By Cade Carlson
April 16, 2024
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 By Cade Carlson Dame’s Chicken and Waffles has grown from a small, local establishment to a successful regional chain in the span of a decade. Since it opened the first location near the Warehouse District in downtown Durham, Dame’s has shown what can be accomplished with a unique idea and a […]
Read moreBy Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata
April 14, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024 By Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata Dr. Janze Taylor founded Embodi Hydration & Wellness, an alternative health and wellness spa in Durham two years ago. Taylor also is a nurse practitioner who works full time with Duke Health. Embodi Hydration & Wellness offers intravenous hydration and vitamins as well as weight loss services. This […]
Read moreBy Cade Carlson
Sunday, April 14, 2024 By Cade Carlson Since its opening in September of 2017, It’s A Southern Thing has put a unique spin on the traditional southern cuisine in the West End of downtown Durham. Owner Pete Susca is “a Jersey boy who has lived in the South for more than 20 years,” according to […]
Read moreBy Emma Geis
April 10, 2024
Monday, March 18, 2024 By Emma Geis Tyler Kober has owned and operated Bullseye Bicycle downtown on Morris Street since August 2012. The shop sells new and used bikes; repairs, maintains and fits bikes for customers; and offers a selection of beers. In addition, it is the gathering point for a monthly community “urban, off-road” […]
Read moreBy Danelis Olivera-Herrera
Friday, March 15, 2024 By Danelis Olivera-Herrera Adam Clark has served as the executive director of World Relief since 2015. The Christian humanitarian organization expanded its efforts in 2007 to aid the local immigrant and refugee community in the Triangle area, mobilizing and equipping churches and communities to support this population. Previously, Clark was a […]
Read moreBy Corinna Collins
April 9, 2024
Owner and chef Justin Meddis does things the hard way at Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets; rather than shipping ingredients from nationwide suppliers, Meddis emphasizes locally sourced food.
Read moreBy Stella Griffin
April 2, 2024
“When I came here it felt different from the others,” Hill said. “In the other settings, stylists talk to each other, they play music and they kind of ignore the client. It’s just a trade and you feel like you’re a customer. When I came here, it was about the person in the chair.”
Read moreBy Maya Waid
March 14, 2024
NC IDEA is a private foundation whose mission is to provide entrepreneurs funding for their companies across the state.
Read moreBy Sydney Sasser
March 11, 2024
In East Durham, the local business scene is thriving, thanks to a unique community atmosphere that encourages growth and success.
Read moreBy Hannah Collett
March 7, 2024
Thursday, March 7, 2024 By Hannah Collett Leslie Matista is a longtime Triangle bartender who opened The Velvet Hippo in July 2023 with her partners hoping to make it a place where anyone would feel comfortable. The Velvet Hippo, located on Orange Street, has both indoor and outdoor spaces and regularly hosts events and fundraisers. […]
Read moreBy Alan Hunt
March 5, 2024
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 By Alan Hunt Durham native Julie Hinson is a potter and co-founder of Outer Loop Arts, a creative and retail space in the city’s Golden Belt district. The location hosts rentable studio space, classes and community events. Through word of mouth, social media and local art organizations, Hinson and her partner […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
March 4, 2024
Monday, March 4, 2024 By Emma Hall Bright Black, co-owner and founder the candle shop Tiffany Griffin, began her store with her husband in 2019. She expresses the Black experience through her candles, like with her collection highlighting Black music. The company sells its candles through a showroom in Durham, an online shop and partnerships […]
Read moreBy Regan Rhymes
February 26, 2024
DURHAM, NC — In the vibrant arts and culture scene of Durham, NC, a new addition stands out: Missy Lane’s Assembly Room. This recently opened arts venue is not just another music venue; it’s a cultural hub that fills a niche in Durham’s arts scene.
Read moreBy Sydney Sasser
February 22, 2024
Once economically struggling, East Durham has found itself at the center of a financial boom.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Stacy Ramos’s East Durham Sweet Shoppe isn’t just about sweets; it’s a beacon of community spirit and collaboration in East Durham. Through her dedication to fostering relationships and supporting local talent, Ramos has turned her storefront into a cherished gathering place. With dreams of expansion and a commitment to providing jobs for Durham citizens, Ramos’s vision extends far beyond confectionery delights—it’s about building a stronger, more connected community, one sweet treat at a time.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 By Lesley Gonzalez For the last 16 years, Linden’s Dancewear has served as a pillar of Durham’s vibrant dance community by filling the void that Durham dancers face with a lack of dancewear stores in the area. Renee and Samantha Allen, the dynamic mother-daughter duo who co-own the store, work tirelessly […]
Read moreBy Tanner Arter
Missy Lane’s Assembly Room is a multi-dimensional music venue, coffee bar and yoga studio all wrapped into one that opened in January. Cicely Mitchell is the co-owner of Missy Lane’s and, before this, created the nonprofit The Art of Cool to broaden Durham’s jazz audience.
Read moreBy Ira Wilder
Will Davis owns Hope Valley Diner, a Durham restaurant and caterer. The business opened as Rick’s Diner in March 1998 and has been located on Shannon Road since June of 2010. For Davis, running the diner is a chance to return to the restaurant scene, an industry he has worked in and around most of his life.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
December 12, 2023
Durham, NC- Bus drivers in Durham, N.C are calling for enhanced safety measures on buses in the wake of increasing crime levels in the city. While there have been only one reported cases of bus driver assault over the past year, drivers are urging city officials to prioritize safety measures. Violent passengers are pushing many […]
Read moreBy Audrey Kashatus
December 11, 2023
Elijah King was born and raised in Durham with his mom and little sister. By the time King turned 18-years-old, he had moved 11 different times. King grew up witnessing things most kids his age couldn’t have imagined. He saw eviction, moving places under 24 hours, crashing at his grandparent’s house and even different pastor’s […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
May 6, 2020
Editor’s Note: With the passing of Kenneth W. Edmonds, publisher of the Carolina Times, we offer as a tribute this profile of Edmonds, his family and the long, proud legacy of the Carolina Times. Originally published in the Durham VOICE, spring of 2017, this article was written by then UNC-CH staff writer and VOICE co-editor, […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 2, 2020
With Durham County surpassing 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, everyone is feeling the presence of the coronavirus. From social distancing to increased health and sanitation practices, the virus has caused everyone to make major changes in their lives. This includes Durham business owners. Those who’ve put blood, sweat and tears in to their businesses — […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
February 27, 2020
Most people come to Zweli’s for the only Zimbabwean food in town, but some come to talk politics. On Friday, Feb. 21, Zweli’s, located in Durham, hosted an Elizabeth Warren presidential campaign event as part of its Dinner Table Talks speaker series. Leonardo Williams, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Zweli, said events like […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
February 14, 2020
Coconut, mango-chile and lavender. You won’t typically find these cotton candy flavors anywhere but in Durham — and they are taking off because of Wonderpuff and its owner Jackie Morin. Wonderpuff is a black-owned eco-friendly business that is just one of the local dream businesses that the nonprofit Helius has helped make a reality through […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
February 13, 2020
At first, Durham dog breeder Dwanson Clark just wanted his money back. Six years ago, his fiancee, Candace Taylor, asked him to buy a dog to keep her company while Clark was deployed with the U.S. Navy. In 2016, Clark decided to breed a litter of seven puppies, hoping to recoup the money he’d spent […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Son of the Tater Bread Cafe owner hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps by launching a food truck He started working in his father’s cafe when he was 15 years old. Now, he plans to open a restaurant of his own — on wheels. Harrison Sneed, 24, runs Tater Bread Cafe at 1108 Morning Glory […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
January 30, 2020
On paper, her name is Sade Jones, but the people of Durham know her simply as Ms. Beauty. Jones received this title when she started working at Beauty World in Durham, a beauty supply store on 1418 Avondale Dr #2, in 2014. Jones, 33, is a sales associate and hair specialist at Beauty World. Most […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Black Girl Ventures (BGV) has found a new home in North Carolina. Five local business women are coming together to establish a chapter of the Forbes-featured foundation in Durham. BGV provides a unique experience to combat the particular challenges that black and brown women face in starting and growing a business. The initiative was founded […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 8, 2019
Angier Avenue in historic East Durham has seen its fair share of added concrete, construction, and changes to the neighborhood within recent years. This ever-changing landscape we call Durham is becoming a host to new faces, housing spaces, and local businesses at a dizzying pace. One of those newcomers, Sofia’s Pizza, opened its doors to […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 2, 2019
“We want you to feel like you are welcomed here, we want you to feel like family,”
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 25, 2019
This Saturday, April 27, a local young black female entrepreneur is inviting other entrepreneurs and other interested community members to a launch event at 5:30 at R.N. Harris Elementary School. R.N. Harris Elementary School is located at 1520 Cooper St. and entry is free. Zarie Baker grew up in Robeson County in the small town […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 24, 2019
Durham native Tracee Nichole Hester wears many hats. Some refer to her as the modern day “Renaissance Woman.” She is a “Good Samaritan,” a wife, mother of three boys, motivational speaker, radio personality, business owner, nail technician, an advocate for young and underprivileged community members, and somewhat of a local celebrity after […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 10, 2019
The worlds of the elders do not lock all the doors; they leave the right door open. — Zambian proverb Zambia borders Zimbabwe to the north. And although the proverb above is not from Zimbabwe, it fits remarkably well with Durham couple and restaurant owners Leonardo Williams and Zwelibanzi Moyo-Williams (Zweli). The two […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Although the 22nd annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival has come to an end, UNC-TV will continue highlighting the work of award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson throughout the month. On Tuesday, April 23, UNC-TV will premiere Nelson’s most recent documentary, “Boss: The Black Experience in Business.” The film touches on rarely discussed stories of black entrepreneurship […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 8, 2019
Black excellence has done it again with five African-American males starting their own comedy show. It’s not just a regular comedy show with a venue, but a comedy show on a school bus. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a school bus. The first Bull City Laughs bus tour rolled out on March 15 to a sold-out […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
April 2, 2019
Ian Burris arrived at his food truck a few minutes after opening, ready to get the night started. He was wearing a N.C. Central jacket to stay warm in the cold air. He went over and talked to his staff and dropped off some needed items. Two of his staffers were already getting everything […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
February 27, 2019
After nearly 20 years, the Latino Community Credit Union continues to do more than provide North Carolina’s Latino community with a safe place to store their earnings. A credit union founded in Durham in 2000, LCCU works to educate and empower all communities by offering a financial education program and savings, checking, loans and credit […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Zuri Reynolds-Hester, from Durham, 29, hosted Nzinga’s Got Soul Tasting Party on Feb. 21 to celebrate the launch of Nzinga’s Breakfast Cafe’s new menu items and longer business hours. Reynolds-Hester opened Nzinga’s Breakfast Cafe, located at 828 Fayetteville St. Suite 110, in 2014 with a specialty in Southern breakfast and lunch food. Now, she is […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
January 31, 2019
As the residents of East Durham are still facing hard times trying to get around Alston Avenue, business are being negatively impacted by the road closure, due to construction. Business owners who are on Alston Avenue are losing their profit day by day. According to many sources, N.C. 55 (Alston Ave.). is going to […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
January 30, 2019
There is a new era beginning at the Golden Belt campus in downtown Durham, an art gallery that has been the home of major artistic projects for the community. Golden Belt, originally known for its textile factory, is now embracing the many arts cultivated in the Durham area thanks to fresh ownership. In 2016, Scientific […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
The white, vine-covered building situated along Durham’s American Tobacco Trail is more than it appears. What used to be an old, small Piggly Wiggly has been transformed into a community-focused dance, yoga and music studio. Threehouse Studios opened their doors to the public on Oct. 22, 2017. The idea of a multipurpose studio was developed […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Hailing from Asheville, N.C., Hi-Wire Brewing opened a third site at Golden Belt in Durham at 800 Taylor St. in November 2018. The 24-tap lineup features six Hi-Wire-brewed beers alongside a mix of Durham beers, wines and ciders. Guest taps from Durham breweries fill 18 taps on the 24-tap lineup. “We’ve really received a […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
The widening of Alston Avenue has affected local businesses surrounding the street, despite a compromise between one of those businesses — Los Primos Supermarket — and the state. The construction, which stretches from N.C.Highway 147 to Holloway Street, is scheduled to end January 2020. Since the Alston Avenue widening project was approved in 2015, it […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 23, 2018
On the Sunday afternoon of Nov. 18, excited members of the Durham community assembled at 411 West Chapel Hill St., across from the bustling Greyhound bus station for an organic occasion. The upbeat sound from the DJ assisted farmers, entrepreneurs and small business owners in conversation as they gathered under the brightly patterned canopies which […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 15, 2018
On the outskirts of the Durham Farmers’ Market – where Foster Street meets Hunt Street, one of the friendliest vendors greets people with samples of liquid sunshine – the best sweet tea. Roman Gabriel, the founder of Romanztea, has traveled thousands of miles physically and spiritually to find himself in Durham, sharing the tea he […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 7, 2018
Little did sisters Savannah, 10, and Sienna Forrester, 11, imagine that when their father taught them to make shea butter using a family recipe, they would be able to turn it into a business — The Brown Sugar Sisters. Last week the girls were gearing up for their third young entrepreneurs’ career fair and the […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 22, 2018
Durham locals are turning to an environmentally friendly alternative to dumping garbage. Local service CompostNow has provided a new green aid in reducing the Bull City’s waste. CompostNow aims to fight the Triangle’s landfill issue by turning residents’ food scraps into soil. Meat, dairy, pizza boxes and other materials can be given to CompostNow. […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
September 20, 2018
With Hurricane Florence threatening off the coast of North Carolina last week, one local grocery store took precautions to be prepared for the storm. Durham VOICE reporter Wade McCreary went to the Food Lion grocery store at 3500 N. Roxboro St. to check out the scene and see what preparations had been made there. […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
September 10, 2018
What started as a small one-person operation, known as East Durham Pie Company, has now blossomed into a cozy, independent bakery shop. On the corner of Driver Street and Angier Ave., in Old East Durham, sits one of the sweetest delights. The East Durham Bake shop, launched last March by Ali Rudel, has now […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
A modern revival is slowly underway for historic Old East Durham. But one thing has remained constant for this neighborhood, small businesses. For local owners, Ali Rudel and Ben Filippo, running East Durham Bake Shop has been a labor of love. At the intersection of South Driver Street and Angier Avenue, lies the East […]
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