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Friday, June 10, 2016
North Raleigh cubicle drones suffering from a case of the Mondays next week will have available to them a delicious remedy: the new Burger 21 at the Falls of the Ridge shopping center will be opening its doors for the first time.
We first reported on the build-out of Raleigh’s first Burger 21 franchise in early March, and it looks like Dennis Smith Contractors was able to turn this one around pretty quick.
For those who, like myself, had never heard of this chain before, here’s a quick summary c/o of the news release:
Burger 21 is a chef-inspired brand with offerings including 21 unique burger creations ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef® to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-crafted shakes, floats and sundaes.
So it was odd this week to see another permit listed for its location at 6916 Falls of Neuse Road, but as it turned out, the “permit” was just an ABC Inspection, which we’ve heard isn’t actually as easy as one, two, three. With nothing better to do, I figured I’d scope the place out.
James Borden
Burger 21 will open on Monday, June 13
As you can see, it looks about ready to open. There were even a few uniformed employees walking into the place when I was out there on Thursday, but it wasn’t open to the public. When I called later they told me it would be opening this coming Monday, June 13, which means they probably passed their ABC licensing inspection. Although it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to have beer, liquor or wine in a place that offers a shake bar. Catering to that crucial wino demographic, I suppose.
Burger 21
Who in their right mind would pass this up for a Miller Lite?
Two other restaurants underwent ABC Inspections last week as well, including Sopranos Food & Spirits out on New Bern Avenue and some place called FuBar Raleigh.
FuBar’s address on the permits was listed as 2910 Hillsborough Street, right next to the Hangover Grill and Marco’s Pizza. But unlike Burger 21, which looks more than ready to open on Monday, FuBar looks, well, FUBAR: there’s no signage, and the storefront is completely boarded up.
FuBar was a bar/nightclub that used to operate out of a space at 412 West Davie Street. Here’s my favorite review of the place, c/o Foursquare:
FuBar will be located right across the street from the Stanhope Apartments, which if you think about it is pretty brilliant. An old listing for the club back it was located on Davie Street described its admittance policy as “18 to Party & 21 to Drink!” I lived within walking distance of a place like that my freshman year of college. I only went a few times, and it was pretty much exactly what you’d expect; complete degeneracy.
But if it had been right across the street from me though, I’m pretty sure I’d have been out there every weekend, desperately trying to meet the wrong kind of women.
A more recent listing online for FuBar actually listed it as being open, so I called to find out if there was maybe a secret entrance and did they think a bunch of 18-21 year olds would be creeped out by a 33 year-old dude coming out to the club. It turns out the place won’t be opening until next Thursday, June 16. And yes, they would be. Oh well.
James Borden
The future home of FuBar
Two existing Raleigh restaurants received renovation permits last week: Biscuitville and Player’s Retreat.
Biscuitville, located at 2426 Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh, will be undergoing a $16,170 renovation that will involve an “Infill Wall Opening & Provide New Exterior Door.” The job will be handled by Qualified Builders.
James Borden
The crane in the background is for an unrelated project, but I thought it was a cool shot
Player’s Retreat, a Hillsborough Street institution technically located at 105 Oberlin Road & a place that I finally made my way out to just a few weeks back, will be undergoing a much larger, $230,000 renovation. The work is described on the permits as involving the “Interior Alteration Of Kitchen Area And Adding Support For New Units On Existing Platform.”
Hopefully this work doesn’t affect the grill they use to create some of the best burgers in Raleigh, but we imagine Benjamin Hale Builders know what they’re doing. I wonder if the contractors who work on restaurant jobs like this ever got comped meals or anything. That’d be one heck of a perk.
James Borden
Player’s Retreat
Also receiving renovation permits last week:
- The offices of Manning Fulton at 3605 Glenwood, which will be undergoing interior renovations totaling $483,941. Riley-Lewis, a company that we’re pretty sure specializes in jobs like this, will be handling the work.
- The Crossroads Commons Apartments out on Crossroads Arbor Way in Southwest Raleigh, located just outside the beltline off Jones Franklin Road, will be undergoing what appears to be $115,000 worth of shingle roof repairs, work that will be done by GDE Renovations
- A unit at the Fox Ridge Manor apartments in South Raleigh off Rock Quarry Road is set to undergo $6,000 worth of renovations due to a car hitting the building. David Bresnahar will be doing the repairs, which are described thusly on the permits: “Car Hit Bldg Through Apt Unit Window Area. Reframing/Repair Wall/Window, Electrical Outlet, Insulation, New Front Door & Finish Work. Leon Skinner Is Aware Of Project.” We have no idea who Leon Skinner is, but we’re glad he’s aware of this project.
