After more than a decade of pouring pinot and craft brews across the Triangle, Triangle Wine Company has quietly shut the doors at all of its shops in Cary, Holly Springs, Raleigh and Southern Pines this month. In a farewell message, the owners said they “could simply not remain in business any longer,” pointing to changing political and economic realities as the breaking point. The closures also lined up with North Carolina regulators cancelling alcohol permits that were not renewed by June 1.
What Closed And Who Was Behind It
According to The News & Observer, Triangle Wine Company opened in 2011, growing from its original Morrisville store into locations at Cary’s Waverly Place, as well as in Holly Springs, Raleigh and Southern Pines. The business was owned by partners Chris Roche, Glenn Hagedorn, Tom Terwilliger and Kevin Adair. The Morrisville shop had already shut down in 2018, the paper notes. In the farewell note, the owners thanked customers for “countless fond memories” and confirmed the remaining stores would not reopen.
Permits And Why They Matter
The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission reports that any permits not renewed or registered by the deadline were cancelled on June 1, and that impacted businesses must apply for new retail permits before they can resume alcohol sales. As detailed by the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, this blanket cancellation applied to permit holders that missed the renewal window. Triangle Wine Company’s own website currently shows a “technical difficulties” message, and its store-locations page still lists the Cary and Holly Springs addresses.
Ripple Effect Across The Triangle
The shutdown lands amid a rough stretch for small alcohol retailers and taprooms in North Carolina. Reporting from Axios Raleigh shows that craft breweries statewide saw slowing growth and more closures than openings last year, and several Triangle taprooms have already folded this spring. Local owners and reporters point to rising operating costs, shifting consumer habits and shrinking margins as key pressures behind the recent wave of closures.
What Customers Are Saying Goodbye To
In their goodbye note, the owners thanked loyal patrons and “especially the four-legged friends who helped us to make new customers feel right at home,” signing off with a final toast. The News & Observer shared the full closing message and pointed readers to the shop’s Instagram post chronicling the announcement. For now, regulars and former staff will have to turn to other local bottle shops and tasting rooms while the owners consider their next steps.
