A new coffee shop may be coming to Dix Park in Raleigh. Here’s what we know
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- City permits propose converting Flowers Cottage into a coffee shop with a patio.
- Dix Park plans demolitions, restorations and other projects through 2026 and beyond.
- Earlier in 2025, the House of Many Porches Market opened, offering food and drinks.
Raleigh’s rapidly changing Dorothea Dix Park may soon be home to a coffee shop.
According to permits filed with the City of Raleigh, the Flowers Cottage building at 2105 Umstead Drive will be renovated into a coffee shop. The permits have not been issued as of publication.
The plans call for installation of new equipment, new plumbing, and mechanical and electrical work. The project would also include new exterior stairs and an extension of the existing deck to create a covered outdoor space.
The News & Observer reached out to the Dix Park Conservancy for more information about the project.
Raleigh Magazine first reported news of the permits.
Food and drink options at Dix Park
Developing food and beverage options has been part of the long-term plans for the park since at least 2023, when the Dix Park Conservancy and the City of Raleigh said they were “actively recruiting food and retail operators.”
The “priority opportunity areas” included Gipson Play Plaza, the House of Many Porches and the Flowers Cottage, which “could also host a beer garden, as well as become a rental space for private events.”
Earlier this year, Dix Park unveiled its new, 18.5-acre Gipson Play Plaza. Located off Lake Wheeler Road, the play plaza features a 91-foot-long swing, shaded seating areas, a splash pad, a restroom building, playground equipment and grills.
The House of Many Porches Market within the park offers sandwiches, coffee, beer, wine, pastries, snacks, including popcorn and chips, and grab-and-go items like bottled drinks and pasta salad.
Changes at Dix Park
The city of Raleigh bought Dix Park from the state a decade ago and allowed N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to remain on the campus for up to 25 years.
In September, employees began reporting to their new headquarters at the corner of Blue Ridge and Reedy Creek roads, The News & Observer previously reported.
Physical changes have also been occurring at the park.
As of September, the city of Raleigh had demolished 25 buildings totaling 50,000 square feet. Starting in early 2026, another 20 buildings adding up to 545,000 square feet are expected to be demolished. Some of those include the Kirby, Ashby, Adams and Williams buildings.
Tearing down buildings that can’t be realistically renovated or reused saves money and adds open space, according to a 2023 report commissioned by the city.
Another 20 buildings will be stabilized and reused.
Major projects are also expected to occur over the next five years. There are plans to build new utilities, redevelop the east campus, restore the Rocky Branch Creek and add new trails.
Plus, the park is getting five huge, wooden trolls.
This story was originally published October 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "A new coffee shop may be coming to Dix Park in Raleigh. Here’s what we know."
