Wedding DJ at Campus Gas in Winston Salem, NC

The Space

Campus Gas is a 1965 Phillips 66 Harlequin-style gas station with a distinctive V-shaped red batwing canopy, built in the Oak Crest Historic District and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was originally a country store before becoming a Phillips 66 gas station where cars stopped for fuel and small groceries from the late 1960s until 2018. Three Wake Forest University alumni, Ben Ingold, John Clowney, and Will Volker, purchased the property, underwent a two-year rezoning process with city and neighborhood officials, and renovated it into a bar and grill.

The 3,200-square-foot building sits on 1.25 acres with 185 feet of road frontage on Polo Road, located directly across from Wake Forest University. The interior features a bar and grill with long live-edge wooden tables and metal chairs. Glass roll-up doors open to an outdoor seating area. Two restored vintage gas pumps remain on the property as non-functional historic features. The space retains mid-century modern character: open ceilings, visible beam structure, and the iconic red batwing canopy that is the building’s defining exterior feature.

Capacity & Layout

The interior space accommodates dining and standing guests, with the outdoor area expanding capacity. The exact guest count depends on your event configuration and whether you use interior, exterior, or both spaces. The 3,200-square-foot building with outdoor space provides flexibility for different event sizes and styles. The property includes 32 parking spaces, which is adequate for event parking without requiring overflow arrangements.

The glass roll-up doors create a flexible boundary between interior and exterior space. Interior tables and seating are the primary fixture. The outdoor area uses the building’s setback from Polo Road to create privacy from traffic. The building’s single-story structure and open-ceiling design mean interior sound stays contained and does not reflect through multiple levels or echo chambers.

Amenities

Campus Gas operates as a bar and grill with a full commercial kitchen capable of catering or direct food service. The full bar includes local craft beers and ciders on tap. Restroom facilities are integrated into the operational business. Parking is on-site with 32 spaces. The glass roll-up doors allow for ventilation and flexible indoor-outdoor flow. The outdoor seating area is accessed directly from the bar interior.

The vintage aesthetic is built in: the restored gas station character, the live-edge wood tables, the iconic batwing canopy, and the mid-century modern details require no additional decoration. The building’s historic charm and walkability to Wake Forest University provide natural appeal for university-connected events.

Location & Getting There

Campus Gas is located on Polo Road in the Oak Crest Historic District, directly across from Wake Forest University. The neighborhood was developed in the 1920s as a residential area, and Campus Gas sits as the only retail business allowed in the residential neighborhood per zoning restrictions, which protects the surrounding area from further commercial encroachment. Winston-Salem’s downtown is a short drive away.

The location is deliberate and walkable for Wake Forest-adjacent crowds. The building’s brick structure and the glass roll-up doors facing the outdoor patio create acoustic separation between interior and exterior; the open ceiling inside absorbs sound frequencies naturally without hard reflecting surfaces, and the outdoor area is sheltered from road noise by the building’s setback from Polo Road, allowing DJ setups to deliver clear interior sound and outdoor coverage without interference from street traffic or echo from nearby buildings.