Carey Kidd is a known MAGA asshat. His businesses’ decline can probably stem directly from more informed people learning that and avoiding supporting his BS.
I like element, their food is good but I don’t understand how there’s a dedicated Vegan restaurant in Downtown Raleigh with such a prime location. I’ve probably gone there 3-4 different times and gotten takeout probably another 3-4 different times. Part of the reason I like it is that it’s not often busy.
When I was down in Fayetteville last year, I saw Vibe Gastropub and wondered how it sustained itself for similar reasons. I feel like the Vegan insecurity of not eating hearty meals, encourages these gastropubs in the hopes of broadening demand for Veganism.
But I think there is some truth to the idea that downtown is struggling right now. I have felt fewer festivals this year than past. I have heard more about shootings, suicide attempts, and generalized disorder this year than last. I do think that we face macro-economic trends that mean that more people are struggling. I do think that we are in a transition away from office and towards residential. I do worry though about residential being at odds with the people and places that have been downtown for a long time.
I have long term hope for the future, but I do believe we’re struggling right now.
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“If it bleeds, it leads” - nothing you hear on the news can disprove the FACT that- statistically - violent crime is DECLINING. It’s simply a fact. Violent crime, per capita, is DOWN in Raleigh.
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Also, he serves Vegan food (I’m pescatarian and I eat it!) but I can’t imagine there’s a ton of demand anyway. 
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Some thoughts and ideas:
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I would program Moore Square, City Plaza and Fayetteville Street almost every day from March through November.
Not giant festivals.
Small things: exercise classes, children’s activities, chess, lunch markets, outdoor work areas, food kiosks, live music, art demonstrations and sports viewing.
A park occupied by 300 families, workers, shoppers and diners behaves very differently from a park occupied by 30 people.
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Create a Raleigh version of “Office to anything” – Washington, D.C. created an Office to Anything program allowing obsolete offices to become hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment and other uses, using long-term tax incentives. Boston went even further with its office-to-residential conversion program, which has already generated a pipeline exceeding 1,500 homes. I’d like to see Raleigh deploy a similar model for the Fayetteville St/ downtown Core area that is very aggressive and really brings in quality development opportunities. Mayor Bowser Launches “Office to Anything” Program to Activate Vacant and Underutilized Office Spaces into New Commercial Uses | DC
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Closing the Wilmington tunnel is a reasonable immediate measure, but fencing by itself will not solve the problem.
The next station renovation should incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental design and re-think and implement a new way for riders to experience alternative transportation to maximize ridership and decrease public safety issues on the bus, in the terminal, and around the station.
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Bring back Dreamville, Blue Grass Festival, etc. This brings in high quality tourism, downtown community, and ultimately builds tradition for the City. For example, the Stanley Cup parade was the largest single city wide engagement I have ever seen (and attended) - we have momentum and a community begging to be a part of the City. It must be safe, activated, and predictable.
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Make criminal activity in the downtown core very uncomfortable. Drug dealing, assaults, harassment, pan handling activity should carry immediate fines and heaver penalties based on location and on-going costs. Yes, this puts more pressure on the police - but it also creates a zero tolerance environment that makes operating criminally extremely uncomfortable and risky. I would not categorize our current police force as zero tolerance.
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A streetcar line between the Auditorium and Seaboard Station development would be nice and could boost tourism, although it would have to be battery-powered to avoid adding overhead lines to Fayetteville St.
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Watch out for those Mercury levels 
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I think the issue boils down to the fact that a great many people don’t think that Downtown Raleigh offers anything that they can’t get more easily elsewhere. Because there is not a strong draw, people let issues like the hassle of parking or negative stories about safety keep them away. Why deal with that?
I support downtown and I work here and am here almost every weekday, but I don’t often choose to come (for instance on the weekend) b/c there is no reason to outside of occasional large events.
Love it or hate it, there isn’t really another scene like Glenwood South in the area, so it continues to attract people despite the challenges.
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I think this gets to the heart of the issue. Parking and safety absolutely matter, but they become much bigger barriers when people already feel like there isn’t a compelling reason to come downtown in the first place.
Downtown Raleigh needs more than occasional events and a collection of restaurants and offices. It needs destinations and experiences that are difficult to replicate elsewhere ie. family-friendly attractions, entertainment, retail, nightlife, public spaces, cultural venues, and clusters of businesses that give people a reason to spend several hours downtown instead of making one stop and leaving.
Glenwood South is a good example. People may complain about parking, traffic, noise, or other issues, but it still draws crowds because it has a clearly defined identity and offers an experience people associate specifically with that area.
I also think we frequently use the wrong comparison when discussing crime and safety. We hear that Raleigh is safer than other cities of a similar size, and statistically that may be true, but that is not necessarily how residents are making their decisions.
Someone deciding where to go Saturday night isn’t asking, “Is Downtown Raleigh safer than downtown Charlotte, Atlanta, or another city?” They’re comparing the places available to them right here: Downtown Raleigh vs. North Hills vs. the Village District vs. Cary vs. Glenwood South.
If someone routinely sees disorder, aggressive behavior, open drug use, property crime, or other safety issues concentrated in a particular downtown node, while they don’t experience those things to the same degree at competing destinations 10–20 minutes away, that’s the comparison that influences their behavior. A citywide crime statistic doesn’t erase what someone experiences walking from a parking deck to a restaurant.
That’s why simply pointing out that Raleigh is statistically safer than other cities can miss the larger economic-development issue. Downtown isn’t competing against other downtowns for most local residents…it is competing against other entertainment, dining, shopping, and social nodes within the Triangle. Perception and experience at those individual destinations matter enormously.
Improving safety and cleanliness is essential, but ultimately Raleigh also has to answer a very basic question for residents:
“Why should I go downtown this weekend instead of North Hills, the Village District, Cary, Glenwood South, or somewhere else?”
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Just saying… Kings, Neptunes, and the Pour House regularly have shows going on - both local and touring bands - that generally cost no more than $20 to get in.
There is stuff to do, most people are just lame and only go see a show if it’s a $200 PNC Arena pop act. What Raleigh actually needs is cooler people that actually want to do cool shit lol
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You should run for mayor with this slogan
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Eric Stone of White Lodging gave an update on the Sheraton to Westin conversion this afternoon. Renderings to be coming out soon, but the exterior facade is getting some changes (in additional the major overhaul of the interior and addition of 3,500 SF of ballroom space). Additionally, they mentioned a planned enhancement to the main arrival door being moved to Fayetteville Street (currently at Salisbury) and bringing in a restaurant for the signature corner location that will further activate the ground floor.
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Is that where the Jimmy V’s currently is? Always thought it was fine, but a great space that could be better utilized - especially with the lack of a true sports bar on Fayetteville St.
As long as the exterior changes aren’t covering up the brick with faux stucco or something, then I’ll be optimistic…
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I disagree. Anytime you can turn a dated old building like this:
Into something modern (and gorgeous) like this:
I think that’s a win. I hope the Sheraton looks very similar. 
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I think this is going to become increasingly important as AI changes white collar work. I would think the commercial real estate bros would see the writing on the wall and start innovating, but it seems many of them are taking the path of fossil fuel barons.
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From the perspective of north Raleigh OTB, I agree that downtown has significant competition aside from the big venues like Red Hat and Meymandi. (Even those will eventually have competition from the development at the Lenovo arena.) North Hills, downtown Cary, and downtown Durham (reachable in not much longer than it takes to get to DTR), and even the strip shopping centers (e.g. Bloomsbury Bistro) offer alternatives. If all DTR offers is a restaurant and bar scene, those can be replicated easily elsewhere.
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I think East End/Iron Works/Bowstring/McNeil Pointe is a big draw for a good amount of people from the northern half of ITB and above that may have went downtown more before. Also, I had the same experience at Element. $20 for a salad on the small side and a soda for lunch. That was 3-4 years ago when it opened, so it was relatively more expensive then and didn’t taste any better than less expensive options in the area, imo.
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Work has begun on the streetscape improvement project.
“Our Street Maintenance team is modifying seven horizontal planters to create more space for outdoor seating and activation. More improvements are on the way.”
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This is great news! Glad to see progress.
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