The PR was also a well-known hang out for the Everett Case-era Wolfpack basketball teams. It is truly a landmark.

I own the Players Retreat and appreciate your comments. The News & Observer did some research a few years ago and published an article stating that the PR is the oldest continous operating tavern between Washington DC and Atanta. The Players Retreat opened on February 27, 1951. It was located on Hillsbourough Street until 1961 when it moved to 105 Oberlin Road. It has never closed or changed its name since 1951. I have no idea when the Office Tavern opened at its original location.

I grew up in Cameron Park, the first time I went to the PR was as a child with my mother after Raleigh Little Theatre rehearsals. My father had the house next to it (used to be a grey 2 story – is it still there?) and had his office there, and then lived there for a short while when my parents split. He used to take us to the Mourning Room, a separate establishment where the pool room is now (or was the last time I was there 15 years ago). The Mourning Room also featured an incredible blues/jazz musician, but I’ve forgotten his name. I remember during a big snow when we were around 13/14, and Bernie let us come in that night and have cokes, but not into the back room. When I first started going with my friends to hang there we were slightly short of the legal drinking age of 18. Bernie would not let us into the back room if it were just the girls. We had to be with the boys, or swear we were meeting them there – no single women allowed! I also remember him standing at the doorway to the back room and not allowing anyone to go in unless they had a seat. I worked there briefly in 1983 and am kind of sad to read about the changes, but I guess I’ll have to see for myself. Also was a denizen of Free Advice and Edward’s Grocery – both as a bar and as a grocery store!

I think I do. The Square was a bar/entertainment complex where, among other things, there were telephones at the bar and on the tables, and if you spotted somebody you wanted to hook up with you would ‘call’ them on the phone. If “The Square” is the place I’m thinking of, I seem to recall it occupied two storefront buildings next door to the original Darryl’s on Hillsboro St. I think the “Edwards Grocery” club was downstairs at some point. That was a separate business and outlasted The Square by many years. (Spent a lot of time at Edwards back then, btw.) The Square was a rabbit warren of connecting barrooms and game rooms. I heard the developer would just add something on that struck his fancy without getting official city approval. I remember one of the second floor ‘rooms’ had large sliding glass doors that opened up to the parking lot 20′ below — no stairs, deck or anything. Fortunately, they were kept locked. I believe the city finally shut him down for numerous building and fire code violations (and as well as for the reasons cited by Chris). This was back in the mid-1970s or so. NC State ultimately bought the buildings and tore them down for the parking lot that is there now. Anybody else remember these details?

Chris — I’m not positive, but for some reason the name David Smoot sticks in my head as the owner of The Square. Or he was at least the $$$ behind the project. Does that ring a bell with anybody else?

haha Chris.. too funny re: the Game***** I myself,though, prefer ACC basketball. Come to think of it –and I haven’t thought about any of this stuff in years — The bar was called ‘Hillsborough Square.’

hey, does anyone remember a nightclub (dance club) during the mid to late 1960′s at the very end of hillsborough street, called “the scene
” or the “experience”? i cannot remember the name, but i used to go there as a student at nc state?

i like pr, too, by the way. and the jolly knave, that club you had to climb stairs to.

thanks for any information.

Gary,

Do you remember why the Square was closed? I heard that it was closed because the owner did not pay his beer vendor bills, did not pay his rent, the property owner got tired of the disturbing the peace calls and there were rumors of under age beer sales. Does any of this ring true to you or any of your friends that worked there?

Thanks

Chris,
Got a laugh out of that Gamecock fan story. I was at that game with my parents and grandmother. Bunch of obnoxious Gamecock fans behind us, yelling profanities and insults the whole time. When we won, I jumped up and turned to them with middle fingers extended, shouting F*** U !! Right in front of my dear sweet grandmother. She was laughing derisively at them at the same time. Don’t understand why they’re so obnoxious. Never been squat in anything. A couple that used to live next door are Gamecock fans. Had a conversation about that same obnoxious behavior and said “You actually need to win a National Championship in SOMETHING if you’re gonna be that way”. I thought the wife was gonna have a coronary. Went ballistic.

Bill Eby and his Dad owned the “Square”. Most famous and notorious bartender there was Ron Banther. The most popular beer there was whatever he wanted you to drink! Lots of great stories.