Seaboard Station to open its largest tenant so far — a massive restaurant, distillery & bar
Amid so much change, something shiny and new is heading to Seaboard Station, aiming to turn the redeveloped district into a drinks destination.
Helmed by a top Triangle bartender and team of restaurant pros, Boatman Spirits Company will open this May in Raleigh’s Seaboard Station, combining a distillery, craft cocktail bar and Mediterranean restaurant in one elegant package.
Boatman is owned by Zachary Thomas, Aaron Lambert, Geremy Prichard and George Ghneim, each bringing a different slice of hospitality experience.
Thomas has led the beverage program and tended bar at many of the Triangle’s top cocktail spots, including Foundation, The Crunkleton, Crawford & Son and the Lagoon Bar. Lambert helped open and served as general manager of Whiskey Kitchen for three years, Prichard is a scientist and winemaker and Ghneim is a veterinarian epidemiologist who previously owned the restaurant Riveria in downtown Raleigh.
“We are thrilled to introduce Boatman Spirits Co, to downtown Raleigh’s revitalized Seaboard Station,” said Thomas, co-founder of Boatman Spirits Co. “Our team is committed to crafting an elevated cocktail experience where every sip, every bottle and every plate reflects our passion, our care and our meticulous attention to detail.”
Boatman will be the largest opening yet in the redeveloped Seaboard Station. The distillery side will be 3,000 square feet and the bar and restaurant will be another 4,000 square feet with seating for 100, plus a 12-seat bar.
The menu at the Boatman
On the spirits side, Boatman will produce bourbon; single malt and rye whiskey; vodka; gin; seasonal fruit brandy, like apple, peach and blackberry; and arak, an anise-flavored Mediterranean liquor.
There will be a North Carolina terroir element to the spirits, with a backbone of state-grown grain and barrels made from Appalachian lumber.
Beyond the house-made spirits, expect beer and wine and an a reliable menu of cocktail classics.
The food menu will focus on Mediterranean flavors, with planned dishes including za’atar-spiced chicken wings, shawarma and lamb kebab burger.
Boatman takes its name from the mythological characters who ferry souls across underworld waters and planes of existence.
“We liked the idea of departing from the normal, from the day-to-day, from the boring or the expected,” said Lambert.
Boatman will open at 1713 Seaboard Station Dr. in Raleigh. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday, with late night hours Thursday through Saturday.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Seaboard Station to open its largest tenant so far — a massive restaurant, distillery & bar."
