The Village Subway, also known as Raleigh Underground, was an underground entertainment zone in Raleigh, North Carolina, located beneath the Cameron Village shopping center.
This underground network housed nightclubs, restaurants, commercial establishments, and an arcade during the 1970s and 1980s.
Live music and entertainment were frequently included.
The Frog and Nightgown, The Pier, The Bear's Den, Elliot's Nest, and Cafe Deja Vu were among the underground music venues.
The Village Subway, which was established in 1972, was closed in 1984 owing to fire code, drug use, and customer safety problems.
About the Village Subway - history
J. W. York and R. A. Bryan bought the 158 acres of property that makeup Cameron Village in 1947.
Up until 1964, the property was owned by their company, York Properties, before it was sold to the Dutch Antilles' Brookmont Corporation.
After selling it, York Properties continued to oversee the neighborhood.
During the Cold War, the 20,000-square-foot area was initially built as a bomb bunker.
It was intended to serve as a retreat for the federal government as well as a location for residents to go during an attack.
The Underground Atlanta entertainment and shopping complex, which is still operational today, served as the inspiration for the design of the Village Subway.
Similar combinations of eateries, nightclubs, and boutiques can be found in both places.
Its New York City-style subway entrance with lengthy stairs leading to train murals is where the name "Village Subway" originated.
The walls were also covered with rectangular paintings of stores.
David Sedaris, a writer who attended Raleigh High School, recalled visiting the Frog and Nightgown and thinking, "This is what New York is like!"
Although The Village Subway was initially well-liked, there wasn't enough daytime traffic to support the nightlife.
Since drugs were starting to be distributed in the parking lot and service areas surrounding the Village, security became a concern.
The Village Subway was forced to close in 1984 as a result of these problems and worries regarding the fire code.
Former musicians who had performed at The Village Subway's three nightclubs recently paid a visit to Raleigh's legendary underground music scene.
A musician who performed there in the 1970s, Dave Adams, emphasizes how many musicians became well-known as a result of their appearances at The Village Subway.
The facility provided a variety of musical sounds, from jazz to international performers.
The Frog and Nightgown, Raleigh's only jazz venue at the time, hosted well-known performers including Paul Jeffrey, who was best known for his collaborations with Thelonious Monk.
Lenore Raphael, the club's owner, discovered her jazz specialty and joined Peter Ingram on stage.
The Village Subway has a long history of renowned bands beginning their careers in its subterranean venues, including R.E.M. and The Connells.
Cameron Village Regional Library today. The Village Subway was located directly underneath.Photo byThe Village Subway/Wikipedia
Petition and plans regarding the Village Subway
A Heather Leah article on Candid Slice revived interest in The Village Subway and brought back fond memories of the defunct underground system.
Since July 2013, the story has been read by more than 500,000 people, sparking a campaign to reopen The Village Subway as a hotspot for nightlife. G. Smedes York serves as York Properties' current president.
Fresh Market explained their decision to use the former Subway facility for food preparation in a leasing agreement they signed in 2014, citing a lack of available space.
The former Party Shop, which is now Steven Shell Living, shares an entrance with the Fresh Market Underground facility, which will not be open to the general public.
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