This beloved record store + bar is leaving Seaboard Station for a new spot. Here’s where
Hunky Dory is leaving its Seaboard Station store for a new Raleigh location.
The record store/bar hopes to open at Raleigh Iron Works this fall, hopefully before Record Store Day Black Friday in November, owner Michael Bell told The News & Observer.
“The vibe is awesome,” Bell said. “There’s life on the weekend. The place is packed. Very friendly neighbors. I couldn’t dream of a better spot for what I’m trying to do.”
The lease for its downtown Raleigh location is up in October, Bell said. He has previously told The N&O about issues with Seaboard Station, where construction, blocked streets and a lack of parking has made it difficult for some businesses to survive.
Hunky Dory’s original store in Durham, founded in 2010, and its Cary outpost will remain.
“I finally feel that I’ve got the model and everything to keep people happy shopping, to keep people happy selling us records, to keep us happy by continuing to put out good stuff,” Bell said.
Where will the new Raleigh store be?
Hunky Dory, named after the 1971 David Bowie album, will take an approximately 1,100-square-foot space in the Double Gable building at Raleigh Iron Works, according to an Instagram post from the mixed-use development. Raleigh Iron Works is at the corner of East Whitaker Mill Road and Atlantic Avenue.
The space is about the same size as the current Seaboard Station store, but the new location comes with the perk of ample free parking, Bell said.
Hunky Dory’s new Raleigh store to feature ‘vinyl and vibes’
Shoppers will see familiar surroundings at the Raleigh Iron Works location.
The store will have a bar, so visitors can enjoy craft (often local) beer, plus a few wine and cider options. Indoor and outdoor seating will be available, but shoppers can also take their drinks to go, allowing for a kind of “sip and stroll.”
Hunky Dory keeps a variety of records in stock — classic rock, indie rock, soul, jazz, reggae, electronica and metal, for example. And the store keeps its inventory local. If you bring your collection to the Raleigh store to sell, Hunky Dory will keep them at that location.
Most of the albums are vintage, but some new and reissued albums are sprinkled throughout.
“The vibe is what we’re trying to showcase,” Bell said. “It’s more than just records, and that’s what we’re pretty proud of.”
What else is coming to Raleigh Iron Works?
A few new businesses are planning to open at the Raleigh development:
- From the chef behind Cary’s Superica, Little Rey is opening soon.
- Durham cafe Fare&Fellow expects to begin serving customers at Raleigh Iron Works in early 2025.
What’s opening at Seaboard Station?
Several restaurants and retailers have announced plans to open at the downtown Raleigh district:
- Club Pilates in late 2024
- TOUS les JOURS in spring 2025
- Boatman Spirits Co. in spring 2025
- Pins Mechanical Co. in winter 2025
This story was originally published August 22, 2024 at 10:20 AM with the headline "This beloved record store + bar is leaving Seaboard Station for a new spot. Here’s where."
