The Forgotten Bar Of Hillsborough Street
The bar pictured above has been forgotten and abandoned for some time. It is very easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it, but is located directly beneath Mitch’s Tavern. It was purchased by Mitch some time ago, and has sat idle ever since. I’ve heard from various friends that have worked for him over the years that he bought it simply to prevent any sort of competition near his business. Many have also speculated that he is simply not ambitious enough to do anything with it.
Can anyone shed light on this particular place’s history?
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06/18/2008
It’s very tiny, I don’t know how you could fit a bar in there.
He should offer it up to Global Village for an expansion. Then maybe, just maybe, they might actually stay open past sunset for once!
06/18/2008
Some old timers have told me it used to be a burger-and-a-beer place way back in the day. I’ve heard that Mitch bought it as a sort of extra storage area.
06/19/2008
Man, do I ever remember this place! When I came to NC State as a freshman in 1969, this is where I had my first beer as a college student (drinking age was 18 then). It was run by a scrappy fellow whom everybody knew as “Red.” He was of Irish heritage (and proud of it!). I believe he originally came from Brooklyn, NY. My Dad used to say “Red was passing through on a south-bound freight train, fell off in Raleigh, and never left!”
If I recall right, the place was called The College Grill. The space was dark, long and narrow with a bar + grill running down the right side, with booth seating tucked under the stairs on the left side. The storefront looked different then with a large plate glass window next to the front door. You could look right in and see the grill.
Red served the best greasy burger and Reuben sandwich on Hillsboro St., or at least I thought so anyway. I remember he seemed almost proud of the “B” sanitaion rating hanging over the grill.
Red didn’t put up with anybody’s guff…Once someone at our table ordered a glass of water (instead of beer), and Red plopped a glass on the table and barked “water’s back there,” motioning to the sink back by the men’s room.
Red retired in the mid to late ’70s and the College Grill closed. I’d see him around occasionally after that, though. He passed away sometime around 1990, I think. What a charachter…They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!
07/03/2008
When I was at State in the early ’80s and for quite a number of years afterwards, the “College Grill” sign still hung above the sidewalk. I never remember it being open.
07/27/2008
It’s not nearly as small as some say – and is kept in good repair by Mitch. Having been in it many times during my years at Mitch’s I’ll say it would make an amazing bar, except for the factt there is already an amazing bar right above it.
11/11/2008
I remember Red’s quite well – went there in the early to mid 70′s. There was no one like the Redman. You could go there after he closed, and if he knew you, he’d let you in. I recall him letting my brother and me in one night about 2 am. We sat i there drinking until after 3. Redman was walking around in his bedroom slippers, drinking a Falstaff, spinning tales to a couple of his buddies at the bar while my brother and I discussed women and how to understand them.
I went to Red’s funeral. I didn’t know any of his family or friends … but it seemed the right thing to do. There were a number of people like me there … customers who appreciated that little hole in the wall, and the fascinating guy how ran the place.
11/28/2008
I remember the College Grill some, but I remember Red a lot. After his bar closed he was a regular at the PR, a regular at the Rathskeller, and more importantly, a regular at Mitch’s. I can still hear his gravelly voice. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mitch holds that place for Red.
12/31/2008
Red was from New York, and like others have already said, could weave a story. Having someone like Red available for us locals was a godsend, as he made us seem less backwoods, and helped make Hillsborough St a real city street. And yes, made the absolute best ruben sandwich! I traveled back to Raleigh in 2007 for the first time in 17 years, and Hillsborough St seems very dull now – most of the old haunts are gone, not much street level traffic.
01/31/2009
I have been told that he uses it as a business loss for tax purposes against Mitch’s Tavern. I believe he hold an active beer license for it.
David
01/29/2011
[...] started to water for one of Red's burgers. I googled a little more and found this page from 2008. The Forgotten Bar Of Hillsborough Street | Goodnight, Raleigh! I hardly ever get over to Hillsboro St any more. Does anyone know if Red's bar is still there and [...]
05/13/2012
Tended bar 3 nights a week for Red after coming back to school from the army until graduation in ’71. Red Campbell was from Brooklyn, lived alone with his cats down off of Dixie Trail and sadly, was an alcoholic.
With that said, he was a great and interesting guy who was a good friend to those he liked. Red’s had the best hamburger in town and was the only place then that you could get kraut on your hotdog, which besides mustard was the only thing you could get on your hotdog. Red did not suffer fools very well. Besides students, we got many interesting locals and many proffessors from accross the street. After closing we would clean up etc. then watch the late show and drink beer on the house. Sometimes we’d go down to the PR after closing as Red had worked for Bernie and remained good friends.
It was truly a unique little place. Used to go back occasionaly to say hey. Guess there’s no room for places like that anymore.