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Sep
12
19th Hole (In the Wall)
Written by S. Beaumont and filed under Editorial, Food and Beverage
Hole-in-the-wall bars are special places. They’re not hip or trendy and they usually aren’t even the best at what they do. What they lack however is usually what makes them great. The definition or qualifying characteristics of a hole-in-the-wall or dive bar can vary widely from patron to patron, but here are a few common characteristics that set if off for me:
- at least one sketchy guy at the bar that probably shouldn’t have had those last 3 Budweisers
- a small contingency of locals who are way too eager to protect their local hangout with menacing glares capable of penetrating the thickest of second-hand smoke clouds
- a physical location that leaves you wondering – how many beers did it take to decide that this was a good place for a bar?
- decorations that resembles your dorm room without the attention to detail, and
- either a rough-around-the-edges “lifer” behind the bar or a 30-something with an English degree holding out for a job to in middle management
A recent excursion to the 19th Hole bar and grill in the Lake Boone Shopping Center is to blame for this trip down dive bar lane, and it also left me wracking my brain for other notable hole-in-the-wall bars throughout Raleigh. A few that come to mind:
- The Player’s Retreat (Hillsborough St.)
- O’Malleys Tavern (Glenwood)
- Ruckus Pizza (Mission Valley)
- 19th Hole (Lake Boone)
- Crowleys (Creedmoor)
- Goat Bar (Western Blvd)
I’m sure I’ve missed several. Dust away the cobwebs and help me finish off the list…
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6 Responses to “19th Hole (In the Wall)”
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Local Businesses Wanted:
The Office Tavern on Johnson St between St. Mary’s and Boylan…
Slims (Wilmington Street)
I may very well be the “sketchy guy at the bar” at Ruckus
Re: sketchy guy at the bar — yeah, I’ve definitely played that role a time or two myself.
Re: Slims — Just saw this in the headlines: “Slim’s Downtown Distillery, located at 227 South Wilmington Street in Raleigh, will hold a benefit concert benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Sept. 23 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Donations will be collected at the door and 100 percent of the proceeds raised at the concert will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guests attending the event will include survivors of leukemia and lymphoma, triangle community members and volunteers for the cause.
Local bands include The Motion, Dakota Darling, Silver and Man in the Shower are schedule to play at the event. Free parking will be provided at the Morgan Street parking deck located downtown Raleigh.
For more information, contact Ryan Coyle at rcoyle@healthdec.com
Don’t know if this really counts as a hole in the wall since they’re a brewery, but Horniblow’s Tavern at Big Boss Brewing Company has that same hole in the wall feel.
Plus they make great beer (watch out for the higher alcohol beers, as you cannot taste the booze in them and they will catch up to you)!
Crowley’s on Medlin