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 January through March 2025, 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!
APRIL
• Zaxbys became the latest fried chicken restaurant to wade into the Franklin Street scene, as its first Chapel Hill location opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 2. The franchise is touted by the fast food chain as the first with a self-order kiosk and grab-and-go model.
• CIMG Residential Mortgage, which is based out of Chapel Hill, named Jennifer Salemson as its new Chief Executive Officer on April 7. Salemson has served as the business’ president since 1997 and is a founding member of the company. The move came as departing CEO Jeremy Salemson stepped aside to pursue other interests, although he is staying within an executive advisory role for CIMG.
• The North Carolina Birth Center officially started its operations in Chapel Hill, taking appointments for expecting mothers who are looking for alternative prenatal care and a birth setting besides hospitals. The medical facility held an open house and grand opening on April 11 at 930 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard — a space many already associate with women’s health and prenatal care, since it was home to the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center for decades before its closure in 2022.
• In tandem with its opening of a new marker space in Boxyard RTP, Kidzu Children’s Museum announced it was formally rebranding as the North Carolina Children’s Museum and progressing on its master planning to build a massive, permanent location off Mt. Carmel Church Road in Chapel Hill. The rebranding aligns with the museum’s goal to appeal to a broader audience across the state while creating a state-of-the-art new home and transitioning away from University Place mall. In the meantime, it will be testing out a mobile museum this summer.
An early rendering of the new North Carolina Children’s Museum in planning stages for Chapel Hill. (Photo via the North Carolina Children’s Museum/Gensler.)
• A visual landmark on the southern edge of Chapel Hill is no more. As part of demolition to make way for an expanded Refuel gas station and convenience store at 1950 U.S. Highway 15-501 North, the Dean Smith mural painted by Scott Nurkin was gradually broken apart through mid-April. The Triangle-based artist said beforehand he’s looking to paint a new version of the mural somewhere else within the community, but has yet to have any business or space come forward.
The Scott Nurkin mural of former UNC men’s basketball head coach Dean Smith halfway demolished at the gas station site off U.S. 15-501 on Friday, April 18. (Photo by Henry Taylor/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
• Hillsborough residents and entrepreneurs Chad and Lauren Wilkins announced in late April the acquisition of a commercial-space building at 516 Valley Forge Road, which they are calling Elevate Lounge and Suites. The husband and wife duo are dedicated to leasing private spaces to different independently-run salon service providers – like cosmetologists, massage therapists, and medical spas –to create a place the small business community and Hillsborough customers can rely on. Beyond its salons, Elevate Lounge and Suites will also feature a coffee bar, lounge and common workspaces for patrons. The property deal was brokered by Pickett Sprouse.
• The eclectic bar and event space Bowbarr closed its doors for good on April 30, ending operations after 15 years. Located just across the town limit at Carrboro’s 705 West Rosemary Street, owners John Bowman and Amanda Barr celebrated its final month with a variety of events and specials.
• After 24 years of operations, Friendly Barber Shop at 108 East Main Street closed with the retirement of Russ Sturdivant. Its long-time customers were sad to see it go and to lose a local, affordable option for haircuts — until some of Friendly’s staff teamed up with barber Jeremy Anderson to quickly restart a shop in the same space. After some quick renovations, Main Street Barbershop opened on May 5 to quickly welcome back the customer base. The new shop’s hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
MAY
• May began with some restaurant news for the Hillsborough community, as it learned the 112 North Churton Street space left by Radius Pizzeria and Pub would not be left empty for long. Serratore’s Pizza and Pasta, a venture headed by local chef Josh Decarolis, signed a deal to lease the building with the goal of establishing a new Italian-American restaurant. As of now, no timeline is announced for the new business – but considering it is largely doing cosmetic changes to the Radius space, according to real estate firm Pickett Sprouse, it may be sooner rather than later.
• Havoc Brewing Company held a party for its second anniversary in Pittsboro on May 3 — a boost for the business after it was reported a week earlier that the locally-owned brewery and taproom was undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Havoc’s leadership pledged to its customers on social media that it plans to stay open and the financial reorganization will help the business stay afloat.
• A new real estate brokerage for the greater Pittsboro community launched in early May. Carolina Next Realty Group is led by Eddie O’Dea, who started the venture after six years of being in a leadership role for Redfin across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and southern Virginia. Describing his approach as “local-first” and providing “expertise over volume,” O’Dea says Carolina Next Realty Group will serve the greater Triangle region.
• The UNC campus community bade farewell to a staple of the student union in the early days of May. Alpine Bagel Cafe, which served Tar Heels for more than two decades in the Carolina Union, did not have its partnership renewed by the university and shuttered operations on May 10. UNC said the decision was “supported and approved by the Student Dining Board” as part of a broader review of its dining options, and a new breakfast and lunch business operated by Carolina Dining Services will be launched this fall.
Photo by Ben Crosbie/Chapel Hill Media Group.
• Lune Spark, a new inter-disciplinary arts facility, held its grand opening party on May 10 for its Chapel Hill location. After renovating the suite at 250 South Elliott Road previously occupied by the People’s Channel, the self-described creative center began offerings its visual, performing, and recording arts workshops. This marks the third location for Lune Spark after opening studios in Cary and Holly Springs.
• A new multidisciplinary pediatric outpatient clinic opened its doors in Chapel Hill on May 17. Therapy Smarts, located on 1130 Weaver Dairy Road, aims to be a new option for parents and children looking for speech, physical, occupational, and mental health therapy services. The space in Chapel Hill includes a sensory gym, full-size feeding kitchen and infant treatment room. A second location in Durham — at 1920 N.C. Highway 54, suites 240 and 360 — is also in the works.
• Governor’s Village in the Chatham County part of Chapel Hill added a new wine shop curated by a world-renowned sommelier. Esteban Brunello Wines — whose namesake is known for his Bar Brunello and Brunello Wine Bar in Durham — opened on Wednesday, May 21 and began offering its visitors a broad selection to allow the discovery of new regions and stories behind each wine. As Esteban Brunello Wines continues to establish operations, the business plans to host wine education events and tastings too. The business took over space previously occupied by Ameriprise Financial.
Esteban Brunello Wines’ exterior in Governors Village of Chapel Hill. (Photo via BOLD Commercial Real Estate.)
• The same day as Esteban Brunello Wines opened, another new business opened in Governor’s Village. Minds of Every Kind Sensory Gym is a play space designed for neurodivergent children, conscious of their sensory preferences and their developmental needs. The independent business offers open play hours each day for kids as well as summer camps, preschool sessions and reserved event space. Minds of Every Kind is located at 50101 Governors Drive, in the same building that holds BOLD Building’s corporate offices.
• A new restaurant moved into the 104 West Franklin Street space in Chapel Hill left vacant with the closure of Trolley Stop a couple years ago. White Sauce Grill and Bar formally opened on May 27 and is still ramping up operations. Its menu features a variety of halal food, including gyros and rice bowls with their homemade sauces.
• Years of planning culminated in the opening of the community’s first cheese shop on May 28, as the Wedgewood Cheese Bar held its first day of service at 100B Brewer Lane in Carrboro. An evolution of The Cheese Shop owned by Michelle and Stevie Webb, Wedgewood offers a wide, curated selection of cheese and meats while featuring bar seating for people to order wine, sandwiches, small plates and more.
The 18-foot display case shows off some of Wedgewood’s most prized offerings and is a centerpiece for the space. (Photo by Jada Jarillo/Chapel Hill Media Group.)
JUNE
• A pair of local businesses announced at the start of June their partnership to combine their individual festivals to create a big, new one for the Orange County community. Sonark Media’s Harvest Festival will return for a second year — but it will be alongside Acme restaurant’s Salt & Smoke festival. The new venture, called the Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Blackwood Farm Park from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and feature the main characteristics of the prior events. Sonark is putting together a music lineup of local bands — including Big Something, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen and Rissi Palmer — while Acme will lead the food efforts, celebrating southern dishes by featuring a variety of chefs. Tickets and packages for the festival are on sale now, and will increase in price by the event.
• Union Grove Farm in rural Chapel Hill saw some of its ambitious business plans hit a snag in June. The farm sought to build an overnight lodging area on the farm — where owner Greg Bohlen is growing a new strain of table grapes — as well as a 2,500-seat amphitheater for live music. A review by the Orange County Planning Department found those ideas would not qualify as agritourism under the land’s current zoning conditions, which are meant to keep a rural character while encouraging farm practices. The decision came after months of organized opposition by nearby residents and community members concerned about the project and a violation of the conservation easement set for the land. Union Grove may still seek those projects, alongside the approved distillery and culinary garden plans — just with a rezoning request.
• In major music news, Chapel Hill’s Merge Records saw 50% of its company acquired by the Secretly Group to join its family of labels. Variety reported the move, which comes as co-founder and Superchunk member Laura Ballance continues separating herself from the recording industry. Her partner, Mac McCaughan, will continue as Merge’s label president — with the local group continuing to run the label while use Secretly’s distribution system and other business resources.
• Shortly after its connection to the water main suffered a major leak, Baxter Bar and Arcade in Chapel Hill launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover losses during its closure. Within a week, the community raised more than $13,000 to help the popular North Graham Street business — which suffered no damage to its interior from the water issues. Even with the financial help, however, owner Nick Stroud shared concerns on the GoFundMe page of the financial hit the barcade could suffer.
• After more than five years of operations in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village, the restaurant Market and Moss permanently closed on June 20. The business was known for its rotating, elevated cuisine and elegant interior — and survived opening amid the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic after owner Annie Johnston took over the former Pazzo Trattoria and Pizzeria space. Johnston said the decision to close does not affect her other Southern Village business, La Vita Dolce, and will free her up to put more time toward the coffee and gelato shop.
Market and Moss Owner Annie Johnston and initial Executive Chefs Chuck Jones and Danny Vacca during 2020, when the restaurant first opened. (Photo via Alex Caterson.)
• One day later, another Chapel Hill restaurant shut down — as Elements closed its doors for good on June 21. The fusion restaurant and wine bar was acclaimed for its food, but its ownership made the decision “with heavy hearts” to shut down in the 2110 Environ Way space and merge with its sister restaurant MC Cuisines in downtown Cary.
• A long-vacant space on West Franklin Street is soon to be filled, as the tech company IotaComm announced alongside the Town of Chapel Hill it will relocate its corporate headquarters to the third floor of 200 West Franklin Street in the coming months. The company has its roots in Chapel Hill, as its founder is a UNC alum and worked out of the Innovate Carolina Junction building, but the majority of its employee base works in Allentown, PA.
• The Manifold Recording studio outside of Pittsboro officially hit the market at the end of June, as its owners are moving out of the country. The cutting-edge recording space is being offered along with the 17-acre property that includes a 4,500 square foot residence, with the current price tag set at $6 million. Michael Tiemann, the co-owner and general manager, the staff at the studio is staying the same for now and they have clients booked out into next year – so the hope is a buyer will be interested in maintaining Manifold’s business and goals. And among those goals, Tiemann says, is offering a nature-based haven to recording artists and groups. BOLD Commercial Real Estate is operating as the broker.
• A grand opening for a new sports bar, One40 Social, appears imminent. The restaurant and bar at a suite space at 140 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill is conducted several soft-opening operations before throwing its doors open to the public. It will be the first business to operate in the space since Old Chicago closed in 2017, and the change required an extension renovation that One40 Social’s ownership highlighted on Instagram. While the menu will reportedly feature typical bar fare alongside some Ukrainian dishes, one of the stand-out options is the milkshake stand called the Dead Milkman.
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