StarBar, the East Raleigh nightclub that has been on law enforcement's radar for years, was ordered to shut its doors on a temporary basis Friday after a civil nuisance abatement action filed by Raleigh police and state Alcohol Law Enforcement. Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins signed a temporary restraining order that blocks the club from operating or being sold while the case moves forward. A hearing to decide whether the venue can reopen or face longer-term restrictions is expected within the next 10 days.
Temporary restraining order and the civil filing
As reported by WRAL, Raleigh police and the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division brought a civil nuisance abatement action against StarBar and its owners that led to the court order. The filing asks the court to require that nuisance-related criminal activity stop on the property and to weigh measures that could permanently limit how the site is used.
State enforcement history
The club is no stranger to state enforcement. In October 2020, the North Carolina ABC Commission issued a summary suspension of StarBar's permits based on sworn statements from ALE and Raleigh officers. More recently, ALE's probe triggered another high-level enforcement action in April 2025, according to the NC Department of Public Safety, which described an ongoing pattern of violent incidents tied to the property.
How nuisance abatement works
North Carolina's nuisance-abatement laws give judges broad authority to temporarily close a location, freeze its sale and order fixes when a site is shown to be a persistent source of criminal activity. Under state law, a judge can require the owner to post a bond or take specific steps to address the problems while the case plays out, and these disputes are typically handled in Superior Court. For the legal fine print, see the N.C. General Statutes.
Neighbors and safety record
Neighbors and nearby businesses have repeatedly contacted police about violence at the Trawick Road site, and reporting shows law enforcement has logged numerous calls and several shootings connected to activity at or near the bar. WRAL has cataloged those incidents, while local coverage of an earlier shooting outside the venue is archived under Gunfire Erupts Outside Star Bar, which captures the neighborhood's reaction after past violence.
The temporary order is intended to hit pause on operations and property transfers while the court decides whether StarBar can be run without posing an ongoing danger to the surrounding blocks. The coming Wake County Superior Court hearing will determine whether the current restraints turn into a longer-term abatement or whether the owners can satisfy conditions to resume lawful operations.
