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Busy Bee is closing, new concept moving in

Before Busy Bee closes, it will be celebrating will special keg releases from the cellar throughout the month.

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Busy Bee Cafe
RALEIGH, N.C.Busy Bee Cafe and its upstairs concept Mash and Lauter will close on Jan. 1 to make way for the new concept Trophy Chicken and Taproom.

It is fitting since the restaurants are owned by the same guys who brought you Trophy Brewing Company and State of Beer.

"Busy Bee is about to be 8 years old and we were thinking a lot about the future and what we will be focusing on where we see the growth coming from. We think Trophy is where we want to be focused. Craft beer has always been the base of our business," co-owner Chris Powers said.

Trophy Chicken will offer mostly Trophy beer (and a few other favorites) and a menu of rotisserie chickens and meats, tacos and sides (but not tater tots). The goal was to "streamline what we do and make it smaller and more focused," Powers said.

After doing research into what kind of food paired the best with beer, Powers said they kept coming back to rotisserie chicken. Chefs are coming up with their own marinade and brine, in addition to some secret seasoning recipes. So, don't expect traditional grocery store rotisserie chicken.

Before Busy Bee closes, it will be celebrating will special keg releases from the cellar throughout the month. On Jan. 1, Busy Bee will hold its annual Hangover Brunch before closing its doors. Construction on Trophy Chicken will begin the next day. Powers expects it to take about two weeks for crews to renovate the kitchen and draft system, including putting in all new draft equipment.

Trophy Chicken is hoping to open by the end of January.

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