Through the grant, DRA hopes to not only incentivize and attract new retail, restaurant and service businesses, but support pop-ups, and minority- and women-owned businesses; and encourage a good economic flow in DTR.
“We greatly admire the tenacity and creativity storefront business owners bring to Downtown,” says DRA VP of Economic Development Will Gaskins. “Their contribution brings tremendous value to our community, and we are thrilled to support them.”
In addition to that $32,500 grant, DRA has also awarded $60,000 in the last fiscal year to nine downtown storefront businesses in alignment with its mission to advance the vibrancy of Downtown Raleigh, as, after all, it takes a lot of cash to run a business. So, local businesses get a leg up, and we get another excuse to shop local!
“I have boot-strapped nearly everything about my business,” says Copperline owner Anna Grace FitzGerald. “Receiving the DRA Upfit Grant relieves some of the financial burden of starting the brick-and-mortar aspect of Copperline Plant Company and it affirms that my work is meaningful within Downtown Raleigh.”
The deadline to apply for DRA’s next round of funding through the Storefront Upfit Grant is Nov. 1—and a total of $57,500 in funding remains for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Now how’s that for some #LocalLove?!
Two Raleighites grow their living room-launched custom hat company into a 20,000-customer business.
Whether it’s part of your signature look or just a way for you to hide your day-three hair (we’ve all been there), hats are as much an expression of your personal style as the clothes you wear. But for Raleighites Brian Cox and Scott Alexander, they’ve taken this accessory and turned it into a thriving career, producing 1.5 million hats since launching Custom Patch Hats in 2018. It’s cap-tivating, really…
“This was supposed to be a side hustle… maybe some extra beer money,” says Alexander. “We decided to take the biggest bite we could, and we’ve never stopped doing that.”
Before we get too far ahead (get it), a little backstory. Prior, Cox was a freelance designer working on a Georgia brewery’s branding who needed hats. After getting a steep quote from an embroiderer, he decided to take matters into his own hands, borrowing a sewing machine and stitching designed patches onto hats. Following that successful sale, he took the idea to Alexander, who was, at that time in 2018, managing The Bison Bar.
“Scott and I bootstrapped this from our living rooms with $500 in our bank account,” says Cox, noting that they now have a team of over 70 people, 20,000 customers worldwide, a Downtown office on Harrington Street—plus a production warehouse on Capital Boulevard. Additionally, a new, larger production warehouse is currently under construction.
The company’s success can be traced back to the fact that it prioritizes building personal relationships with customers who work back-and-forth with just one of Custom Patch Hats’ designers throughout the entire process on a custom-made patch (be it embroidered, woven, leather, etc.), style of hat (Richardson is its main supplier), quantity—and voila, it’s hats in hand in nine weeks or less.
From local businesses like Sir Walter Coffee to huge companies like Amazon, Alexander says they’ve gotten great feedback from their customers. “What people really kind of harp on… is that human touch,” he says. “It’s something we really stress from the very beginning.”
And that human touch is arguably a Midas touch as the brand’s popularity has no doubt proven… “Walking through the airport in any random city, you see something that came through our door,” says Cox.
That positive response of seeing people wear their product everywhere will only grow, as they have no plans to slow down production anytime soon. “I’ve actually lied to my wife about having to be here early just because I enjoy coming here,” jokes Alexander. “I love this. I love this job.” Hats off to them! custompatchhats.com
Bold Batch Creamery is serving up one-of-a-kind ice cream flavors.
We know you’re busy, so we’ll get straight to the pint. You’re gonna wanna set a recurring alarm for 11:58am on (most) Fridays to hop online and head to Bold Batch Creamery’s website—because once noon rolls around, you’ll be competing with a slew of others to secure a pint of this local scoop shop’s limited batches of super-premium artisan ice cream (think bold flavors like coffee lemonade and ube cheesecake).
“That’s been the culture of our ice cream from the first week,” says owner Maura McCarthy.
McCarthy started experimenting with this creamy treat at home as a creative outlet during the pandemic, making most of her bases and mix-ins from scratch. Once people outside her friend group started making requests and raving about the unique flavors, she secured a space at Raleigh’s Kitchen Archive in August 2020, naming her business 12 Paws—but rebranded to Bold Batch this year to avoid being confused with pet desserts. (Guilty.)
More than once, her weekly batches of 200 to 400 pints have sold out in under two minutes. As in 120 seconds! Um, holy cow (had to). And as far as getting the pints in hand, customers can choose from a list of pickup times and locations throughout the Triangle when placing their online orders.
So while at the moment you have to scream (internally) for ice cream via the internet, McCarthy says a more physical location is on the horizon—adding, “We’re working on something creative!” We’ll let you know when we get the scoop.boldbatchcreamery.com
Hannah Montana said it best: nobody’s perfect. Which is exactly what Raleigh local Chris Daniels is tapping into. After having the same realization Hannah Montana crooned about, the Ravenscroft and NC State alum developed his Complete Lifestyle brand—founded on the concept that “no one can be perfect, but we can all strive to become complete as people, which leads to someone becoming the best version of themselves.”
Bursting with motivational monikers and good vibes, Complete Lifestyle’s customized apparel is exactly the content we need right now, allowing “every body”—regardless of race, gender or age—to embrace who you are so you can go out and share that with the world. “I don’t want to be one set thing—where you have to fit into options,” says Daniels. “I want you to pick your own color, your own ink, your own phrase.” Daniels is also planning on releasing a Complete Lifestyle cologne, so you’ll be able to smell as good as you look.
And the complete entrepreneur isn’t stopping there. Beyond the apparel and cologne, his new self-help book, You’ve Got Next: How to Live a Complete Lifestyle and Leave a Legacy, just dropped, spreading the self-love by spotlighting, for example, how even Michael Jordan failed before he became the basketball legend we all revere today. Hence: “Hard work can lead to being complete,” says Daniels. If you need us we’ll be workin’ on being #best while perusing his pages in our new ’fit. Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble; @malecomplete
No need to blush… the Triangle’s first female-focused pretty-in-pink 11,000-square-foot coworking space with childcare (!) is now open. With an MO of connecting women to a safe, inclusive work environment, Blush Coworkalso feats a female-authored library, private and semiprivate offices, conference rooms, an outdoor patio, and more. #GirlPower! 201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Ste. 102, Cary
Next time you pack your bags, make a STATEment with SCOUT Bags’ functional and fashionable STATEment Collection (launching April 8) feting “the special places SCOUT’s customers live, love, visit and long to return to.” Debby’s Hallmark Shop, PaperBuzz; scoutbags.com
OK, bloomers! DTR’s houseplant hot spot is expanding (!) to offer over 1,800 square feet of houseplants, supplies and plant-adjacent gifts. We’re rooting for Urban Pothos phase two to open early April. Can you dig it? 714 W. Peace St.
Don’t know what to do with yourshelf? Styron & Hughes has just what you’re looking for with monthly shopping experience for timeless high-end home decor and furniture at discounted prices. Think Restoration Hardware, but more affordable. Don’t miss the April sale dates—April 23 (in person) and April 24 (online)! 6702 Old Wake Forest Road
If you heart tattoos, check out Joe Almquist’s new DTR studio a few blocks from Dix Park. Featuring some of Raleigh’s most sought-after tattoo artists, Eye Heart Tattoo is making its mark all over Raleigh(ites). 430 S. Dawson St.
Botox will never make headlines (get it?) but Blue Water Spa’s—voted the best medspa in NC—brand-new second location in Brier Creek totes is. Treat yo’self to Botox (natch), laser hair removal, lash lifts, chemical peels, facials and more. 4205 Corners Parkway, Ste. 110
Just in thyme for spring (!), Copperline Plant Co.owner/founder Anna Grace FitzGerald is planting her budding biz in a new brick-and-mortar nursery opening soon near City Market. So—rooting her efforts to supply local green-thumbers with all you need to spruce up your space. 300 Blake St.
Work hard, play hard! A collaborative real estate-centric workspace, The Work Hall by Monarch Realty Co. offers flex/coworking ops, private offices, meeting spaces, and other benefits and amenities—fit for freelancers, startups, brokers and everyone in between. 213 Fayetteville St.
