After 25+ years, Slim’s remains Raleigh’s unpolished shrine to a good time.
Between the dark moody digs, hazy smoker-friendly patio and cheap drinks, Slim’s is the epitome of a dive. Recently surpassing its 25th anny, the nee-1999 bar has long held court on South Wilmington Street, serving up a nostalgic grittiness that can’t be found at Raleigh’s slew of shiny new cocktail clubs (though those, of course, have their own place).
From its concert poster-plastered front window and photo-bedecked bar top to a smattering of stickers covering nearly every other surface from the walls to the doors, Slim’s is like a punk-rock time capsule—encapsulating an authenticity that can’t be replicated.
Despite new ownership in 2024, the rules remain simple: “Drink, don’t be a d*ck, no music requests, tip or die, and no wrestling.” And as it’s always been, on any given night, you’ll find all sorts of local characters bellied up for a beer and a shot (or a Mind Eraser if they’re feeling frisky) as bands of all genres rotate in and out—from punk and shoegaze to rock and indie.
Upstairs, the sounds of pool balls ricocheting off the felt and the bright pings and dings of pinball machines add to the background noise—while the outdoor patio is a mecca for smokers or anyone stepping outside for a reset.
Where the drinks are cheap, the guitars are loud, and “bad decisions are encouraged,” Slim’s feels less like a bar and more like a rite of passage—a no-frills gathering space for misfits, musicians, industry folks, in-the-know locals and everyone in between. Because here, last calls stretch into lifelong stories, the bathroom graffiti reads like a community diary, and the small-but-mighty stage doubles as a launching pad for up-and-coming artists.
In a city where all eyes are on what’s new and next, the OG dive remains delightfully, defiantly scuffed—and Raleigh’s here for it. slimsraleigh.com
A new duo has the keys to Raleigh’s oldest music venue.
Say hello to the Slim’s you used to know! The storied Downtown Raleigh music venue/dive bar is now under new ownership, thus ushering in its next era while keeping its OG character. Meet Amber Turner and Bill Johnson, the duo breathing new life into the 25-year-old outpost and adding a positive vibe as the bar looks toward the future. And despite the alleged staff exodus last fall, rest assured, the drama is done.
Taking the helm this spring, the pair obtained the sacred keys by appealing to the owners’ intent to safeguard the fundamental history and culture of the space as they prepared for retirement.
“It’s a dive bar,” Johnson maintains. “We are not looking to modernize or change it—we want to nourish and bring it back [while] making it a homebase for local musicians and artists.” Essentially, the goal is to keep things at the spot consistent with the standards of an old-timer who’s been visiting since its inception, throwing back the vibes to “feel like the Slim’s of 10 years ago.”
That said, one way the newly minted owners are seeking to elevate the local music scene is through giving young or up-and-coming artists space—and a stage—to shine. And there’s lots of local musician love to go around. Currently, Slim’s has 50+ artists slated during the month of May (s/o to the staff and a smattering of locals who helped curate the stacked lineup!), with more looking to snag a spot on the calendar soon.
All in all, there’s much to look forward to as Slim’s steps into a new moment while maintaining its core essence. “In the long run, it felt right,” says Johnson of acquiring the venue. “The place deserves some nurture, love and community.” Here’s to another 25 years! slimsraleigh.com
Cue the nostalgia—pinball is making a comeback. While the first coined machine dates back to the 1930s, the arcade game hit peak popularity in the ’90s—a fact driving its current resurgence as all things of the “Edgy Decade” return to favor (see also: low-rise jeans, claw clips, thin brows and other trends). After all, you can’t beat a classic (!).
Not only are many Gen Xers and millennials harkening back to their halcyon days of youth by buying machines for their homes, pinball tournaments are taking place across the globe—and the classic games are remerging at bars, restaurants, gaming sites and beyond.
Clearly, select Raleigh establishments were ahead of the reemerging trend (we see you Boxcar), but, now, scads of local spots are shooting on the scene. Here’s where to bump those balls around town.
