Full Breakdown
Red Phone Booth Brings 1920s-Era Speakeasy Experience to Downtown Durham
8/21/2026, 9:50:52 PM
Opening Details
Durham’s newest hospitality venue, Red Phone Booth, opened its doors at 125 W. Orange Street. The lounge requires patrons to dial a nightly secret code into a restored red London phone booth to gain entry, recreating a Prohibition-era speakeasy atmosphere. The concept is marketed as a destination for celebrations, networking and elevated nighttime outings.
Concept and Expansion
Red Phone Booth is a nationally recognized speakeasy brand that blends 1920s-inspired design with a modern cocktail program. Prior locations operate in Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas and Miami; the Durham site is the first in North Carolina. The venue emphasizes a curated menu of classic cocktails, rare spirits and a premium cigar selection.
Investors
The Durham project is financed by two local dentists: Dr. Ralph K. Mensah, a Durham resident and entrepreneur, and Dr. Michael A. Thomas, who grew up in North Carolina and built his career there. Both investors highlighted the alignment of the concept with Durham’s evolving culinary and cultural scene.
Features and Offerings
- Cigars: The lounge stocks more than 150 premium cigars, with some reports noting a range of 150–200.
- Spirits & Cocktails: A selection of hard-to-find spirits supports an award-winning cocktail program rooted in classic recipes.
- Air Quality: A state-of-the-art ventilation system using Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization refreshes interior air roughly every two minutes, accommodating both cigar enthusiasts and non-smokers.
- Membership: While not required for entry, members receive priority access, preferred seating, private tastings, rare-bottle showcases, event privileges and personalized cigar storage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Durham is a city that values innovation while honoring its history, and that's exactly what drew us to Red Phone Booth. We wanted to introduce an experience that feels truly distinctive, one that combines exceptional hospitality, timeless craftsmanship and an atmosphere unlike anything else in the market,” — Dr. Ralph K. Mensah, a dentist, Durham resident and entrepreneur
