But the Third Place’s heavily caffeinated hipster patrons got a front-row seat to Helms’ funeral in Five Points on Tuesday, peering at the procession over the pages of a William Styron novel or puffing Camel smoke at the Secret Service agents.

“I think we should all practice surrounding the church in love,” said Jill Marie, the Third Place owner’s, who also teaches yoga. “We should just sit in a circle and sing Beatles songs.”

Raleigh’s Hayes Barton neighborhood stands among the city’s most grand and well-to-do. It is well-known as Helms territory, from his longtime home on Caswell Street to the Five Points Service Center that worked on his Oldsmobile.

But a short stretch of Glenwood Avenue includes some hostile territory Helms-wise. Between the Third Place and Lilly’s Pizza next door, there wasn’t a single moist eye Tuesday, and patrons radiated their distaste for Helms up the block toward Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where mourners climbed the steps.

“My grandmother said he talked like he had a mouth full of grits and he was a stain on the state of North Carolina,” said Julia Henderson, 31, an artist seated outside at Lilly’s.

Stretch sedans bearing high-ranking political friends of Helms rolled past, and Secret Service agents walked through both businesses.

At one point, a Lilly’s chef walked into the middle of the street and marched toward the church.

“I’m going down there,” she said. “Come on, let’s walk down there. We’ve even got black aprons. You ready? Let’s go. I’m going. I’m going. I’m going.”

Then she stopped and turned around, grinning. “I’m scared.”

As the funeral started, Henderson walked down the sidewalk to get a peek.

“I’ve got to see the hearse,” she said. “For Grandma.”