Bull City Staples: Legacy Durham Businesses

Durham has gone through many renaissances. Tobacco money raised the mills. Black entrepreneurs turned Parrish Street into Black Wall Street, a few blocks from the Hayti community that urban renewal and the Durham Freeway later tore apart. Gen X and elder-millenials proudly tell you about Geer Street before the Liberty Apartments. The Bull City has seen some changes. But Durham's entrepreneurial spirit has never wavered. 

The legacy Durham businesses below have stayed through all of it. Durham business owners believe in the Bull City and have planted family-owned pharmacies, pioneering insurance companies, banks and more. Here, we celebrate just some of the longtime inns, eateries and shops that have been in our community for 15+ years. Eat where locals' parents and grandparents ate. Shop where the owner knows your name. 

Barbecue And Soul Food Restaurants In Durham

Durham's oldest kitchens run on smoke and Southern tradition. Pork smoked low and slow. Collards that started simmering before you rolled out of bed. Some of these restaurants fed tobacco workers on their lunch breaks, and they still feed the city after church on Sunday. You haven’t had real Southern food until you’ve tried these Durham staples.

The Chicken Hut

3019 Fayetteville St.

You haven’t had fried chicken 'till you've eaten at The Chicken Hut. Founded in 1957, The Chicken Hut is the oldest Black-owned restaurant in Durham. It got its start in Hayti. Then the Durham Freeway came through, displacing hundreds of Black homes and businesses, and the promised help to rebuild never came. The family started over near North Carolina Central University, and customers followed. Now in its second generation of family ownership, the Fayetteville Street building was recently named a local historic landmark. Order the fried chicken. Add mac and cheese. And collards. Bring cash and your appetite.  

Bullock's Bar-B-Cue

3330 Quebec Dr.

In the 1940s, Glen Bullock cooked pigs behind his house and sold the barbecue to neighbors by the pound. Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue restaurant followed in 1952 and has been pulling pork ever since, making it one of the longest continuously operating restaurants in Durham. Signed photos of celebrities who have visited cover the walls. Sweet tea is served in red, plastic cups. Order the chopped barbecue with hush puppies and Brunswick stew.

Currents Cafeteria

3002 N Roxboro St.

For more than five decades, Deborah Craig and Sook Rha have made this hole-in-the-wall stop a place you can enjoy all the Southern classics. Grab a tray and save room for the sides.  

Burgers, Hot Dogs and Sandwich Shops

A Durham lunch doesn't need a tablecloth. It needs mustard, a form of fried potato and a window to order from. These are the counters where a line forms at noon and nobody complains.

King's Sandwich Shop

701 Foster St.

Red, white and impossible to miss at the corner of Foster and Geer streets. King's first fired up its grill in 1942. Order at the window. Get your hot dog all the way. Add crinkle-cut fries and a milkshake. Eat it at a picnic table with the sun on your back. Do not forget the tater tots. 

Bull City Burger and Brewery

107 E. Parrish St. #10

This brewpub opened in March 2011 on Parrish Street. Nearly everything is made in house: the buns, the pickles, the ketchup, the beer. The beef comes from pasture-raised, grass-fed North Carolina cattle and gets ground daily. It was the first certified B Corp restaurant in North Carolina. Start with the pickle chips and a Parrish Street Pale Ale. 

Only Burger

3710 Shannon Rd. Suite 118

Since 2008, "The only burger you'll ever want!" has gained devoted followers from its food truck to its Shannon Road brick-and-mortar. The menu stays simple on purpose. Order a cheeseburger and fries, make it a double if you're hungry. 

Toast 

345 W. Main St. 

Billy and Kelli Cotter opened their Italian sandwich shop in 2008. Crostini, salads and soup made that morning. Kelli works the register most days, and when she remembers your name, you're officially local. Take your sandwich to the front patio and watch Main Street go by.

Jimmy's Famous Hot Dogs

2728 Guess Rd. & 4435 NC HWY 55

Jimmy’s Famous Hotdogs has been family owned and operated since they opened on 11/11/11. Order a Jimmy's Famous with cheese if it's your first visit to get a taste of the classic. 

Diners And Breakfast Spots

Coffee refills before you ask. A towering side of home fries. The same regulars are in their booth every Saturday. You may even spot a friendly Durham firefighter having their lunch. These two Durham diners always hit the spot.

Elmo's Diner  

776 9th St.

For more than 20 years, Elmo's has anchored the Ninth Street district with pancakes, omelets and meatloaf served to Duke students, families and everybody's favorite regular. Slide into a booth. Order the classics. Linger over your coffee.

Silver Spoon Restaurant

5230 N. Roxboro Rd.

Since 2007, locals have been welcomed like family to this warm and welcoming diner. The outside may look unassuming, but the home-cooked breakfasts are nostalgic and delicious. Owned and run by the Abuali family, who immigrated from Palestinian, don’t miss picking up some of Suha’s famous baklava on the way out. Order a few because you definitely won’t want to share.  

Neighborhood Restaurants

Some Durham dinners go on the calendar weeks ahead. Wedding anniversaries. College graduations. The holiday brunch with your friends you plan the whole year around. These dining rooms have hosted all of it and held their standards while the city changed around them.

Nanas  

2514 University Dr.

Chef Scott Howell opened Nana's in Rockwood in 1992. Durham said goodbye in 2018. In 2023, chef Matt Kelly brought it back without the apostrophe and with an atmosphere that makes you want to stay all night sipping the coldest martini in town. The legendary Rockwood restaurant has a wine list that rewards the curious and received Michelin Recommended status in 2025.

Parizade

2200 W Main St.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Parizade is the flagship restaurant in legendary restauranteur Giorgios Bakatsias' still-growing legacy of businesses. Diners flock to enjoy this staple's signature service and Mediterranean flavors, and devotees especially look forward to holiday brunch buffets.

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant  

4711 Hope Valley Rd.

Open since 1994, this Southern Italian dining room has been voted Durham's best Italian restaurant five times. Regulars keep coming back for the red sauce, the fair prices and a staff that remembers their order.

Asian Restaurants In Durham

Durham's Asian restaurants fed this city long before anyone called it the tastiest town in the South. Family-run takeout counters. Sushi bars. A Korean fusion truck that grew into a South Durham fixture. 

KoKyu

245 E. NC-54 Ste. 105

A South Durham staple, KoKyu is an old school/new school Korean fusion spot than has amazing banh-mi, ma'dang, bowls, tacos and more. With humble beginnings as a food truck in 2010, people loved KoKyu's flavors so much, owner David “Flip” Filippini was able to open a brick-and-mortar store. Order the banh mi or the faux mi.  

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant

3433 Hillsborough Rd.

Open since the late 1980s, Shanghai serves American Chinese takeout favorites alongside authentic Cantonese dishes from chef Wang's kitchen.  

Sitar Indian Cuisine 

3630 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd.

If the interiors of this restaurant are ever touched, Durham may riot. For over 25 years, this restaurant has rewarded those who pull off of Chapel Hill Boulevard with some of the best Indian restaurant in Durham. The lunch buffet offers regional favorites from South Indian coconut curries to rich Northern makhani. Every other Thursday, you’ll find a vegan dinner buffet even the most stubborn carnivores will enjoy.  

Mexican and South American Restaurants

Durham's Latino families built these kitchens by hand — in at least one case, literally. Tortillas hot off the press. Chicken roasting over charcoal. Burritos at 3 a.m. Eat well and know the history and love in each bite.

Super Taqueria and La Superior  

2842 N. Roxboro St. & 3325 N. Roxboro St. 

When no one would rent to her, Mexican immigrant Rosalia Flores secured a loan from Mechanics and Farmers Bank — the Black-owned bank founded on Durham's Black Wall Street — and built Super Taqueria herself in 2001. Four years later, she opened La Superior, a full supermarket with a panaderia, taqueria and tortilleria. Buy a stack of tortillas still warm from the press. Eat one before you reach the car.

Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken  

It opened in North Durham in 2007 under the name Mami Nora's. Today, Alpaca roasts charcoal chicken at locations across Durham and the Triangle. Pair a quarter chicken with yuca fries, tostones and sweet maduros.

Cosmic Cantina

1920 Perry St.

Burritos, nachos, chimichangas and quesadillas, rolled for Duke and NCCU students and Durham night owls since 1995. The kitchen runs 11 a.m.-4 a.m. every day. Make it your last stop.

Pizza Places In Durham

Thin crust. Thick crust. New York style. Wood-fired. We love all ‘za in Durham. If you’re craving the best pizza in Durham, we’re here to help you find your perfect slice.  

Devil's Pizzeria

742 9th St.

Since 2008, Devil's has served sinfully delicious pizza to Duke students and pizza fans. The electric glow of neon signs in the window beckon you in. The menu will keep you coming back. The selection of vegan pizza options is exceptional, bar none. 

Pie Pushers

117A W. Main St.

From a food truck known for specialty pizzas and wings to a downtown brick-and-mortar location and concessions stand at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Pie Pushers and Durham just go together like... well, wings and pizza. We're just a winning combination. Order a specialty slice, pick up a creative pie (yes, pickles belong on pizza), drop in for their un-beatable Wing Wednesday deal and don't you dare miss their fried brussels spouts with Alabama white sauce. 

Randy's Pizza

In 1995, Randy Smith brought authentic New York-style pizza to the Triangle when he opened the first Randy's Pizza on MLK Blvd. Now with eight locations in the Triangle (five are in Durham county), get a 14-inch pizza for a weeknight meal, or order a humongous 30-inch pie and make it a party. 

Bakeries and Dessert Shops

Follow your nose. Durham's bakers have pulled bread from the oven before sunrise for decades, and one local pop maker turned a vintage van into a summer ritual.

LocoPops

2618 Hillsborough Rd. and 600 Foster St. Ste. A

LocoPops started in 2005 as a vintage van selling Mexican-style paletas. Now it's a family friendly shop with a rotating case of pops and ice cream. Find their original van popping up around town, grab your favorite flavor at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park or stop by LocoShop for sundries, speciality groceries and, of course, popsicles.

Ninth Street Bakery 

136 E. Chapel Hill St.

The smell of warm bread has drifted from this bakery since 1981. It started on Ninth Street — hence the name — and now runs a full-service cafe downtown, plus a wholesale operation supplying shops and restaurants between Greensboro and Raleigh. Grab a loaf for the road.

Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten 

2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.

Since 1998, Guglhupf has baked with its southern German roots on full display, using local, seasonal ingredients. Take coffee and a pastry to the patio in the morning. Return for a beer in the biergarten at dusk.

Chez Moi

Brown. Sugar. Vanilla. Rum. Cake. Those words are all delicious on their own, but when Rhonda Jones puts them together, you get a cake so delicious, it’s ordered for delivery across the country. Founded in 2005, Rhonda left her corporate job in 2015 to run the business full time. Place an order through her website for nationwide shipping along with local pickup and delivery. 

Coffee Shops and Roasters

Durham takes coffee seriously enough that Counter Culture Coffee, now roasting for over 30 years and shipping beans to cafes across the country, got its start here. Pull up a chair. Stay for the second cup.

Bars, Pubs, Breweries and Bottle Shops

Every Durham neighborhood has its bar. The one where the bartender starts pouring your usual before you sit down. Where the pool tables have seen decades of bad breaks, good stories and even Kevin Costner.

James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant

912 W. Main St.

James Joyce has poured pints since 1998, pairing them with pub fare made from fresh, local ingredients. Order bangers and mash or a Reuben piled with house-made corned beef. Come Tuesday for trivia and fish and chips.

The Green Room

1108 Broad St.

Ten pool tables. Cold beer. More than 30 years of practice. The Green Room even landed a scene in the 1988 film "Bull Durham." You haven’t done a ladies night right until you go to the Green Room. Rack 'em up.

Fullsteam Brewery

900 Park Offices Dr. & 320 Blackwell St. #101

Fullsteam has brewed plow-to-pint beer in Durham since 2010, buying ingredients from farmers and foragers across the Southeast. Order a pint at its Boxyard RTP taproom, and watch for its new taproom at American Tobacco Campus.

Wine Authorities

2501 University Dr.

Since 2007, this Rockwood bottle shop has matched Durham drinkers with wines from small, family-owned producers. Walk in knowing exactly what you want. Or walk in clueless and get a stellar recommendation from their staff. Either way, you’ll leave with a bottle in their signature wrapping that will let everyone know you have good taste.  

Arcana

331 W. Main St.

Depending on the night, you can sit for a tarot reading, practice your figure drawing skills, dance around a disco ball or relax with live music. This basement-bar has been recognized for its inclusive ownership and atmosphere by the Lesbian Bar Project.   

Music Venues and Nightlife

Durham's stages give touring bands a reason to stop here and local acts a place to grow up. Buy the ticket and stay for the encore.

Motorco Music Hall

723 Rigsbee Ave.

Since 2010, Motorco has booked touring acts and local favorites into one of Durham's most reliable rooms for live music. Book it for your wedding, reception, company meeting or birthday party, too.

The Pinhook 

117 W. Main St.

Open "since 4eva" — that's 2008 — The Pinhook is an LGBTQ+-friendly bar and venue that helped build Durham's music scene and has long been a home for the city's queer community. Drag shows. Touring bands. Country line dancing. Show up as you are. 

Bookstores and Gift Shops

Shop where the owners source what they love and remember your favorite genres. You'll be able to find something for these These Durham businesses stock gifts  one-of-a-kind finds for that hard-to-shop for new page-turner.

Parker and Otis

324 Blackwell St. Bay 4

Locals call it "PandO." This stalwart moved from the Brightleaf District to American Tobacco Campus and still stocks cookbooks, Durham-themed gifts, specialty foods, a deep wine selection and a sandwich-and-coffee menu that borders on habit-forming.

The Regulator Bookshop

720 9th St.

Independent since 1976, The Regulator stocks a wide-ranging selection, hosts speakers who spark real debate and has been known to house the occasional kitten. Browse the stacks. Leave with something you didn't come in for.

Exotique

319 W. Main St.

Yemi and Lola Olufolabi opened Exotique in 2006 to bring the world to Durham. Since then, their business has grown alongside the community. Yemi and Lola travel far and wide to curate a selection of fair trade art, accessories and apparel for their shop, along with carrying local artisans.

Fashion and Jewelry

Heirloom rings. Consigned designer pieces. Running shoes fitted by people who actually run. Durham style has always been personal.

Jewelsmith

2200 W. Main St. Ste. A-170

Linda McGill opened Jewelsmith in 1976 to create handcrafted custom jewelry meant to be passed down. Jewelsmith holds its suppliers to its own ethical standards. Commission the piece your grandchildren will fight over.

Vert & Vogue

353 W Main St.

Ryan and Nadira Hurley met in a Paris boutique and opened Vert & Vogue downtown in 2008. Now a certified B Corporation, the shop curates and immaculate selection of independent designers who make clothes with intention.

Bull City Running

202 W NC Highway 54 Ste. 109 & 501 Washington St. Ste. D

Kim Chapman and Jason Page opened Bull City Runnng in 2008 as a hub for Durham's running community. Now with two Durham locations, get fitted by people who log the miles. Ask where the locals run.

Home, Garden and Maker Shops

Seed packets and scrap fabrics. These shops keep Durham building, planting and making.

The Scrap Exchange

2050 Chapel Hill Rd.

The Scrap Exchange is the South's largest creative reuse center. It diverts materials from the landfill and sorts them for local artists and curious shoppers to use in art projects, home repairs and more. Fill a bag. Make something.

Barnes Supply Co.

774 9th St.

In 1947, Lee "Shorty" Barnes started Barnes Supply Co. as an agricultural supply store to give local families what they needed to provide for themselves. As Durham changed, so did Barnes Supply Co. It still stocks agricultural supplies, but now provides the community with plants and pet products.

Grocery Stores and Markets

Butcher counters. Local jams. Coffee on the porch. Durham's longtime markets sell groceries and a sense of belonging.

Foster's Market

2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.

Sara Foster and her husband, Peter Sellers, opened Foster's Market in 1990. Find seasonal prepared foods to eat in or take home, specialty groceries and locally roasted coffee. Order at the counter, then claim a seat on the patio.

King's Red & White

305 E. Club Blvd.

This family-owned grocery store has served Durham since 1956. It belongs to the Red & White network, a group of independently owned stores that has shared a brand since 1925 so family grocers can compete with the big chains. Shop fresh produce, North Carolina-made products and cuts from the in-house butcher.

Hotels and Places To Stay In Durham

Rest where Durham hospitality has been practiced for decades.

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

3001 Cameron Blvd.

The Washington Duke Inn opened in 1988 to serve Duke University and Durham. It's named for Washington Duke (1820-1905), the tobacco manufacturer whose family business grew into the American Tobacco Company. Sip coffee on the terrace overlooking the golf course. Book it for a meeting, a conference or your wedding.

Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast 

914 Vickers Ave.

Daniel and Monica Edwards opened this Black-owned bed and breakfast in 1997. Each of the four guest rooms has a private bath. Evenings bring complimentary drinks and homemade desserts. Mornings bring a full breakfast. Wake up to the smell of it. 

Golf Courses 

Get off the grid of city streets. If you're here for the weekend and hoping to get a round of golf in, rest assured, you can make that happen.

Additional Legacy Businesses

Some things you just can't categorize. Search for ripe, red strawberries in the spring at a u-pick farm. Find flexible coworking space and private offices to start the next legacy Durham business. 

These businesses outlasted the mills, the freeway and every next big thing. Keep them going. Eat here. Shop here. Bring a friend. 

For more local picks, stop by the Visitor Info Center at 212 W. Main Street. Long live these flavors and wares of Durham!