Popular bar, gift & wine shop in downtown Raleigh will close storefront after 12 years
The Green Monkey, a popular LGBTQ+ gift and wine shop and bar in downtown Raleigh, is closing its storefront after 12 years.
The Wilmington Street establishment announced the news Thursday, Feb. 13, online and on its social media.
“Thank you for the love, laughs, and memories,” co-owners Rusty Sutton and Andrew Temple wrote in a blog post. “We’ve loved connecting with each of you. ... The Green Monkey has been more than just a shop — it’s been a place for connection, joy, and community.”
Sutton declined to be interviewed for this story.
Here’s what we know about the brick-and-mortar’s closure.
When will be The Green Monkey’s last day?
The Green Monkey, located at 215 S. Wilmington St., will celebrate its last day Saturday, March 15.
However, customers will still be able to shop “quirky and edgy gifts” online at greenmonkeyraleigh.com and in person at area stores after March 15.
Select events including Trivia Wednesdays and Hell Yeah I Have Bingo Saturdays will be held at Libations 317 in April. The craft cocktail bar and bistro on West Morgan Street will also have a small retail area for The Green Monkey’s inventory.
And Green Monkey fans can find the business at local festivals and pop-ups, according to the blog.
They’ve been great advocates and partners for the downtown area, said Bill King, CEO and president of Downtown Raleigh Alliance. It’s his hope The Green Monkey will continue to work with the alliance and others to keep pushing for downtown’s success.
“We had a good year in downtown in 2024 with economic data in terms of growth, but in the core of downtown, we’re still not all the way back to where we were pre-COVID,” King said. “It’s still a fragile ecosystem for small, locally owned businesses that need a lot of support.”
A downtown Raleigh establishment for over a decade
The Green Monkey was founded in October 2013 on Hillsborough Street, and it moved to Wilmington Street in 2023, The News & Observer previously reported.
“There’s way more traffic down here and a lot of good energy,” he told The N&O at the time.
According to The Green Monkey’s website, the Hillsborough Street property was acquired by a new owner who “made changes that weren’t in our best interest,” including changes to parking. The Wilmington Street location offered more and cheaper parking and a dedicated event space, along with a private courtyard.
However, last year, when Raleigh was considering closing a block of South Street to build a new Red Hat Amphitheater, Sutton was among the business owners who spoke to The N&O in support of a plan that would ensure the event venue — which attracted customers who also supported smaller, independent businesses — stays viable.
“We are just managing to stay afloat,“ Sutton said. “Now we are facing the possibility of losing one of our bright spots.”
The Green Monkey is the latest downtown Raleigh business to close in recent months. For example, the discount chain Dollar General closed its East Davie Street store, the chain’s only location in the Raleigh area that sold fresh produce.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM.
