Decades-old Raleigh music venue to be torn down

The Brewery, at 3009 Hillsborough St., had already closed its doors Sunday, after more than 28 years in business. No one could be reached for comment there.

According to The Brewery's website, acts have been booked into November. It wasn't clear whether those shows would be canceled or relocated.

The neighboring Katmandu bar and Time Out restaurant will also be torn down in the coming weeks, city officials said. 

The demolition is part of an ongoing revitalization effort on Hillsborough Street, which neighbors North Carolina State University's campus. Roundabouts were built last spring to make the busy thoroughfare more pedestrian-friendly and now city leaders are paving the way for plans to bring in a new retail venue with a flagship Kerr Drugs store.

Those proposals, which would require zoning changes, are in the hands of the city's planning commission, Mayor Charles Meeker said. He said he expects that they'll go before city council in early September.

"I haven't been to The Brewery in years, so to me, it's a good change," Meeker said, "We hoped there would be a good deal of redevelopment on Hillsborough Street after the recent pedestrian project was put in with the roundabouts. Now we're starting to see that."

Across the street, managers of the East Village Grill are giving the restaurant a facelift before students return for North Carolina State University's fall semester. They said they're excited for the changes on Hillsborough Street.

"From a professional side, you always like to see things have a fresh face. It's good and it's good for business," said Eric Tannery, project manager for renovations at the East Village Grill.