Kings Barcade Reopening on Martin Street This Summer

March, 23, 2010 , by Jedidiah

The past few weeks have been a fluster of chatter about Kings returning and we can finally put all the talk to rest. Kings will reopen this summer on Martin Street in the three story space that previously held Martin Street Music Hall, Alibi and Martin Street Pizza. The Music Hall has been closed for a few years, Alibi’s last night in operation was a few weeks ago and Martin Street Pizza closed last week.

The reincarnated Kings will consist of a bar downstairs in the former Alibi space, a restaurant on the street level and the music venue will be on the upper floor. Grayson Currin, over at the IndyWeek, reports that owners Ben Barwick, Steve Popson and Paul Siler - and a new partner, Cheetie Kumar, signed a 10-year lease on the property last Wednesday.

As Currin mentions, Kings spawned a large number of the bands that have gained more national recognition over the past few years since Kings closed including Megafaun, Birds of Avalon, Heads on Sticks, Bowerbirds and more. Raleigh’s music scene has suffered a bit since Kings, Bickett and even Martin Street Music Hall closed. A few places like Tir Na Nog, Slim’s, Lincoln Theatre, The Pour House and Berkeley Cafe have tried to fill the space left by their absence, but Raleigh hasn’t seemed to have as many nationally touring independent and hip-hop acts coming through the area. Most of them stick to the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area.

Kings reopening in a more central location in Downtown Raleigh, a half of a block off of Fayetteville Street, will be a great addition to downtown as a whole, not only the music scene. Each of the owners have been in the area and have taken their time to reopen the venue after it closed in April 2007, therefore a good amount of care will be put into insuring that the restaurant, bar and music venue will thrive. This also gives another downtown music venue for all of the festivals that will happen in the fall, Hopscotch, musicSPARK, and Cherry Bounce.

With the “Boutique Amphitheater” also opening this summer and the Progress Energy Center focusing a bit more on single musical and entertainment acts rather than off-Broadway shows, Raleigh’s music scene may see a resurgence in a way that will have a handful of other cities in the state and throughout the South looking our way.

Can we have Oak City Nights back on the first night please?

Read the full article over at the Indy and more to come from Currin on Wednesday.

Death of Kings Video Short

Kings sign photo by abbyladybug

See the Kings Barcade page.

Music , Other posts by Jedidiah.