Dix Park Conservancy Brings Local Hospitality to Historic Flowers Cottage
Coffee shop and bar with outdoor play area and redesigned interiors coming soon to west side of Dix Park
(RALEIGH, NC) – December 11, 2025 – Dix Park Conservancy (DPC) is bringing new energy to the west side of Dix Park with a major remodel of The Flowers Cottage — a long-loved destination overlooking Flowers Field.
The project will introduce two new concession spaces at Flowers Cottage: Cottage Coffee and Park Bar. The interior and back deck of Flowers Cottage will be remodeled to welcome neighborhood coffee drinkers and daytime park visitors. A new, covered outdoor space will accommodate Park Bar, a perfect spot to unwind after hunting for Thomas Dambo’s trolls, playing in the big field, or biking the greenway. Adding to the park’s spirit of adventure, a small play area will feature natural elements akin to some of the features in the Gipson Play Plaza. The adjacent Flowers Field will serve as an open “back yard.”
With an upfit designed by Maurer Architecture and built by Northgate Construction, the reimagined cottage’s coffee shop and bar will serve an array of beverages and grab-and-go fare. The expanded back deck will offer sweeping views of Flowers Field, and the new bar beneath the deck will offer beer and wine service.
“Flowers Field and the Cottage are iconic destinations at Dix Park,” said Ruffin Hall, CEO of Dix Park Conservancy. “With the surge in visitors since the opening of Gipson Play Plaza and the arrival of the Trolls, we saw this expansion and remodel as the perfect project for providing a hub to all of the activity on this half of the park. The remodeled cottage and expansive back deck will be the perfect spot for visitors to rest and recharge as they explore.”
Jeff Clarke and Justin Pasfield will operate Cottage Coffee and Park Bar. Raleigh residents may recognize Clarke and Pasfield from several downtown favorites, including Person Street Bar, Locals Seafood and Natural Science.
Cottage Coffee will feature locally-roasted coffee, a curated tea selection, soft-serve ice cream from a local dairy, and a variety of baked goods and picnic provisions from Raleigh food industry partners. Park Bar, located beneath the expanded back deck, will deliver on the same quality as Person Street Bar and Natural Science Bar, including craft beer and wine, plus some non-alcoholic options and concessions. While both concepts will be located at Flowers Cottage, their hours of operation will differ.
“We’re known for operating welcoming neighborhood bars in well-loved locations, with a commitment to quality and local collaborators. Cottage Coffee will be our first foray into coffee and will give us the chance to work with local partners on baked goods, ice cream and picnic provisions,” said Jeff Clarke, co-owner of Cottage Coffee and Park Bar. “Park Bar will bring our signature neighborhood bar hospitality to an iconic landmark. We can’t wait to pour you a cup of coffee or a cold beer with a view of the sunflower field and the Raleigh skyline.”
“This project is an exciting partnership between us, the Dix Park Conservancy and the City of Raleigh. We are honored to be part of the evolution of Dix Park and look forward to bringing our neighborhood-driven style of hospitality to the historic Flowers Cottage,” added Justin Pasfield, co-owner of Cottage Coffee and Park Bar.
The Flowers Cottage renovation marks another step in the Dix Park Conservancy’s ongoing effort to create inviting, community-driven spaces that bring people together in the heart of Raleigh’s largest urban park.
About Dix Park Conservancy
The City of Raleigh owns and operates Dorothea Dix Park. Dix Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the City in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic and community engagement partner, and ensure the creation and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, health, and celebration that will enrich our quality of life in North Carolina. In 2025, The Washington Post named Dix one of “8 city parks in the U.S. worthy of a trip.”