A new Raleigh bar opens this weekend with Christmas cheer on tap. Jolly details here
The owners behind one of Raleigh’s biggest breweries will unveil a cozy new bar connecting downtown and Hillsborough Street.
In the spot on Morgan Street where the road starts to curve, the owners of Trophy Brewing bought a trio of small cottages. The first project, The Bend Bar, will open Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m.
Bend Bar
The Bend Bar opens as Trophy’s version of the ideal neighborhood spot. Built around a curved horseshoe bar flanked by couches and tables, The Bend Bar looks ready to be lived in.
“It’s always been important for us to live in that third place between home and work,” said Chris Powers, who co-owns Trophy with David Meeker, Woody Lockwood, Les Stewart and Rebecca Couch.
The Bend Bar has 10 taps, which will mostly serve craft beer, at least one cheap lager, one wine and a cocktail.
The curved bar has been made to look like a vintage stereo speaker covered with beige mesh.
Outside, Bend Bar has a sprawling porch and backyard, with a view of downtown skyscrapers, backing up to the train tracks.
Powers said the small houses have lived several lives before Trophy took them over, operating as a rental home, a church and a vintage store. Trophy bought the property two and a half years ago for a little more than $1 million, then undertook an extensive preservation.
“We wanted to breathe new life into these old buildings,” Powers said.
State of Beer relocating
That new life will include a relocating of Trophy’s beloved bottle shop State of Beer, which will share a porch with The Bend Bar.
The new State of Beer is still a few weeks off and expects to open in early 2025, but most of the construction has already been completed. The current State of Beer on Hillsborough Street will remain open until at least 2026.
Fans of State of Beer will find a familiar format in the new space, which remains a beer bar, bottle shop and sandwich bar. There are 12 draft lines, a wall of beer coolers and a smaller but selective retail floor for wine and beer.
New for State of Beer is an actual full service kitchen and fryers. That means fries will be on the menu and a burger, plus the usual roster of sandwiches.
Trophy said a joint grand opening party for Bend Bar and State of Beer will be held early next year.
The third bungalow
Once the bars are open, the third house will get its renovation. Powers said the space will likely be used for private events.
Another Trophy in the case
Beyond the Bend Bar and State of Beer, Trophy is about to embark on its largest project yet, Trophy Five Points. The 23,000 space at 205 Bickett Rd in Raleigh will undergo construction next year for an opening in 2026.
