The Exchange Raleigh signs first Midtown tenant. Hint: It’s already a local favorite.
One of Raleigh’s coziest coffee shops is branching out with a second location.
And it’s going big.
WRK by The Optimist is coming to The Exchange Raleigh, the billion-dollar mixed-use project under construction in Midtown.
The coffee shop is the first tenant to join, and will be in the lobby at 1000 Social, the flagship 12-story office tower inside the 40-acre development by Raleigh-based Dewitt Carolinas.
Once complete, it will feature four acres of green space, up to 990,000 square feet of office space, up to 1,275 residential units, 300 hotel rooms, and 125,000 square feet of retail and dining.
The tower is slated to open in April 2024. WRK by The Optimist is expected to launch in June.
From the owners of The Optimist tucked in Raleigh’s historic Oakwood District, the new 2,191-square-foot space aims to elicit the same “warm-and-welcoming” vibe in Midtown. It will cater to future residents and office tenants with a “work-away-from-work” setting.
Think homey, plant-filled interiors, and lots of light. The space will also feature a 1,800-square-foot garden courtyard, with sweeping views of The Exchange’s four-acre park.
Guests can expect the same coffee and espresso drinks sourced from local vendors like Black & White Coffee Roasters. Breakfast and lunch items, such as pastries and baked goods from Blue Ox Bakery, Michael’s English Muffins, and Boulted Bread, will also be on the menu.
“We chose The Exchange because their vision was in line with ours,” said The Optimist co-founder Andrew Ward.
That includes a desire to protect the “heart and soul of Raleigh,” he added, during its growth and expansion. “We’re honored to be a part of this project and even more ingrained in this incredible city.”
Dewitt Carolinas asset manager Tommy Saieed welcomed its first signing to the project.
“It’s going to be a terrific amenity for the office tenants, future residents and the surrounding neighborhood,” he said.
WRK by The Optimist will be open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
