'It's been doing really well': Raleigh's social district enters first weekend

Bartenders said so far, everything has been going smoothly.

"It's awesome," said Blair Segure, who lives in Raleigh. "It brings people downtown ... something different."

More than 70 downtown bars and restaurants are participating in the ‘Sip ‘n Stroll program.

"Right now, it's been doing really well," said Myeisha Coward, a bartender at The Bridge.

In the social district, patrons can walk with cups marked with stickers, primarily along Fayetteville Street and a handful of other streets. Signs posted at select business tell you if you can buy social district drinks there or bring them inside from other participating businesses.

"I'm extremely excited. I honestly never thought anything like this would happen in Raleigh," resident Ellen Mathis said. "It's really fun when you get to go to other cities and you can do this, but getting to do this in your hometown is going to be amazing."

The social district runs seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. If the pilot program goes well, city leaders say it could be replicated in other parts of Raleigh.

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Coward said she's hoping the pilot program brings an added boost to downtown businesses still reeling from the pandemic.

"Fayetteville Street used to be the spot, and then everybody migrated to Glenwood South," she said. "It would be great to have those old school, the ones who liked to party and kick back and socialize."

Since COVID, so many places have shut down. Everyone is down on Glenwood South on the other side of town. This side is my favorite, but it's not that much happening at the moment. I really hope this helps," Mathis said.

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Some said they're waiting to see how the program goes before participating.

"We wanted to opt out — see how it goes first and for liability issues," said Anchor Bar bartender Darius Foxworth.

Foxworth said the new program brings about an added layer of stress for bartenders. For example, Foxworth said bartenders are now tasked with monitoring who abuses the system.

"[I'm] worried about people taking drinks outside the perimeter that they set and policing that," Foxworth said. "We don't tend to have a lot of police presence on Fayetteville Street already.

"[I'm] just wondering how that would pan out."

Segrue hopes the majority of customers follow the rules to keep the social district around. In the meantime, she said it's on to the next location.

Small NC towns create social districts to increase nightlife, tourism