The former Heilig-Levine furniture store has always caught my attention when in the area around Wilmington and Hargett Streets. This building truly is one of the gems of the downtown area. Visible in Mr. Drie’s famous 1872 aerial map of Raleigh, it dates back to around 1870.

The building has housed several businesses over the course of almost 140 years, including a hotel, a grocery store, and several furniture stores. Heilig-Levine operated as one of the furniture stores in this space from 1936 until around the mid to late nineties.

Not surprisingly, this is another building being rehabbed by local personality Greg Hatem of Empire Properties. Construction in this building was taking place at almost midnight on a Tuesday night. As reported back in Janurary on New Raleigh, this building will be reopening as an upscale version of Neomonde Restaurant and Deli.

As I was on my way back from talking to Shalom of Isaac’s Menswear for the article I wrote on his business back in early July, I asked a construction worker when the expected opening date was for the new restaurant. At that time he said it would be around 45 days. Assuming that construction is still on schedule, it shouldn’t be too long before the new restaurant opens up.