One of my favorite blogs to put together is the end-of-year summary because it illustrates exactly why we feel like there is something new opening in Durham all the time…there is! In the span of just one year, our food scene has stretched even further. Here’s a look…
On Trend
In a trending city, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more trendy foods pop up. Like it or not, this also means the arrival of regional and national chains. The silver lining is that several are franchised by Triangle families.
We went from having zero to having two rolled ice cream shops: Snow Factory on 9th Street and Sweet Charlie’s in South Durham.We also have the first Pokeworks (a poke and sushi burrito chain) to arrive in North Carolina. It opened this fall on the ground floor of One City Center.
Slice of Durham
This city also continues to prove you can never really have too much pizza. That’s probably because each pizza place has its own style and vibe, which varies enough one from the next, so that you don’t feel like they are in direct competition. Some people have their favorites, others rotate between them all!
First off, a build-your-own custom pizza chain, Blaze Pizza, moved into Patterson Place off of Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
Over the summer, Hutchins Garage rehabbed an old auto garage in downtown Durham and has a good business going, serving both crispy and thicker-crust grandma style pies.
And just before the new year, East Durham got it own locally owned spot: Sofia’s Pizza.
New Brews
From Asheville, Hi-Wire Brewing found a second home here in Durham, opening a fun taproom in Goldenbelt this fall.The Wine Feed decided to expand from their location in Raleigh and opened a retail space, stylish wine bar and adjacent event space on S. Roxboro Street.
Keeping Caffeinated
Everyone loves a new spot to grab that morning cup of joe, and now, there are even more options with more possibilities.
Foster Street Coffee on the ground floor of Liberty Apartments (across from Durham Central Park) provides a relaxing modern space to get single origin coffee, teas, smoothies, and pastries, including many from local vendors.
In South Durham, off of Highway 751, People’s Coffee provides coffee, cold-pressed juice and grab-and-go food items.
Expanding Ideas
This year, we also saw a lot of restaurant expansions…businesses moving into larger spaces or opening second locations.
Bulldega Market moved into a bigger space in a prime spot on the ground floor of One City Center.
Across the street, Neomonde Mediterranean Deli joined the Durham scene after establishing their very successful restaurants in Raleigh.
The Glass Jug, a South Durham bottle shop, moved into a much larger space in the same plaza, and now has its own brewery and beer garden.
Duck Donuts, which originated in Duck NC, now has a delicious Durham storefront off of 15-501.
One of our favorite Durham chefs, Mike Lee, added to his restaurant group this fall with the arrival of M Tempura, which opened in the old Scratch Bakery spot on Orange Street.Old Havana closed, but the owners moved just a short distance down the road, opening COPA, which still highlights delicious Cuban fare.
Continued Variety
One thing I love about all the new restaurants coming onto the scene is that there is no lack of variety.
Downtown, we have a new Italian restaurant tucked away on West Main Street, called Cucciolo Osteria, and a new Thai restaurant in Dame’s old space: Thai on Main Street.
On Erwin Road, there is a new Indian restaurant, Naan Stop, with a filling buffet that we like to indulge in for lunch and weekends.In a plaza off of Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., we have new Zimbabwean, Zweli’s; on Old Chapel Hill Road, Eastcut Sandwich Bar took over where the short-lived Finch’s restaurant stood; in a South Durham plaza, you will find a family-owned sushi burrito (as well as other menu items like sushi nachos and bowls) spot called Sushioki;at The Southpoint Mall, a Mexican chain known for fresh-made food, Uncle Julio’s opened doors, and up in North Durham, Skrimp Shack, offers up affordable and filling fried fish.
As you can see, it’s been another busy year in the Bull City with plenty of places to add to your 2019 bucket list. You can always view the 2017 and 2016 recaps for even more ideas.
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