland Creamery, Union Special and local roasters once it bows early next year.  

Ultimately the eyes on Raleigh speak to the city’s principles of quality and community—core values in coffee shop culture. “We believe the demographic in Raleigh appreciates a similar lifestyle and values that lead to a life best lived,” says Drift co-founder Michael Powell. “We wanted to share that with them in the place they call home.” 

But it’s not just a one-and-done for these new Raleigh coffee locations. Both Cox and Powell are looking ahead to exciting development on the horizon for Raleigh’s coffee culture. Cox envisions a broader range of offerings, especially at Press, where tea will also be further emphasized for those who don’t enjoy java or just want the option of something less caffeine-heavy. 

“I also expect more and more new operators to have food menus that are broader than we have had in the market historically, blending the coffee shop experience into the cafe focus that we have here,” he adds. 

For Powell, technology and consistent quality-driven experiences are what he sees as the guiding factors for the future of Raleigh’s cafe scene. “The operators who create distinct experiences will set the standard for coffee consumers in the area,” he maintains. All to say, Raleigh cuppa lovers have a lot to look forward to—and there’s only more brewing on the horizon. 

Recently Opened

Coming Soon