It’s Good to See the Warehouse District Growing Up

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Tonight, Videri Chocolate Factory on Davie Street had their Grand Opening Celebration in the Depot Building. While listening to Megafaun's Phil Cook play some of his self-layered blues-grass and enjoying some very tasty sea salted chocolate, I had a realization; Raleigh's Warehouse District is finally growing up.

Sure, the district has been coming up for years and there have been some great businesses inhabiting the brick warehouses, but it's always seemed like it had more to offer. It could add more of a quality experience to the West side of Downtown. For years, the Warehouse District has mostly been bars and restaurants. Most of the restaurants have been great, but the bars lacked a certain civility to them and relied more heavily on what a warehouse district resident of 25 years told me tonight, "a wanna-be-Studio 54 vibe."

He was right. As Downtown Raleigh has evolved over the past 6 years, the warehouse district has always seemed to be making its way with whatever inhabited its buildings. Most of these business closed within a year of opening and the Studio 54 vibe and party scene just never seemed to be what the area wanted to be. So, while the rest of downtown settled into a rhythm, the warehouses were testing the waters, flirting with a variety of temporary identities. Finally, it seems that it has come to its senses and started to establish a firm identity, one of quality and confidence.

This quality and confidence was evident tonight at Videri. The atmosphere was relaxed. The food, drinks and music were classy, but not in a desperate attempt to be upscale. It seemed like a neighborhood gathering, just like the area should. Humble Pie has always had this feeling. Joe's used to as well. Around the corner, Tasty Beverage has also become a new location to get quality beers to go as well as a relaxed bar setting that is a stop-off for many folks bouncing around the town. The change of Cherry Bomb into Brewmaster's is another check in the evolution column. 

More businesses seem to want to be in this area and most of those businesses have a knack for what is right for our city. Martin Street has easily become art-central over the past year, with the addition of CAM, the VAE's move West, Raleigh Denim's Curatory, Flanders and Designbox's new storefront space. Surely, this gallery row shows that the area is growing up into an adult, out of the childish nature it had adopted for so long. Long gone are the nightclubs and here to stay are businesses with cultural relevance and unique identities. There's a personable touch to the Warehouse District.

Where it goes from here is a good question. The area continues to have so much potential and there are so many open buildings, parking lots and green space. Add a music venue, a train station and a renovation of Nash Square and the Warehouse District could become one of the highest sought after locations in all of North Carolina. 

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