Monday, November 19, 2007

Gossip

Kings, Hatem and Downtown

Today we have news unfit for print, but it will surely be fine for RSS. The following are some recently collected rumors, please take them as such.

Downtown dreams come true? We had an unbridled certainty that Kings would return downtown sooner rather than later.  The latest twist in that tale involves the Raleigh rock Mecca reopening in the troubled Martin Street Downtown Music Hall (311 14 W. Martin St).  The word is that the hipster anchor will occupy all three floors of the space.

Mediterranean lunch. Neomonde, the hidden Lebanese treasure, may be opening a downtown location in an Empire properties space on Wilmington. The first floor of Helig Levine building? 

Raleigh’s middle aged women may weep. Speaking of Empire and Neomonde’s; Empire’s president Greg Hatem was seen with the lovely Samantha Smith at the Deli tasting what looked to be wedding fare. Are the urban love birds tying the knot? It wouldn’t be unlikely as Greg is of Lebanese descent and so are the Neomonde proprietors. 

Dot Com downtown. LuLu has begun demolition/construction on the Yellow Bulldozer building on Hillsborough Street - we anticipate the revival of this part of the University area.

Share your rumors at

  • RaleighRob11/19 12:16 PM

    I’m not familiar with this Music Hall you mention...is that 311 East Martin or 311 West Martin???

  • Betsy11/20 09:40 AM

    Why wouldn’t the men weep?—Samantha is quite a catch.

  • brian_M11/20 01:25 PM

    And v.v., Betsy.  smile

    Awesome news(?) about Neomonde. I think that space for Kings(?) is in the Capital Club building or right beside it...sort of where McCrory’s used to be.

  • David11/20 03:40 PM

    14 W. Martin Street- is called the Downtown Music Hall - its “Alibi Bar” (formerly Lizzies) on the first floor and the third is a large room with a big bar and stage. 

    I agree Samantha is a catch for sure. Maybe Greg’s money is what has the women weeping.

  • john b11/26 02:32 PM

    now if they could only get the great coverup going for this year i’d be happy.

  • That Girl06/16 01:55 PM

    I can confirm that Greg is getting married.  A postcard was sent to friends and business colleagues with the message that “Hell has Frozen Over” as the ultimate bachelor marries.

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