About Us
The Station at
Southern Rail
Southern Rail
Mike Benson has managed restaurants and bars in
Washington, DC, Savannah, Georgia, and Chapel Hill,
North Carolina. Café Saint-Ex, in the heart of Washington,
D.C., was his first foray into designing his own restaurant
(www.saint-ex.com). The vintage aviation motif of Saint-Ex
expresses a passion for flight passed to Mike through
generations by his grandfather (a WWI biplane pilot) and
father (a twin-engine airplane pilot).
Bar Pilar, also in downtown Washington D.C., is centered
around a nautical theme inspired by Hemingway's beloved
fishing boat, the "Pilar" and the strong willed revolutionary
in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." (www.barpilar.com).
Washington, DC, Savannah, Georgia, and Chapel Hill,
North Carolina. Café Saint-Ex, in the heart of Washington,
D.C., was his first foray into designing his own restaurant
(www.saint-ex.com). The vintage aviation motif of Saint-Ex
expresses a passion for flight passed to Mike through
generations by his grandfather (a WWI biplane pilot) and
father (a twin-engine airplane pilot).
Bar Pilar, also in downtown Washington D.C., is centered
around a nautical theme inspired by Hemingway's beloved
fishing boat, the "Pilar" and the strong willed revolutionary
in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." (www.barpilar.com).
| Southern Rail rests comfortably between active local freight tracks in the heart of Carrboro, NC. This is Chapel Hill native Mike Benson's third restaurant design, coupling beautifully restored vintage railroad cars with an industrial steel and glass platform enclosure. Original Art Deco and Nouveau inspired murals have been added throughout the train cars, complemented by colorful decoupage installations, historic signage, and authentic railroad memorabilia, to invoke a journey through historic rail travel and popular culture across the ages. Southern Rail offers a creative blend of charm and edge, both in atmosphere and culinary experience. |
website designed by Danny Miller
Mike is also an
accomplished photographer
who founded independent
Washington DC gallery,
Ozone Studio.
His photography has been
exhibited and published
worldwide.
(www.ozonestudio.com).
accomplished photographer
who founded independent
Washington DC gallery,
Ozone Studio.
His photography has been
exhibited and published
worldwide.
(www.ozonestudio.com).
Southern Rail has recently renovated and re-opened the historic Carrboro train
depot building adjacent to the rail cars. Dating back to 1892, this was one of the
first commercial buildings in Carrboro (then known as the town of "Venable"), at a
time when a flour mill, a cotton gin, a blacksmith, and a few small homes were the
only other buildings that existed in town. The site is now dubbed "the Station at
Southern Rail," in homage to its original roots as the first train station in the region,
as well as its more recent incarnation as a popular music venue where bands such
as REM played in the 1970s-80s.
Perhaps the most interesting fixture in Benson's restoration of the Station is the
massive hand-carved hardwood bar, which has a rich history all its own and has
been lovingly refurbished by local craftsmen. The bar itself was originally created
for the "Hotel Washington", built in 1917 and located directly across the street from
the White House in Washington DC. The hotel is famous for its rooftop terrace
looking down on the White House, and has been frequented by a diverse range of
guests over the years, including Elvis Presley, Ronald Reagan, Ernest Borgnine,
Richard Gere, Aretha Franklin, Charley Pride, Jodie Foster and Tom Cruise to name
just a few. The hotel also served as backdrop for numerous events and films,
including "The Godfather Part II" and "No Way Out".
Many luminaries have "bellied up" to the historic Station bar when it stood at the
Hotel Washington during the period from 1917 to the 1950s, including Presidents,
Vice Presidents (e.g., John Nance Garner, VP under F.D. Roosevelt lived in the
Hotel for 9 years), cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, Supreme Court
Justices (e.g., Justice Frank Murphy also lived at the Hotel), and a wide array of
entertainers such as John Wayne, Duke Ellington, Will Rogers, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, and members of the Ziegfeld Follies cast.
When the Hotel Washington was renovated in the 1950s, the bar itself was moved
several blocks away to Blackie's House of Beef, a historic Washington DC steak
house. Sadly, Blackie's closed in Spring 2006, at which time Benson was able to
bring the bar and other memorabilia on the journey South to their new home in
Carrboro. Come see for yourself how DC's loss is Carrboro's gain!
depot building adjacent to the rail cars. Dating back to 1892, this was one of the
first commercial buildings in Carrboro (then known as the town of "Venable"), at a
time when a flour mill, a cotton gin, a blacksmith, and a few small homes were the
only other buildings that existed in town. The site is now dubbed "the Station at
Southern Rail," in homage to its original roots as the first train station in the region,
as well as its more recent incarnation as a popular music venue where bands such
as REM played in the 1970s-80s.
Perhaps the most interesting fixture in Benson's restoration of the Station is the
massive hand-carved hardwood bar, which has a rich history all its own and has
been lovingly refurbished by local craftsmen. The bar itself was originally created
for the "Hotel Washington", built in 1917 and located directly across the street from
the White House in Washington DC. The hotel is famous for its rooftop terrace
looking down on the White House, and has been frequented by a diverse range of
guests over the years, including Elvis Presley, Ronald Reagan, Ernest Borgnine,
Richard Gere, Aretha Franklin, Charley Pride, Jodie Foster and Tom Cruise to name
just a few. The hotel also served as backdrop for numerous events and films,
including "The Godfather Part II" and "No Way Out".
Many luminaries have "bellied up" to the historic Station bar when it stood at the
Hotel Washington during the period from 1917 to the 1950s, including Presidents,
Vice Presidents (e.g., John Nance Garner, VP under F.D. Roosevelt lived in the
Hotel for 9 years), cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, Supreme Court
Justices (e.g., Justice Frank Murphy also lived at the Hotel), and a wide array of
entertainers such as John Wayne, Duke Ellington, Will Rogers, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, and members of the Ziegfeld Follies cast.
When the Hotel Washington was renovated in the 1950s, the bar itself was moved
several blocks away to Blackie's House of Beef, a historic Washington DC steak
house. Sadly, Blackie's closed in Spring 2006, at which time Benson was able to
bring the bar and other memorabilia on the journey South to their new home in
Carrboro. Come see for yourself how DC's loss is Carrboro's gain!
