South Glenwood's Nightlife Area Gets National Attention

The New York Times

ranked Raleigh's Glenwood South area as the place to be and the place to be seen.

People who frequent Glenwood South say that after 10 p.m., the place comes to life. With 10 restaurants and another 10 nightclubs, it's an example of downtown revitalization that's building on its success.

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"It looks like New York City," said business owner Dean Ogan.

Ogan co-owns three restaurants along the strip that turns into a bustling thoroughfare after dark. He said trains and warehouses mainly occupied the northwest section of Raleigh when he opened his businesses there five years ago. It was risky business back then. Now, he said it's a worthwhile investment.

"For three years running, we had double-digit increases, as far as just sales count," he said.

Glenwood South is no longer a secret. The strip's high-end restaurants, bars and condos, mixed with a fitness center and eclectic furniture stores, are now in the national spotlight. Nicole and Ben Hudson recently moved there from Vegas.

"This seems to be where the heart of the nightlife is," said Nicole Hudson.

"It means a lot, in terms of reinvestment," said Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.

Meeker said that in terms of dollars and cents, the businesses along Glenwood South account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue. He believes there's still room to grow.

"What you're going to see is the residential components filling around it," said Meeker. "It's such a nice place to be at night. People are going to want to live nearby. That's the reason we're seeing condos and apartment projects approved right nearby."

This place isn't done growing. There are at least five projects -- three of which are condos -- either on the drawing board or approved. Beyond that, the Mayor said that once the Fayetteville Street Mall opens to traffic, he hopes the energy from Glenwood South extends that way.