The restored Warehouse District in Raleigh has become a hub of galleries, shops and restaurants.[Photo/China Daily]

Even before the software company Citrix announced it would open a 550-employee division headquarters in Raleigh's Warehouse District, six blocks of spacious redbrick buildings west of downtown, by the end of this year, the long-dormant area had slowly started to hum with galleries, shops and restaurants.

Retailers not only offer handcrafted items, but also provide a close-up view of the production process to customers. Now, with Citrix's plans to transform the old Dillon Supply building into designer office space, more development is sure to follow.

Designbox: The 2007 relocation of this creative collaborative established the district as an arts hub. In its window-lined retail shop, fronting independent work spaces in plain view, customers browse through locally created goods, including jewelry made from re-purposed materials and plush chenille toys.

307 West Martin Street. 919-834-3552. designbox.us.

Cam Raleigh: Recognizable by its futuristic cantilevered roof, this contemporary art museum was anointed the district's artistic focal point when it opened in 2011. The cavernous space, a former produce warehouse, lends itself to conceptual exhibits such as Ryan Travis Christian's Well, Here We Aren't Again, through June 17.

409 West Martin Street. 919-513-0946. camraleigh.org.

The Pit: Weekend lines form early at Raleigh's prime upscale spot for down home barbecue - as well as the only barbecue place in the city whose meat bears an Animal Welfare Approved label. Locals favor the pit-cooked whole hogs chopped and topped with tangy vinegar sauce.

328 West Davie Street. 919-890-4500. thepit-raleigh.com.

The Curatory at the Raleigh Denim Workshop: Victor and Sarah Lytvinenko's beloved jeans are now found in select shops around the country. But in the couple's original boutique, customers can peer through windows to view workers behind vintage sewing equipment making selvage denim woven from North Carolina cotton.

319 West Martin Street. 919-917-8969. thecuratory.com.

Videri Chocolate Factory: In this century-old former train depot, Sam Ratto, one of the owners, roasts organic beans from Central and South America and blends his 70-percent bars behind picture windows. A full-service coffee bar serving Stumptown Coffee Roasters was added last month.

327 West Davie Street. 919-755-5053. viderichocolatefactory.com.