On May 16, a beloved Raleigh venue opened up for one night only.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the place to go for late night entertainment in Raleigh was a place called Underground Raleigh, known officially as the Village Subway. It comprised restaurants, nightclubs, and an arcade located underground, beneath Cameron Village.
The Cameron Village Merchants Association's executive director, Pat Boyle, said everyone from Raleigh used to go there, and in addition, the trendy spot drew people from outside the immediate area. “It was just hot!” Boyle said.
Although Boyle was not a resident of Raleigh during the Village Subway's heyday, she notes that many of those who later became famous once appeared there. The names included James Taylor, REM, Barry Manilow, and Bette Midler. Unfortunately, concerns about safety and violations of the fire code led to the closure of Village Subway in 1984.
Boyle, speaking in advance of the May 16 event, said she believed it would draw young people because they heard about the place. She also felt sure there would be many in the crowd who had been there before, and wanted to enjoy it one last time.
Crush, a band that covers 70s songs, provided the music, and the money raised will go to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.
Event organizers could have worked with a banner printing company on a fun banner to display for the evening.
