The Raleigh Underground: An Epic Era Sealed Beneath Cameron Village

When I sat down on Saturday to write about the Village Subway, I had no idea the kind of magic I was tapping into. Nor did I ever imagine that less than a week later, I’d be invited to venture down into this urban exploration paradise – to bring you new pictures, WRAL news coverage, and a definitive collection of images, videos, and quotes from the people who spent their youths Underground.

When I first heard about the mysterious underground mall, lying dormant beneath the bustling streets of Cameron Village, I dreamed of going down there. I scoured through the few articles that described it, hunted down pictures, and searched for stories, trying to piece together a snapshot of what remained in this ancient wonderland from another era in Raleigh history.

The Village Subway is alive again. You want to explore the legend of this incredible place? Start here.

Since Saturday, hundreds of people have reached out, trying to do the same.

How do I get down there?

Who do I contact to make a documentary?

Is there any way we can do a Kickstarter fundraiser to revitalize the Underground?

People want to go down there. People want the Village Subway to return. Dozens of documentarians and entrepreneurs and urban explorers want to know more. There is even a Facebook group dedicated to sharing memories of the Pier. I wanted to learn more. That’s why I wrote the initial piece.

Magic seems to be the keyword to describe the Underground. I wrote this piece on Saturday, and by Thursday I found myself transported underground, to explore this piece of history for myself. I was walking through the legendary Village Subway, touching those yellow walls I thought were forever beyond my reach. Forever beyond Raleigh’s reach.

Until the population of Raleigh stepped in, two hundred fifty thousand readers strong, and brought the Underground back into the light.

Make no mistake, readers and Raleigh-ites, you have revived the Village Subway.

Through your comments, the Bear’s Den, the Pier, the Frog and Nightgown, the old Arcade – these places live again! The younger generation is all-ears, hungry for information, stories, and pictures.

The generation who danced and grooved in the Subway, well, you’ve reminded everyone about this amazing piece of music history with your personal tales and memories! Thank you for your comments and pictures, videos and stories! Thank you for a response that was so strong, it got local media invested in the story.

WRAL covering the story is just the beginning. Now we have York Properties’ attention. You want to explore those yellow-walled catacombs, touch those iconic poster paintings? Keep the media involved. Keep sharing your stories. We can make a call for a documentary! For more professional photographers to go take historic images! Some people are even calling for a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to bring it back. Who’s to say it wouldn’t work?

After all, I never dreamed I’d actually end up walking through the Village Subway. Or hearing all these incredible stories about the Bear’s Den, the Pier, and the Frog and Nightgown. In a way, I feel like I’ve been there. I hope after reading and exploring this slice of a long ago era, you’ll feel the same way.

Enjoy our compilation of photos and quotes sent in by readers. Experience the Village Subway for yourself.

The Underground as it appears today

This place, decades old and abandoned beneath our city, has come back into the light. It’s brought people together who hadn’t seen each other in years, finding each other in the comments section of Candid Slice.

This place, the Village Subway, the Raleigh Underground, it brought people together in the 70’s, and even hollowed out and un-used, it continues to hold some magical spark even today. You want more? I say we kickstart it back to life.

The Underground as it was in the 1970’s

The Pier, Bear’s Den, The Frog and Nightgown, Elliot’s Nest, and Cafe DeJa Vu were sensational live music venues of Raleigh during the 70s and early 80s. The Raleigh Underground or the Village Subway, was also home to commercial stores and an arcade.

The Underground’s lasting legacy is the imprint it left on those fortunate enough to have experienced it first hand.

The Raleigh Underground is also credited with having a significant impact in kick starting many notable bands, along with playing a leading role in launching the punk era on to America’s mainstream music scene.

Notable Pictures from a Remarkable Era

Great period photos from photographer Malcolm Riviera, first up is Byron McKay and Jerry Williams of Th’ Cigaretz , kicking it old school 1979.

Next up, Kim Cartner, Alex Erickson, Nana Smith, Marek Bireline (leaning over) and Janelle Simmons (now Oconnor). On the floor is Ms. Debra “Knob” DeMilo of the Fabulous Knobs

Alex, Marek and Janelle, under various pseudonyms, put out the fanzine Blind Boys Gazette.

They would sell their “rag” at the local shows, sometimes walking around with white canes with red tips in imitation of sight-impaired folks, knocking people obnoxiously on the leg to get their attention. Great times!

The Print

Great memories in print. Shout out to “Design by Raiter” and his tribute to Bob Raiter, who designed and printed dozens of flyers for Th’ Cigaretz, Raleigh’s original punk sensation, in the late 1970s. Included is an R.E.M print, advertising their Pier appearance. That October, R.E.M again appeared at the Pier, where their entire performance was captured live , as was this great performance by Arrogance.

The People

Our readers who were lucky enough to dance, work, and play beneath Raleigh at clubs like the Pier, the Bear’s Den, Cafe Deja Vu, Elliot’s Nest. and the Frog and Nightgown, have painted a picture of the rich and magical history of the time:

John Custer shared:

I played there, played there hundreds of times, got my start down there, saw amazing, amazing shows down there… and I always assumed it would be there, operational, forever…

From Mark Darden we got an insider’s perspective:

We played at the Deja Vu many, many times as Nevermind, The Boat Rockers, and other names. Th’ Cigaretz were very influential during that time too. Some of us opened for the Ramones once. Arrogance was still around then too. They were a great band that almost hit the big time. You could go from bar to bar down there and hear Muddy Waters in one bar, Jimmy Buffet in the next, and the Ramones in the next. Unreal. The Deja was a very, very cool place. It seemed to last the longest down there. The Frog was my first restaurant job. I was hired as the dishwasher (just graduated from State) but they also made me cook side orders that Friday night.

Mark Wells describes a vivid sensory experience:

I also went to the Cafe Deja-Vu a few times. Ahh, I remember when you opened those double doors to the stairs, the smell of cigarettes and stale beer greeted you, and you knew a bar or two was close by.

Pam Wenning added to the tapestry, saying:

As a child, my parents took me to what seemed like the most magical place I could imagine….The Underground. Yes, the entrance was close to the Fresh Market. As I grew up The Pier was a place to be – would let you in at 16 and order anything you wanted. Brice Street was the best cover band around and always played there. It was another world, like walking through the sidewalks of another city. You could hear the echoes of people talking, but back then, we weren’t scared at all. It just felt familiar and like home. What I would give to go back for one night. Magic.

The Clubs & Stores

Cafe Deja Vu

The Pier

Frog and Nightgown

Elliot’s Nest

The Bears’ Den

Skyline Disco

Infamous

Midnight Express

Boogie Shoes

Back Street Leather

Battle Stations Fun Arcade

Soundhaus

Sam Goody

Two Feet Under

Burton’s Fashions

Tyler II

Happiness Boutique

Troy’s Stereo Center

Tin Penny Nail

The Fine Line

The Garden of Eden

Pier 3 (Gifts and Antiques)

Solomon Grundy’s

Nowell’s

Intimate Book Shop

Carolista Jewerly

Wagon Popcorn

Bee Ties

Garden of Eden

Sam Bass Camera

The Bands & Performers

Doc Watson

The B-52s

The Roaches

Red Clay Ramblers

Asleep at the Wheel

Beetle Barbour

NRBQ

David Allan Coe

The Ramones

John Kay of Steppenwolf

Iggy Pop

The Replacements

Fabulous Knobs

R.E.M.

Dixie Dregs

Barry Manilow

Charlie Byrd

Chic Corea

Herman Miller band

Bette Midler

Marian McPartland

Mike Cross

Glass Moon

Dennis Miller

Tumbleweed Band

Eddie Money

Pat Benatar

Nantucket

Super Grit Cowboy Band

Merle Haggard

Dave Bromberg

Dr. John

Larriat

Sam Milner

Arlo Guthrie

Carole Sloan

Muddy Waters

Commander Cody

Carol Sloan

Dizzy Gillespie

Dave Brubeck

Jimmy Buffet

Th’ Cigaretz

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

X-Teens

Busboys

Dead Kennedys

Bowie

Go Go’s

Sonic Youth

Leon Redbone

The Roche Sisters

The Back Doors

Baby & The Pacifiers

Arrogance

Control Group

Wet Willie

Delbert McClinton

The Stimulators

Oliver

Steve Earle

Rootboy Slim

Bad Brains

Fabulous Thunderbirds

Joan Jett

Hard Times Jazz Band

Dixie Dregs

The Snap

Tim Weisberg

Oingo Boingo

A Flock of Seagulls

The Flys

999

Crush

Harley Flanagan

The Bad Checks

Butchwax

Slow Children

Commander Cody

Jerry Jeff Walker

John Prine

Lester Flatt

Head East

Elvin Bishop

Grinderswitch

Black Flag

Circle Jerks

Pylon

Driving and Crying

Marian McPartland

Charlie Byrd

Maynard Ferguson

Duke Ellington

Jimmy Buffett

Mose Allison

Pressure Boys

Peter Ingram

Lily Tomlin

Teddy Wilson

The Four Freshman

Woody Herman

George Shearing

Lionel Hampton

Taj Mahal

Garland Jefferies

Driver

Rolly Gray & Sunfire

Chicken Wire Gang

3PM

Morse Code

The Pedestrians

Jeff Lorber Fusion

Sea Level

Gold

Substitute

EMP

Warren Zevon

Hog Bear

Don McLean

Papa John Creach

Thelonious Monk

Plimsouls

Terra Nova

Elmer Gibson

Arhooly R & B

Mose Allison

Amazing Rhythm Aces

Clover (Huey Lewis)

Sutters Gold Streak Band

Bill Lyerly Band

J.J. Cale

The Gregg Allman Band

Singletree

Heartwood

Jesse Winchester

Steve Young

The Nighthawks

Juice Newton

Louisianna’s LaRoux

Lariat Sam

Pat Benetar

Skeet Kelly

Tom Waits

Pegasus

Jean Luc Ponty

The Bluegrass Experience

Frog Level

Subliminal Surge

Skatin

Little Feat

My previous article on the Raleigh Underground generated hundreds of comments, but judging from the popularity of this subject, I’m sure there are many more stories to be shared. I’d love to hear from some of you who remember the Raleigh Underground or the Village Subway, or who have pictures from back in the day, so please keep commenting and sending in your pictures! Who knows, if this article is as popular as the first one, I may do a reboot part 3 on the Underground!