Six String Café to re-open in Raleigh

As a big fan of acoustic-based music, I had been hoping the David Sardinha would launch a new version of Cary's defunct Six String Café over here in the Bull City, maybe downtown or in the American Tobacco Historic District.

Well, as announced earlier this week on the Six String Yahoo listserv, Raleigh wins:

Helios Six String Café

Helios Coffee Company
413 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC

is merging with

Six String Café and Music Hall
Formerly of MacGregor Village, Cary, NC

For Release May 16, 2006

Helios Coffee Company and The Six String Café and Music Hall have announced a joint venture that will combine the two companies. The combination brings together Raleigh's premier coffee house with one of the Southeast's leading music venues. This summer construction will begin for the new Six String Café Music Hall on the second floor of Helios Coffee's building at 413 South Glenwood Avenue. When the
expanded facility is ready this fall, customers will be able to enjoy:

- the finest coffees and espresso in the Triangle (AOL On Line, 2006)
- a state-of-the-art music performance venue, featuring Six String's stable of national class musicians, playing acoustic music ranging from bluegrass and folk to rock to jazz and blues
- an upstairs bar overlooking Glenwood South, with all ABC permits, serving top shelf mixed drinks, fine wines, and beers on tap
- an expanded menu, featuring tapas and fine desserts

The joint venture that brings together Helios Coffee and The Six String Café is being created by Gray Medlin, who started Helios in 2002, and David Sardinha, who founded The Six String in 2001. Ann Robinson-Stiles has been named General Manager of Helios Six String Café and will be in charge of day to day operations.

Gray Medlin commented, "We started Helios to be Raleigh's meeting place for social gatherings, culture and business in a friendly, relaxed, yet artistically vibrant atmosphere. From the beginning, art and music have been an important part of Helios. In coming together with The Six String and its roster of internationally known
musicians, we are confirming our commitment to excellence, whether it's the finest espresso in town or the very best in acoustic music. Our expanded facility will give us more room for our customers to enjoy fine coffee and great food and drink in a setting that offers the best in art and music. We couldn't be more excited."

Dave Sardinha added, "This joint venture brings together the best of both of our worlds. We had our challenges at our old Cary location, both in the space we were using and in the facility itself. The Glenwood South facility is just what we needed: a great location with two separate spaces, one focusing on music performance and the other, a place for folks to gather and have fun. Over the last five years, more than 1,200 musicians asked to play The Six String because of its national reputation. We are delighted to be bringing them to a high quality establishment like Helios."

Construction of the second floor music room and bar is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2006. Clearscapes, P.A. of Raleigh are the architects for the project. Medlin and Sardinha plan to begin producing live shows on a limited basis in Helios existing first floor space this summer.

For more information, please contact:

Ann Robinson-Stiles, General Manager helioslivemusic@yahoo.com
Gray Medlin, 919/828-8200
David Sardinha, 919/522-7965 or dstar@prodigy.net

Six String fills such a great musical void in the Triangle for smoke-free acoustic music that I'll gladly take the ride over to Glenwood South.

Congratulations, Dave, and to Helios for making an investment in what I predict will be a superb collaboration.