Back to 1951: Players Retreat Celebrates 75 Years with 25¢ Hot Dogs & 35¢ Beers
Players Retreat has been part of Raleigh’s story for 75 years, and we’re celebrating the milestone the only way we know how—by turning back the clock.
On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, “Gus” Gusler and the PR crew will mark the occasion with 1951 prices:
🌭 25-cent hot dogs
🍺 35-cent Budweiser drafts
It’s a throwback to the year it all began—and a thank-you to generations of regulars who’ve made Players Retreat what it is today.
Come early, grab a dog and a draft, and raise a glass to 75 years of good times, great stories, and the community that’s kept Players Retreat going strong. After all—this is just the start of the next 75.
And as we celebrate 75 years of PR, it turns out the rest of the world is finally catching on, too. 😉
Southern Living Figures Out What We’ve Known for 75 Years…
For decades, Players Retreat has been more than just a bar—it’s been a gathering place for Raleigh. And recently, Southern Living put words to what generations of locals have always known.
In a recent feature, Southern Living highlighted Players Retreat as a rare kind of institution—one rooted in inclusion, community, and consistency since opening its doors in 1951. The article traces PR’s history from its early days under founders Bernie and Mickey Hanula to its current chapter under Gus Gusler, celebrating the bar’s enduring role as a place where students, artists, athletes, politicians, and lifelong regulars all feel equally at home.
As Southern Living notes:
“It’s hard to really say, but it’s always been an inclusive place.”
That welcoming spirit—the idea that everyone belongs at the same bar, sharing the same stories—is exactly what’s carried Players Retreat through 75 years and counting. It’s why the PR feels timeless, and why celebrating this milestone by looking back to 1951 feels just right.
Check out the full article here, and we hope you will join us on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.