‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Moves in October-December 2024 – Chapelboro.com

Chapelboro is publishing a series called “Mind Your Business,” summarizing some of the latest stories, announcements, and updates from businesses in the community every three months. From local openings to closings to everything in-between, we are sharing a snapshot of what’s happened in the most recent quarter of the calendar year.

The report will roughly go in chronological order of the developments, and will conclude with a section of any general updates on ongoing projects that are undated. The previous edition, covering July through September 2024, can be found here.

Do you see something that is missing or want an update about your own business? Get in touch with us by emailing news@wchl.com with your announcements!

OCTOBER

• The 24-hour workout chain HotWorx held an open house in early October to promote its opening in Chapel Hill at the East 54 development. HotWorx took over the space at 3130 Environ Way, which previously housed Bottle Rev until the bottle shop’s move within East 54 in 2020. The fitness business aims to set itself apart based on its hours and availability, as well as its infrared energy and high-heat workout spaces.

• After officially opening at the end of September, Clouds Brewing picked up steam in October with its new Chapel Hill venture: the Clouds Brewing Storm Cellar. The Raleigh-based company took over Gizmo Brewing’s space at 157 East Franklin Street to continue serving craft beer in the underground space known for previously being home to The Rathskellar.

Photo via Clouds Brewing Storm Cellar on Instagram.

• As the university continues to buy property along East Franklin Street and cultivate part of the entry onto campus, UNC added a new team apparel store to the offerings in early October. A partnership with the Dyehard by Follett retail brand, the shop is the first business open in 120 East Franklin Street since The Library closed in 2021. In addition to major brands, the store also features several athletes’ gear through name, image and likeness, and is open seven days a week.

• The Town Scoop, a new locally-owned ice cream and milkshake shop, opened at 113 West King Street in early October. A big draw — in addition to plans of a market for North Carolina-based food and products — is the store’s Shakes of Hillsborough menu.

• For a while around Halloween, a pop-up business took over part of The PITCH on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. The Heel-O-Ween Pop-Up costume shop was a project by the BUSI 590 class through UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School teaching flash entrepreneurship to a group of a dozen students. While the semester is now over, Professor Tim Flood teased that the idea could carry over to future iterations of the class and make a return to the coffee shop/bar/networking/innovation space in the future.

NOVEMBER

• After two years of operation in Hillsborough, the aquamation business Endswell opened a second location in north Durham at 116 Crutchfield Street. It comes as the company has transitioned to becoming a full-service funeral home, offering cremation and green burials in addition to the water-based option that is more eco-friendly and naturally decomposes a body.

• After many years of solely operating in the Campus Y at UNC, the nonprofit and student-run Meantime Coffee Company opened a second location in Chapel Hill on Nov. 8. The new café is in the ground floor of the Innovate Carolina Junction building at 137 West Franklin Street, a spot championed by the university as being a connector and hub for the business-minded student community. Meantime at the Junction is open weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo via the Meantime Coffee Company.

• In Chatham Park’s MOSAIC mixed-use development, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming held a grand opening ceremony for customers on Nov. 9. The pet store chain is based out of Orlando, Fla., but the Pittsboro franchise is locally-owned and offers a variety of treats and toys alongside its animal spa services.

• One year after first opening in Chapel Hill, Snooze used its anniversary as a fundraiser for PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro, offering 10% of sales to the local nonprofit. The gesture fit with Snooze’ opening operations in 2023 — as the all-day breakfast restaurant used its soft opening and VIP meals as a fundraising effort for PORCH too.

• Though its a nonprofit vs. a true business, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro opened its first permanent location in downtown Carrboro on Nov. 13. The space at 202 South Greensboro Street is a privately-owned building that was previously home to Quantworks, a data analytics software company, and a builder’s company. Now, it’s a space where PORCH’s client families can come and pick their monthly, free food allotment in a market-style environment.

• Nov. 14 saw the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton in Pittsboro. The later anchor business in MOSAIC, the hotel is the first of its kind for Chatham County in size and scale. The location also aims to offer more than just a room and bed to the community, as it has an event space that can be reserved and an art gallery featuring the work of local creators.

DECEMBER

• Although it was closed through the week of Thanksgiving, it was not confirmed to Chapelboro until December that Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro had permanently shut down operations. The Chapel Hill restaurant, which struggled initially with an extended renovation and permitting process, opened to customers in September 2023 at 431 West Franklin Street. The flashy and colorful interior caught many people’s attention, but the extensive menu and food was more divisive for patrons. Owner Edy Barahona told Chapelboro while he’s finished with that business, he is open to letting someone run a new concept in the space.

After more than a year of being open to customers, Ay Por Dios! shut its doors in quiet fashion over the Thanksgiving holiday.

• A dark forecast also was shared for a business just around the corner from Ay Por Dios! later in the month — as Vimala’s Curryblossom Café posted on Facebook that it was struggling to make its rent payments. A cornerstone of the Courtyard complex on West Franklin Street, Vimala’s has served authentic Indian cuisine and been involved in a variety of advocacy efforts since opening in 2010. Owner Vimala Rajendran told the News & Observer the restaurant needed to raise $40,000 to help it get through the winter months, and her Facebook post sparked dozens of donations.

• Around the same time, a Carrboro restaurant and bar also shared its forecasted financial struggles to make it through the winter months. The owners of 401 Main shared a GoFundMe campaign on Dec. 8 saying they needed a boost from patrons to help keep the doors open, citing the stretch the restaurant made to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“An extra visit to 401 Main with friends and family or a donation will be incredibly helpful,” Emily Baldwin wrote in the campaign description. “Let’s work together to ensure this beloved local spot remains a place for everyone to enjoy and so that we can continue to try to provide livable-wage jobs to our loyal locals in the community.”

• The custom home builder and design company J. Hoffman Studios in Carrboro launched a rebranding in mid-December, changing its name to the West End Building Company. Owner and founder Jenny Hoffman said after ten years of seeing her name on the business, she wanted to “move forward into the future” and reflected the team-oriented effort it takes to design and build homes.

“Over time, we will be offering new housing products as well as renewing our commitment to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community that has enabled our success,” Hoffman said in a press release. “Calling ourselves ‘West End’ is the perfect fit for this next chapter in our business.”

According to the release, those new products will include tiny homes — as West End Building Company will aim to add to affordable housing options by creating spaces with smaller footprints and eco-friendly designs.

• During the holiday season, Chapel Hill Tire Car Care brought back one of its popular community engagement and celebration initiatives with 12 Days of Kindness. Through December, the Chapel Hill-based business took nominations from the community on who ought to be recognized for their service with up to $1,000 in compensated car care. Check out all 12 recipients for 2024 on the promotion’s website.

• Dec. 29 marked the last day of a business in downtown Hillsborough, as the family who owned the restaurant decided to take more time for themselves. Radius Pizzeria & Pub, located at 112 North Churton Street, closed after more than 11 years in business — and celebrated its final month a variety of specials and sales.

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