Where Raleigh’s Village District will now let you drink outdoors or while shopping
People will now be able to grab a beer or alcoholic beverage while shopping in parts of the Village District.
The shopping center, about a mile from downtown Raleigh, unveiled a new Sip n’ Shop drinking area, albeit a scaled-back version from what it originally planned.
“We first looked into a social district, but after listening to community feedback, we decided at this point that a common area entertainment permit made more sense,” said Brooke Conn, general manager of the Village District, formerly known as Cameron Village.
“It gives us more control over where and how Sip n’ Shop operates, so we can tailor it to fit the atmosphere and spirit of the district,” she said.
The Village District, owned by Regency Centers, applied to the city last fall for a social district that stretched across some public streets to connect to multiple shopping center buildings.
City leaders asked for community input, WRAL reported, and some community members said it would create additional problems for neighbors who already live near Glenwood South, the popular nightlife area downtown.
The social district idea never came back to city leaders, and the application for the district was pulled.
Instead, Regency Center applied for a Common Area Entertainment Permit, issued by the ABC Commission. This allows drinking in common areas owned by the same property owners without crossing into public spaces.
“For anyone still unsure, we want to be clear: this isn’t just about adding something trendy,” Conn said. “We want to set the bar for how to create a responsible, well-run experience that brings value to the neighborhood and supports our local businesses. Most importantly, we want to make sure we do it right.”
What are the Sip n’ Shop boundaries?
The property is bounded by Cameron Street, Woodburn Road and Clark Avenue. It stops at the building that houses Cantina 18 and CAVA, and doesn’t extend to the apartments that border Oberlin Road. That means it doesn’t include the building that houses the Oberlin Library or the buildings that house the Village Deli and Harris Teeter.
What are the hours of operation for the drinking district?
People 21 years old or older can drink alcoholic beverages daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Which Village District businesses are participating in the Sip n’ Shop?
People can buy alcoholic beverages from
- Ajisai
- Cantina 18
- Cape Fear Seafood
- Flying Biscuit Cafe
- Piccola Italia
- Postino
- Shake Shack
- Winestore
People can take the alcoholic beverages into:
- Arrow
- Alton Lane
- Ballard Designs
- Bassett Furniture
- Copper Penny
- Fab’rik
- Great Outdoor Provision Co.
- If It’s Paper
- Kannon’s Men
- Light Years Jewelry
- Nest Interiors
- Noodle & Co.
- Madison
- Opulence of Southern Pines and Duxiana
- Onward Reserve
- Tin Roof Tea
- Sephora
- The Shade Store
- Steven Shell Living
- Tiff’s Treats
- Uniquities
- Woofgang
Which businesses are not participating in the Sip n’ Shop?
Corepower Yoga, Kannon’s Women, Barnes & Noble, Goodnights Comedy Club, Cheshire Cat, Goodberry’s, CAVA, Chopt, Rowan, Village Draft House, Starbucks and Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.
How is this different from downtown Raleigh’s Sip n’ Stroll district?
Downtown’s Sip n’ Stroll social district is much larger and spans several public streets.
The boundaries of an official social district must be approved by the Raleigh City Council.
There are no other social drinking districts in Raleigh and no requests for a new social district.
Do other local shopping destinations have drinking areas?
Yes, North Hills in Raleigh and Fenton in Cary both have common area entertainment permits.
This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM.
