A few weeks ago I had a chance to go over to Brookside Bodega for lunch. I hadn’t been to the Brookside Plaza in a few years, so I was excited to see the changes.
Commercial Oasis
Brookside Plaza has always struck me as a commercial/mixed-use oasis of sorts. The type that you don’t often see in Raleigh. There are other places in Raleigh and across the country where you have a small pocket of commercial development surrounded by residential, and they usually only exist in older neighborhoods and cities.
With recent regulatory changes to relax restrictions on Accessory Commercial Units in Raleigh, I hope to see more of this type of use in the future. But Brookside Plaza is different, it was originally built in 2006.
The 21,246 square foot building includes ground floor retail and seven apartments on the second story.
Brookside Bodega
I was impressed by Brookside Bodega. It is a great combination of corner store and local restaurant. I had a delicious taco salad and perused the shelves while I waited. In addition to the restaurant and full bar, there were pinball machines, beer and wine to go, and a wide selection of essentials. This seems like the perfect spot to grab a meal, drop in for a drink, or to swing by on the way to visit with friends to make sure you don’t show up empty handed.
My favorite design feature is the large skylight at the entrance with an oversized fan to keep the store breezy.
I will definitely be back.
