Raleigh’s longtime bar and sandwich shop Sadlack’s is preparing for another chapter, with plans to return at a new downtown location more than a decade after its original Hillsborough Street premises closed.
According to a November 3, 2026, report by The News & Observer, Henry Goodall is leading the planned revival at 913 W. Morgan St. in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The new establishment will initially serve drinks, with food service potentially introduced later if the business gets off to a successful start. The exact opening date has not been independently confirmed.
The proposed return brings back a familiar name associated with Raleigh’s independent restaurant and music scene, although the new operation will have different ownership, a different location and an initially different business model.
New ownership and a different downtown location
The planned Sadlack’s will operate at 913 W. Morgan St., rather than its former Hillsborough Street address.
Goodall is leading the project under new ownership, according to The News & Observer. The initial drinks-focused format will differ from the original establishment, which was known for its sandwiches as well as its bar atmosphere.
Food service remains a possibility rather than a confirmed part of the opening plan. Details about the proposed menu, pricing, live entertainment and any recreation of the original interior have not been independently established.
The announcement identifies the prospective operator and location, but does not independently establish that all required permits have been approved or that the business has begun operating.
Sadlack’s history dates back to the 1970s
Sadlack’s Heroes became a familiar gathering place on Hillsborough Street, near North Carolina State University’s Bell Tower.
Historical accounts differ slightly on its founding year. A December 2013 report by Raleigh Public Record describes Sadlack’s as a Hillsborough Street fixture since 1972, while the publication’s October 2013 coverage identifies 1973 as the beginning of its presence there.
The establishment developed a following among students, Raleigh residents and musicians. Its outdoor patio hosted local performances, and the business became associated with the city’s independent music community.
A 2012 feature by Indy Week documented the venue’s connections to local musicians, including Whiskeytown and Chatham County Line.
The News & Observer also included Sadlack’s in its 2023 retrospective of Raleigh businesses that closed, describing its four decades of service and its connection to the development of the city’s music scene.
The 2013 closure was not the end of Sadlack’s story
Sadlack’s left its original Hillsborough Street premises at the end of December 2013 as the property was redeveloped for a hotel project.
A September 2013 report by Raleigh Public Record documented the approved hotel development across from the NC State Bell Tower. The project included demolition of the property occupied by Sadlack’s and other businesses.
However, the departure from Hillsborough Street did not immediately end the business’s story.
In an October 17, 2013 report, Raleigh Public Record reported that longtime owner Rose Schwetz planned to move Sadlack’s into the former Berkeley Cafe on Martin Street.
The proposed relocation involved combining the two businesses’ menus, expanding the kitchen, renovating the interior and patio, and continuing live music. Popular Sadlack’s sandwiches, including the Turkey Applejack and Philly Sub, were expected to remain available.
The report also said the same staff would continue working at the relocated business.
The move subsequently became part of Raleigh’s business history. On April 2, 2014, Triangle Business Journal reported that Schwetz had reopened Berkeley Cafe in downtown Raleigh.
This distinction is important when considering the latest announcement. The proposed 2026 revival is not simply the first return of a business that disappeared in 2013. It represents another chapter in the history of the Sadlack’s name, following its earlier move into the Berkeley Cafe operation.
A different operating model for the planned revival
The new establishment will initially concentrate on drinks rather than immediately recreating the original bar and sandwich-shop format.
That leaves several questions unanswered for customers who remember the former business for its food and music.
The available announcement does not establish whether the new operator plans to bring back the original sandwiches, use historical recipes or arrange live performances similar to those held at the former venue.
It is also unclear whether Schwetz or any former employees will participate in the new project.
Alcohol licensing is another important requirement for the planned operation. The City of Raleigh’s official Beer and Wine License information explains the city’s licensing requirements for businesses selling beer or wine.
The licensing status of the proposed Sadlack’s operation has not been independently confirmed.
What happens next?
For now, the reported plans provide three central details: a prospective operator, a new downtown address and an initial drinks-focused business model.
The opening date, the possibility of future food service and the extent to which the new establishment will recreate the original Sadlack’s experience remain unconfirmed.
For Raleigh residents who remember the Hillsborough Street location, the proposed revival offers an opportunity to see a familiar name return in a different setting.
Whether the new operation will reproduce the community atmosphere and musical identity associated with the original establishment remains to be seen.
The planned return of Sadlack’s marks another chapter in the history of a Raleigh business that has already experienced a major relocation and a change in its operating arrangement.
