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GREENSBORO - The owners of Natty Greene's Pub and Brewing Co., one of the city's most popular eating places, plan to replicate their concept in Raleigh and beyond.

"We're expanding," said Chris Lester, co-owner of the restaurant at 345 S. Elm St. "We are pretty excited about it."

The new restaurant, at 505 W. Jones St. near the state capitol, should open in September or October.

Lester and co-owner Kayne Fisher opened Natty Greene's just over four years ago. In 2007, they expanded their beer making operation by opening a brewery on West Lee Street , which allowed the pair to begin servicing grocery stores and other bars and restaurants.

Lester said he and Fisher have been considering a Raleigh restaurant for two years. By 2011 or so, they hope to expand into Charlotte.

"We want to become North Carolina's brewery," Lester said. "We need to establish ourselves in the large metropolitan areas to achieve that goal."

That's why the two decided not to open another brew pub in Greensboro.

"We feel like we are well established in the Triad with our Greensboro location," Lester said. "Having one pub location in each market is the way to go."

The Raleigh pub will have a slightly expanded menu but the same feel as the one in Greensboro.

Both are in old buildings, can seat about 500 , have in-house breweries and space for private parties.

"It has a warehouse feel," Lester said of the Raleigh location, which used to house the power station for the capital's trolley system. "It was a good fit."

Lester said he and Fisher initially don't plan to sell their beers to Raleigh groceries and restaurants.

"We want to establish the brand with the brew pub," he said. "We don't have the bottling capacity to establish another area." But he added that the Lee Street brewery can be expanded.

Lester said he's confident a second Natty Greene's will succeed, even in a deep recession.

"We aren't selling steaks and high-end wine," he said. "We are selling beer and burgers - comfort food - at a value price .... The Raleigh market is a good market."

Lester said he and Fisher will have two partners in the Raleigh operation - Greensboro businessmen John Lomax and Daniel Craft, who own the building that houses the downtown Natty Greene's.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com