Published November 4, 2023
Homegrown Hot Take: Ode To A Changing City
It's confession time. I'm laying it all out on the table. At the top of this newsletter, you'll see a banner that says "Voted Best Realtor in Durham County". The truth is, I was ONCE voted the best Realtor in Durham County by the Indy Weekly. In 2020. Hard to believe it's been so long since I claimed the title, but I believe that once you're voted the Best Realtor in Durham County, you're ALWAYS the Best Realtor in Durham County. Confession #2 - Even though I live, work, and play in Durham and most of my marketing and branding is about Durham:
*deep breath* I'm from Raleigh.
Yes, Raleigh is the city that shaped and molded me. The city that offered so many of the core memories we hold onto from our young adult and teenage years. It was the black pavement of Raleigh's K-Mart parking lots where I spent my time. Twas the vast wilderness of the Northern suburbs that captured my imagination as a young boy. The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich of Buffalo Cafe on Creedmore Rd contributed to my refined palette. Yes, when I rep the 919 it's for #oakcity baby.
Confession #3 - I'm originally from New Jersey. My family was part of the great Nor'easter migration of the mid-90s and we settled first in Cary, then North Raleigh in 1996. We were part of the OG relocated Yankees that Cary is now famous for. If you know, you know. I know that's the biggest shocker of all, so we can just skip right over that one.
An ode to a changing city
On one of many trips down the mountain from Boone to visit family back in Raleigh at the wise age of 21, I went downtown to check out the newest, hottest district: Glenwood South. I was outside of a bar that was located in an old house. That right there was already the coolest thing I'd ever seen in Raleigh. I got to talking to a guy who casually asked me where I was from. At that time it was just assumed if you were OUT in Raleigh, you were from FROM Raleigh. He proceeded to tell me he had just transplanted from Washington DC and taken a job at Red Cap or some company I never heard of and was really diggin' the vibe. Maybe I'd been in the Mountains for too long but this new lingo was lost on me. I had no idea what this guy was talking about, but the sentiment I was getting was that somehow Raleigh was becoming...Cool?
It's weird to grow up in a city that was decidedly very uncool and watch it transform. If you can believe it, for a long time nothing was going on in downtown Raleigh. There were hardly any bars or restaurants on Fayetteville St. Glenwood South didn't exist. Hillsborough St was probably the most happening place and it didn't have a single building above 2 or 3 stories. Don't get me started on North Raleigh. It was a landscape dominated by chain restaurants with a smattering of local hangouts, some of which are still in business. Shoutout to New York Bagel & Deli and Rudino's Rooftop, two former employers of mine.
Mixed Emotions
Nowadays going to downtown Raleigh is like a scavenger hunt for me. I'm looking for vestiges of the city I grew up in amongst all of the new and exciting things that are happening. On the one hand, it's exciting to watch Raleigh mature into a real city and at the same time, sad when I see another landmark disappear. This weekend marked the final service at The Berkley Cafe in its current location. There was a time when the Berkeley Cafe was an actual music venue. There was also a time when I got on stage and rapped "Gin and Juice" with Raleigh's premier amateur rock group of the time, Bug. I'm pretty sure there's a recording of that epic performance floating around somewhere. It made me sad when The Velvet Cloak Inn came down., although; it was very cool to watch. I was bummed to hear that Humble Pie shuttered its doors. RIP Sub Conscious. Speaking of Sub Conscious, how about them roundabouts on Hillsborough St.? I know it's been several years since they've been installed, yet they get me every time.
There are a million great restaurants and bars and coffee shops now and by and large that's a good thing. However; next time you go downtown do me a favor and support some of the OG spots that have anchored downtown Raleigh all of these years. Go grab a cup of coffee at Cup O' Joe and then shoot over to Pantana Bob's for a beer and a game of pool. Maybe a night out at Sushi Blues for old-time's sake? Definitely don't pass up a show at The Lincoln Theater and then hit Slim's for a nightcap.
Perhaps it's because I'm getting older (I'm sure it's because I'm getting older) and raising small children that I've been reflecting on my childhood a lot. My time in Raleigh was spent living in the suburbs of North Raleigh and going to school in downtown Raleigh. What they called "the inner city" back then. I've helped buyers purchase homes in neighborhoods I used to drive around as a teenager and I'm simultaneously struck with how different things are AND how familiar they feel. A few months ago I was showing houses right around Hunter Elementary School where I went for 5th grade and I texted my wife and asked, "Should we move to Raleigh?" She immediately responded, "It's probably just the nostalgia kicking in." She of course was 100% right.
Be Smart. Be Safe. Be Content. Have a wonderful find,
Cory
