Nightlife in Downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina, home to a large number of Ft. Bragg soldiers, has never really had a nice area to hang out on the weekends until recently. The downtown area of Fayetteville is growing fast and attracting a new, classy crowd. According to the Sunday's edition of the Fayetteville Observer, the downtown area will have 13 businesses in the downtown area to offer a new venture of entertainment.

Fayetteville, North Carolina has long been known for it's strip-club past, however the leaders of Fayetteville have worked hard to rid the downtown area of its tainted past. Fayetteville leaders and business owners say they have successfully had a hand in changing the reputation that Fayetteville carried in the 1970s and '80s. City officials developed the Downtown Fayetteville 1975-2000 vision plan with a goal to make downtown Fayetteville similar to the French Quarter in New Orleans by fostering a variety of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. (Source: Fayetteville Observer)

As of now, the newest piano bar, The Keys, has become one of the hottest spots in Fayetteville. If you visit, be prepared to pay a cover charge of $5 on Fridays and Saturdays and to abide by the dress code (no baggy clothing and men have to keep their shirts tucked in). The Keys does allow smoking and consists mostly of 20- and 30-somethings with slightly more men than women. As of lately, there has been about a 15 minute wait to get in the door on the weekends, but could easily change as more bars and night clubs open in the area.

The Keys is just one downtown destination that has helped Fayetteville rid its past nickname - Fayettenam. Fayetteville has come a long way since 1983 when it was ranked among the 10 worst places to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report. (Source: Fayetteville Observer)