| By Kyle Marie McMahon | Photos by Stacey Sprenz |
For anyone who has walked or driven down Glenwood Avenue, the sprawling third-floor patio at 500 Glenwood has been a landmark. For years it was the bustling home of Carolina Ale House, a central hub for game days and after-work gatherings. Since its closure, the 9,600-square-foot space has sat quiet, leaving a noticeable void in one of Raleigh’s most high-energy districts. Now, that void is about to be filled in a big way.
This November, Raleigh’s own LM Restaurants will introduce Smash Social Club, a new “upscale social playground” and restaurant, to the iconic space.
This isn’t just another restaurant; it’s a new entry into the “eatertainment” category that Raleigh has been craving. While the city has fantastic bars with games and great upscale cocktail lounges, Smash Social Club aims to fuse the two. It’s a concept designed to bridge the gap between a casual game of beer pong and a high-end night out, all under one (retractable) roof.
“Smash Social Club is all about connection and play,” says Amber Moshakos, president of LM Restaurants. “We mixed great food and handcrafted drinks with the fun of classics like table tennis and beer pong, plus tech-supercharged darts and shuffleboard. It’s an elevated, high-energy space made for Raleigh—perfect for groups, celebrations, and unforgettable nights on Glenwood.”
The Games We Play
The main barroom will be anchored by a 26-seat bar, with TVs dedicated to showing live sporting events. A highlight of the room is the King Table, a showpiece table tennis setup complete with banquette seating for up to eight, which will be available for reservation. For larger groups, the adjacent Paddle Room offers three more table tennis tables and a projection screen, making it an ideal spot for private parties.
The real star, however, may be the expansive outdoor terraces facing Tucker Street and Glenwood Avenue. Designed for year-round fun, they feature retractable windows and roofs to take advantage of North Carolina’s mild weather. Out here, guests will find:
- Two tech-enhanced shuffleboard tables with digital scoring and social media–enabled replays.
- A dart garden with two electric dartboards.
- Five additional table tennis and beer pong tables.
This is a space clearly built for social gatherings, and thankfully you won’t need a membership to join in. Guests can reserve game time in advance or book upon arrival for 90-minute blocks, with prices ranging from $8 to $40.
Elevated Bites and Local Vibe
The food and design are meant to match the upscale part of the social playground promise. The menu is packed with shareable, elevated bar fare. Think cornbread bites with honey butter, barbacoa or chicken tinga nachos, and sweet heat Korean wings. A menu item playfully named “French fries for all” (served with Parmesan, garlic, and parsley) signals the spot’s communal focus. The menu is rounded out with salads, pizzas, sliders, and taco flights, all complemented by a wide selection of craft cocktails, beer, and wine.
The design itself leans into the theme with playful, modern touches. The space features a neon paddle light fixture, ball-inspired hanging lights, and vibrant murals by Durham-based artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz.
A Local Family Affair
What makes this opening particularly exciting for Raleigh is the team behind it. Smash Social Club is the newest concept from LM Restaurants, the Raleigh-based, family-owned hospitality company founded by Lou and Joy Moshakos in 1979. While they operate over 30 restaurants across the Southeast—including more than two dozen Carolina Ale Houses—their local footprint is beloved.
If you’ve had a memorable meal at Taverna Agora, Vidrio, or Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen in Raleigh, or at a’Verde Cocina + Tequila Library in Cary, you’ve experienced their commitment to hospitality. Now led by their daughter, company president Amber Moshakos, the group has been racking up national and local acclaim, recently being named one of the Triangle Business Journal’s 50 fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row.
For Glenwood South, the arrival of Smash Social Club feels like a natural evolution. It’s an active, high-energy destination that isn’t a traditional nightclub, offering a new option for everything from date nights to full-scale celebrations. It represents a significant investment in the neighborhood from a local family that has already given Raleigh so many of its favorite dining rooms.
Smash Social Club will be open from 4–11 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 3 p.m.–2 a.m. Friday, noon–2 a.m. Saturday, and noon–11 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 500 Glenwood Avenue on the 3rd floor. You can follow their progress at @SmashRaleigh on Instagram.
