3,900 Hot Dogs. 3,100 Budweisers. One Very Rainy, Very Perfect 75th Birthday.
If you needed proof that Raleigh loves Players Retreat, the line said it all.
On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, before the doors even opened, a crowd had already gathered outside, umbrellas up, rain coming down, and excitement building. And once the doors opened, the line didn’t stop.
All day long, friends, neighbors, longtime regulars, and NC State fans, came together to celebrate 75 years of Players Retreat.
And celebrate they did.
By the end of the day we had served 3,900 hot dogs and poured 3,100 Budweisers—all at 1951 prices—$0.25 for hot dogs and $0.35 Budweiser drafts.
Rain may have been in the forecast, but it didn’t keep anyone away.
Raleigh Showed Up
One of the best parts of the day was seeing just how many people shared their memories and excitement online.
“Amazing to see Raleigh come out and wait in the rain and a long line to celebrate 75 years! I always love the regulars and the good conversations here.” – Rachel (33 for 33)
“What a great day! Props to the entire staff for working their butts off and cranking out those dogs & beers!” — Lisa
“A Raleigh icon!” — Best Local NC
“Oh my so many memories in that place! ❤️” — Betty
And some of our favorite throwback stories from longtime customers:
“Late 70’s, I used to sit at the bar beside Bernie Hanula and watch ACC basketball… Great times!” — Pam
“We had a few beers at the ‘PR’ when I was a student at State from 62 to 67.” — Art
“Happy Birthday to my favorite bar—been a customer since 1970!” — Chuck
Moments like these remind us that Players Retreat isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a place where decades of memories live.
The Media Came to Celebrate, Too
We were incredibly grateful to see so many local outlets help us celebrate this milestone.
From stories about the history of PR to coverage of the anniversary celebration itself, the support from our local media partners meant the world to us.
Special thanks to:
Triangle Business Journal, Southern Living, Raleigh Weekend, This is Raleigh, RALToday, Triangle On The Cheap, AXIOS, The Triangle Weekender, and many more.
One of our favorite moments came from RALToday, whose team stopped by to grab hot dogs at 1951 prices:
“Last Thursday, our team stopped by Players Retreat to celebrate 75 years of Raleigh history, ordering eight hot dogs at 1951 prices—a whopping 25¢ each. Help me raise a virtual toast to decades of community, stories, and good times. Here’s to the next 75.”
As The Daily Digest noted when reflecting on PR’s history:
“Raleigh had a population of about 66,000, and NC State had more than 5,000 students when Bernie and Mickey Hanula opened the restaurant. The city is now home to more than 500,000, while the university enrolls more than 39,000 students.”
Through all that growth, Players Retreat has remained a constant gathering place for the Raleigh community.
Cheers to the Next 75 Years
To everyone who stood in the rain, shared a story, grabbed a hot dog, raised a Budweiser, posted a memory, or helped spread the word, thank you.
And to the generations of customers, staff, and friends who have made Players Retreat what it is today…Cheers to the first 75 years. And cheers to the next 75. 🍻