The Sun Also Sets
Stroll east on Raleigh’s Hargett St. as the sun sets, and one might glimpse a green glow at odds with the golden sky, cast from an unassuming brick establishment off S. Wilmington St. Upon closer look, the light beckons approach to The Architect’s narrow door. Enter, and a staircase guides one to the bustling second floor, housing The Architect Bar and Social House. Although the pop music and yellow lights on the dance floor suggest a traditional nightlife destination, the green light cuts through The Architect and hints at the presence of something else: The Green Light speakeasy.
Since its conception in 2013, the idea of The Green Light has been carefully cultivated by owner Jonathan Seelbinder, transforming an old architect’s bare overflow room into an experimental speakeasy. For Seelbinder, every detail is personal. In the entrance of The Architect, historic blueprints of the building line the staircase, while the modern artworks framing The Green Light’s entrance belong to Allan Murphy, a local artist and friend.
Behind the two-panel, soundproofed bookcase in The Architect, the Prohibition-inspired bar glimmers in the light. However, manager Jon “JB” Blackman hints, “You’ve got to come when the sun goes down.” Rich leather seats, marble tables, and red vinyl bar chairs complement the velvet baroque wallpaper. The Edison lights above the bar illuminate the deep wooden counter and open cabinets with a rich glow. It’s obvious that this space is no contemporary bar. The Green Light recreates the illicit charm of a traditional Southern speakeasy and gifts guests with a tranquil night of whimsical, yesteryear glamour.
To preserve the atmosphere, during business hours there is a strict 32-seat policy. Select reservations are taken through a private number, given out only by the executive staff to dedicated customers. Everybody else, regardless of their background, must rely on the lucky sighting of the green light indicating open seating. Intimacy is a treasured commodity, which the Green Light offers in abundance.
When the sun sets, the room twinkles with young couples socializing, friends reminiscing, businessmen unwinding and professionals relaxing and transitioning after a long day’s work. The cocktails, prepared at the bar with house-made syrups and a collection of liquors stored in a hanging bird cage, include original creations as well as iconic recipes. Whether it’s the classic Jungle Bird, a Tiki drink of fresh orange and whiskey, or the Eastern Medicine, a rose-tinted cocktail with hints of habanero tincture, guests are encouraged to be curious and adventure away from the expected. The bartenders are also constantly experimenting; their fresh experiments are displayed near the end of the bar, including the multi-toned “Ready When You Are” fusing mezcal, dry curacao, cranberry and Aperol flavors. In a bustling city, The Green Light provides a sanctuary for those who believe in the stories of the underground rumrunners and invisible secrets, appreciate the novelties and nuanced references, and immerse themselves into this reinvented ode to Prohibition.
At the end of the Green Light’s menu lies a tale of a policeman, who, in 1926, was enchanted by a green light outside an architect’s office, but was unable to wander beyond the bookcase. As in the story, the Green Light is open only for those who have the imagination to make it to the top of the staircase, drawn to the green light in the corner – for them, the trip down the rabbit hole has just begun.