The Warehouse District’s landmark Depot Historic District is getting a glow-up. Serving up a trackside transformation that promises to redefine the district—and DTR—LODEN Development’s ambitious plan reimagines the cobblestone parking lot between the railroad tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay mixed-use destination.
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the rail-front revamp serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-up experiences; more than an acre of outdoor gathering spaces; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
With a world-class design team at the helm, the project—targeted for completion by 2028—pairs place-making with preservation, with design minds behind some of the city’s most notable builds steering this next-gen revival. Think David Baker Architects and Gensler on architectural design, McAdams and Site Collaborative shaping the built environment, and The Creative Office of Joshua Gajownik crafting the brand story. The result? A thoughtful fusion of legacy and liveliness—preserving the historic Depot while ushering the Warehouse District into its next era.
Rendering courtesy of LODEN/Gensler/David Baker Architects
And thanks to dual “front door” design and a network of interwoven pedestrian pathways, the revitalized district will serve as a seamless connector for Downtown districts and destinations, from the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to Glenwood South and up-and-coming West End—altogether linking “people, ideas and neighborhoods together,” says LODEN partner Henry Ward. “There’s real energy in this part of the city.”
Known for “activating underused spaces with intentional design and community-focused features,” LODEN will fold in a mix of layered green spaces, a public plaza and pedestrian-friendly corridors to create a true urban gathering ground. Local and regional retailers will also get in on the action, helping draw in not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd alike.
Gensler’s Raleigh footprint also runs deep—contributing to such major projects as Bandwidth’s global HQ, the mixed-use Bloc[83] Tower II, 400H, and the upcoming transformation of the Lenovo Center.
The bold vision for this iconic district is the latest in a wave of adaptive reuse shaping Raleigh’s urban story—honoring what was, while making room for what’s next. It’s development that preserves character without stalling progress. And with projects like The Depot, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other. Keep your eyes to the sky.
Where to treat yo’self and better your health around Raleigh’s budding retail spots.
When in doubt, sweat it out. Perspire Sauna Studio is bringing its signature science-backed infrared and red-light therapy to Raleigh this year. Can you handle the heat?! @perspiresaunastudio
Go sports! Edge Athletic Company’s new cutting-edge indoor facility is leveling up training for soccer, sports performance, strength, speed and beyond for kiddos to pro athletes and everyone in between. @the_edge_raleigh
A treasure trove of unique locally crafted items—think cards, books and more—await at the NC Museum of History’s spring-slated museum shop on Glenwood Avenue. @ncmuseumhistory
Courtesy of NC Museum of History
Shifting gears from its shipping container outpost at Lake Raleigh, The Bike Library is opening a permanent outpost at Platform Apartments—serving up bike rentals and repairs, plus coffee and a bar. @the.bike.library
Bend and stretch in anticipation of luxury athleisure and wellness brand Alo Yogadebuting in the North Hills Main District this summer next to Bartaco. @aloyoga
Marking the end of an era, Logan’s Garden Shop relocated from its ~34-year home at Seaboard Station to the North Carolina State Farmers Market garden center. @logantrd
Home is where the best thrifted goods are. Enter Honed Home, recently opened inside Heights House feat. a curated selection of vintage furniture, decor, jewelry and other novelties. @honedhomenc
Courtesy of Honed Home
Get in the ~mood~ for nail salon Mood Raleigh to open at Platform Apartments this summer, bringing with it an elevated approach to nail artistry and design + premium products. @moodraleigh
Two Popular Kid Consignment Sales Hit Raleigh This Month
It’s go time. Time to go shopping, that is. Two of the longest running kid consignment sales in Raleigh are hosting their bi-annual spring events this month and they’re kind of a big deal.
Close to 70,000 items, from kids’ clothes and shoes to toys, strollers, nursery decor and more will be up for sale between the two events, so put your sneakers on and get ready to shop ‘til you drop. The deals are nothing new—both the Hayes Barton Baptist Church’s Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale and the Divine Children’s Show have been serving steals for nearly 20 years.
“There is a thrill to finding things that maybe otherwise you can’t afford, or just don’t want to pay the higher cost of a brand new designer item,” says Divine Children’s Show owner Morgan Daughtridge of the benefit of opting to not buy new. “[These sales] are an economical way to clothe your family year after year.”
Cashwell Boykin, co-chair of the Kidz Stuff sale, emphasizes growing kids don’t wear clothes for long, and the lower price point of consignment can help cut clothing costs. “[These sales] provide an opportunity to get things that are still in great condition at a much more affordable price,” Boykin said.
But giving Ben Franklin a break isn’t the only great thing about these sales—they also give back to the community in a major way.
Consignors can choose to donate unsold items at the end of the show, which for Kidz Stuff translates into roughly 5000 items going to refugee organizations and various charities. Divine Children’s unsold items are donated to the Crossnore School in Crossnore, NC, where foster kids get to pick what they want. Saving money and doing good at the same time? Don’t have to tell us twice. March 6–March 8, hbbc.org, March 22–March 25, dcskids.com
Consignment sale newbie? Here, best practices to shop like a pro:
Bring a bag Don’t be limited by what you can carry. And size matters! The bigger the bag, the better.
Make a list It’s easy to forget what you really wanted when there’s so much choice, so make a list and check it twice before you leave
Don’t sleep on it Go ahead and grab anything you might want. You can always put it back, but as everything is one of a kind you don’t want to be disappointed if someone else grabs it while you deliberate
Come back for discount day Most things are half off the already steeply discounted prices the last day of each sale.
Boho chic is so back. Trends have once again come full circle—and this time, we’re running it back 20 years to the popular boho-chic style of the mid 2000s.
Earthy tones and flowy textures will run the season, thanks to recent runway shows by Chloé and Isabel Marant setting the mood. Think the laid-back, crunchy look of the ’70s with a few stolen elements from the rockstar-glam looks of the ’90s—from fringe and lace to studded leather, messy makeup and slouchy bags. So, after a year of the overly high-effort looks of the clean girl and officecore aesthetics, it’s high time we kick back and opt for undone yet chic looks.
Courtesy of Rangoni Store
Piggybacking off of last year’s trend, a pair of tall boots will continue to be a must-wear into spring and summer. Cherie low- heel boot in cognac, $610, rangonistore.com
Courtesy of Shop Voda
Wear this ivory ruched op as either a midiskirt or dress, and pair with tall boots or gladiator sandals and a slouchy leather tote. Praire convertible skirt, $148, shopvoda.com
Courtesy of Tecovas
Fringe is equal parts neutral and bold—meaning you can throw it on for the finishing touch to any outfit. Western leather fringe jacket, $525, tecovas.com
Courtesy of Hellbent
This goes-with-everything tote touts a modern shape with vintage-like embellishments for a versatile-meets-unique accessory. Sofia studded baguette bag, $58, shophellbent.com
Courtesy of Edge of Urge
An ivory or white blouse with some kind of unique textures—think ruffles, ruching or lace—is a quintessential staple in a ’70s-sleaze outfit. Paris lace blouse, $149, edgeofurge.com
Courtesy of Edge of Urge
Channeling stars from a decade ago to five, oversize statement sunnies are an easy-to-pair and practical accessory. Lorna sunglasses, $24, edgeofurge.com
Courtesy of Madewell
Who doesn’t love a useless belt? Channel boho sleaze icon Kate Moss with a low-slung belt over a skirt or dress. Studded Western belt, $88, madewell.com
Courtesy of Hellbent
This Sharon Tate-esque suede skirt is perfect to pair with a low-slung belt and tank, or a textured top and tall boots for elevated occasions. Per-Suede Me miniskirt, $54, shophellbent.com
Courtesy of Uniquities
The best part of boho being back? It’s bringing millennial pink (aka a pale mauve) with it. Embrace the comeback with this lace look. Drea embroidery dress, $450, uniquities.com
RH, Audemars Piguet, CHANEL Beauty. From the looks of these recently bowed and forthcoming brands, it’s clear the cap city is starting to dip its toes in the luxury market—meaning Raleigh is not simply growing in size, but in sophistication and grandeur.
As a city that often decries new development in lieu of landmarks (see: the all-out outrage about the infamous round Holiday Inn on Hillsborough Street), a question surrounding the up-and-coming luxury market arises: Is Raleigh really ready for it?
The barrage of incoming designer brands buying into the belief they’ll earn the attention—and paychecks—of Raleighites points to yes. “It says a great deal about their confidence in our market,” says Steve Brown, senior vice president and director of retail leasing at Kane Realty, regarding how notoriously selective brands such as RH are about storefront placement.
And Brown himself echoes the brand’s confidence, noting that even though the North Hills’ CHANEL Beauty will exclusively feature fragrance and beauty, the possibility it will consider expanding to a full apparel and accessories boutique is totally on the table.
Although she agrees Raleigh is ready to step into the affluent atmosphere, Artsuite founder Marjorie Hodges advises small businesses should not be left behind. “There is a demand for investment in quality items,” she emphasizes—“whether it’s art, fashion or interior design. It’s all about quality of investment.”
While a proponent of such grabs as North Hills’ 2023 Bal Harbour Shops Pop-Up, Hodges says Raleigh should aim to retain its swath of unique local brands and shops. “We shouldn’t try to be Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive,” she cautions. “There is something different about Raleigh—and it would be a shame if national brands took over.”
Bottom line, big-name storefronts aren’t the only places you can scratch the itch for luxury. Raleigh has long retailed designer brands—local businesses such as MODE Consignment, Uniquities and dress sell both new and secondhand designer products.
So as long as Raleigh works to ensure local businesses can still thrive among the bigger brands, the city appears poised to take the next opulent step toward manifesting a lap of luxury.
