228 replies to this topic

[RaleighRob]

ncwebguy, on Aug 14 2006, 04:10 PM, said:

The "40-70 year old set" is not avoiding downtown in general, just as a social destination.   They eat at Second Empire, 518, 42nd Street Oyster Bar, Sullivans, etc., maybe even have a drink.

So true!  I can't think of hardly any 20-30's aged folks that I know who can afford those restaurants hardly at all!       

(And, as much as I love the place, the Irregardless seems to be getting more and more of that age set and fewer young folks, too.)

[yoga]

^ hey us old crustys hafta play, too! Just kidding.

I love Irregardless. I love that they have live music all the time. And a decent menu, always good wines, etc. I don't think I really appreciated it until I was out of my roaring 20's - mid 30's. Then I couldn't imagine why you would want to have a conversation over a meal, much les be able to hear the person!

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

WRAL Anchor/Reporter Bill Leslie says he really enjoys 18 Seaboard:

http://html.wral.com...-report-18.html

[guy4charlotte]

DwnTwnRaleighGuy, on Aug 15 2006, 06:29 PM, said:

WRAL Anchor/Reporter Bill Leslie says he really enjoys 18 Seaboard:

http://html.wral.com...-report-18.html

Well sorry Bill but I went there for lunch with two friends and we all left feeling disappointed--the place is really beautiful but unfortunately the food was not...at least not that day.  That chilled cucumber soup everyone is raving about...hey just get a food processor and toss in a few cucumbers and you're there.  It's bland and has the consistency of applesauce.  I got the chicken salad sandwich and the bread was turning hard from staleness.  One of my friends got I think what they called oven fries as a side dish but they were greasy and, like the other items we ordered, just bland.  Maybe it was a bad day for them, or maybe lunch isn't their thing, or maybe we ordered the wrong thing.  Has anyone else been there for lunch and had really good food??? (I mean, anybody other than you Bill)

Edited by guy4charlotte, 16 August 2006 - 02:05 PM.

[ncwebguy]

There is a segment of the population that appreciates the "create your own" menu.  It is nice to see the "pizza experience" of choosing crust, sauce, and toppings applied to something more upscale than pizza, pasta (at Macaroni Grill), and burgers (Red Robin, Chilis). There are plenty of times I wanted to order a particular dish but it has one thing just not quite right -- a sauce, vegetable, or rice/potatoes/pasta choice.  I don't want to insult the chef's creation, so I settle something else.  If this is offered in conjunction with a rotating/seasonal menu of selections, there would be something for the "wow me" and "let me do my own thing" crowds.

18 Seaboard has only been open a few months, so it may be still working out some kinks.  It seems serving lunch started earlier than expected plans due to its success.  I hope the "European pub" is close to Tir Na Nog/Hibernian, but without being forced into Irish choices -- fish and chips, Shepard's pie, Guiness Stew, etc.

[DanRNC]

Hopefully the European Pub will at least at some decent German food to the menu-I can't think of one decent (if any) German restaurants around here.

[raleightransplant]

^^
Agreed.  We need some decent German food around here.  This place will serve German food.

[ncwebguy]

I drove by the backside of Seaboard on the way into work this morning.  There was a lot of activity around Capital City Grocery and the corner pub.  With so many trucks, etc. around, I didn't get too close, only took Fraklin Street to Logan nursery and looped around.  It looked like they were building the bar or other woodwork in the pub.  No signs other than "coming soon" and "now hiring" for the grocery.

Reds didn't look as happing worker wise, but I did not get close to look inside.

[ncwebguy]

I swung by there last week and noticed the following:

- Ace Hardware now has a "coming soon" banner in the space north of the wine store.  They are reconfiguring that stretch of warehouses now that the structrue of the "front" complex with 18 Seaboard, Capital City Grocery, etc. is done.
- Capital City Grocery has its storefront signs up and has a lot of shelving...  but no products on them yet.  Not sure when they plan on opening, other than "soon".
- J. Betskis (sp?) is also "closer" but not open.  They missed the "late summer" on their signs but could open soon.
- the monogram store visible as you approach along Salisbury looked full of stuff, but I didn't get too close.
- The "machine" in Pilot Mill in NorffCarolina's pics on page one of this thread is now "art".  They moved it off the parking lot and onto a median, and it is lit at night.
- Houses next to Pilot Mill are now going for $500k!  They are about 75-80% done, and are now on both sides of Blount Street near the train tracks.  The two story, 2000 sq ft+ houses with two-car, detached garages fronting alleys have been quite successful in the block north of what was Halifax Court and is now Caiptol Park.  Hopefully similar success will happen near Chavis Heights, and maybe the complex between Dawson and South Saunders along South Street.

[JTsaysToYou]

They definitly need to put a sandwich shop, or something in seaboard. I got to RCHS and the only place realtively close to there for eating is Sunflower's although Sunflower's is great, Something else would be nice too. They would have a nice student base, especially considering peace college, RCHS, and also lots of government workers who work in the archedale complex. As busy as sunflower's ALWAYS is I'm surprised there isnt another place like it!

[dmccall]

Seaboard Cafe in Logan's is great. Rick is one of the friendliest small business owners in Raleigh.

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

With this successful project, what do you think the chances are of the Progress Energy,(one block north of PE's HQ's building), mixed use project coming together for the entire city block they own? The way downtown seems to be going looks positive, I think!

[foodpainter]

FYI, here's an update from the Mordecai Listserv that's got some good info.

"Capital City Grocery and J Betski's Austrian/German
Restaurnat have had their openings delays several
weeks due to City Inspection problems with insulation
in the roof.
Flanders Art Gallery will celbrate their grand opening
this Friday, Oct 6 from 6-10pm with food and wine.
They are next door to 18 Seaboard Restaurant. They
will join Seaboard Wine Warehouse in the First Friday
Gallery openings where this month at Seaboard Wine
Oakwood's own, Madonna Phillips will open a show
"Outside/Inside" from 7-9pm featuring her mixed media
works which are inspired by her neighborhood.
Footlights Dance Boutique will also have their grand
opening this Sunday October 8 from 3-6pm. Wine and
hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Now under consturction, Seaboard Fitness and Ace
Hardware will be going in the same building as
Seaboard Wine. Their anticipated opening will be the
first of the year."

[reed]

I just heard about Seabord Fitness last week.  One of the original owners of Capital Fitness is opening this.  Will be interesting to see what he does w/ the place.

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

reed, on Oct 5 2006, 03:35 PM, said:

I just heard about Seabord Fitness last week.  One of the original owners of Capital Fitness is opening this.  Will be interesting to see what he does w/ the place.

Yeah, I doubt if this will fly to long. It is not only hard for a one store fitness club to make it in any market much less downtown where a lot of condos have there own facilities. But I guess it could be possible if the one's opening it have very, very, deep pockets.  

[ncwebguy]

It is sad that the grocery and pub don't have opening dates still...   There was some stock on the shelves a few days ago, but not opening in the immediate future.  They share a roof with Galetea (open for months) and Footlights, which has been open at least a few weeks.

As far as SeaFit (lol), Capital Fitness always drew from a population larger than the immediate Glenwood South area.  I never had a problem finding rack space for the bike.  There are plenty of other people who don't have access to fitness equipment.  Even in the  condo buildings, there is rarely more than a treadmill, eliptical trainer, a bike, and some weights.

People will pay a premium if it means not having to wait forever to get on cardio equipment, weight machines, etc.  This is the market that CapFit went after, then lost when they merged with the Spa Fitness cheapskates.  This appears to be Peak's clientele too, but time will tell.

With West at North taking most of the Glenwood location's parking spaces, Seaboard Fitness could be an appealing option.  I don't know how flush with cash these people are, but I wouldn't count them out right away.  Seaboard might give them a deal on rent since it drives traffic to the area that could shop at the wine store, ace hardware, the grocery, etc.

[dmccall]

Just heard today that the grocery and german restaurant's openings will be delayed "weeks" because of inspection failures relating to roof insulation. hmmph.

[suburban george3]

dmccall, on Oct 6 2006, 12:34 AM, said:

Just heard today that the grocery and german restaurant's openings will be delayed "weeks" because of inspection failures relating to roof insulation. hmmph.

There is a good possibility that the grocery store may open with the next week, maybe even this weekend...

[carynative]

WTVD Article  Looks like it's getting ready to open.  

[foodpainter]

Capital City Grocery opened at 2 today. It's great! I actually feared it would be Fresh-Market-ish-fancy, but it's much more user-friendly. And the prices are definitely comparable to bigger stores. Tuna steaks were priced 2 bucks less a lb than I paid at the 'Teet yesterday. Business seemed good. There's a small coffee bar in the front too which is cool.