Comments on: The Player’s Retreat – Oldest Bar In Raleigh

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:42:58 +0000

Thanks for all the info on The Square so far. Does anyone else remember the place or the owner of the property. I am still trying to do a little research. If anyone that worked there could chime in it would be a big help.

Thanks

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:27:44 +0000

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

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:34:57 +0000

The name Eby strongly rings a bell. And yes, I remember it was a guy and his dad that owned Hillsborough Square. I remember he drove a Corvette… this being 1972-1976ish. Several of my friends worked there… even me, on an ‘unpaid’ basis. I don’t quite remember the phones, as someone mentioned earlier, though I do remember that being a feature ’somewhere’ along Hillsborough. I do remember beer was 50 cents, and the convenience of that pricing meant the bartenders simply carried quarters in their hands for ‘immediate change’ – no going back to the register. Next to Budweiser, Schlitz was the popular brew. And yes, it was a maze of rooms; however, there were few bathrooms. The sinks got as much activity as the toilets!

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:19:05 +0000

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.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:00:25 +0000

I am an ACC b’ball fan too. There is nothing better that the ACC tournament. It is even better when the Pack is in the hunt but that does not happen too often. I wish the football was as good as the b’ball in the conference.

Again, thanks for the info and if you think of anything else please email. Anything will help.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:05:36 +0000

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.’

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:08:55 +0000

Thanks for the info. I will check it out. I am trying to dig info on an inlaw and he claims he and his dad owned the square. The inlaw is claiming that the reason they closed was because the owner of the building would not renew lease. I have heard many of the things you have heard and more. I just think the owner was tired of them. I just need to verify stuff before I use this in making an argument to a situation that has arisen with him. Any other stuff you remember please do not hesitate to email.

I am pleased with the Pack football progress. I bet Raleigh cannot wait for the season to start. The same inlaw is a Gamecock fan that is obnoxious as h—. He still whines about the loss back in the eighties in the last second. I hope to be there opening night this year to see the Pack strangle the chickens.

Thanks again.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:00:01 +0000

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?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:53:47 +0000

Does anyone know the owner of The Square at the time it was shut down? Especially anyone that worked there. I think the bar was owned by a seperate person from the land owner. I think the last name of the bar owner was Eby. I am trying to do some research on a family member with that name. My older brothers went to NC State and were able to tell me some stuff. They mainly hung out at Ed’s Grocery, My Apartment, Triangle Billiard Parlor and the like. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:19:19 +0000

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?