Grocery Stores
Durham Farmer’s Market
Conveniently located in the pavilion at Durham Central Park, the Farmer’s Market is the place to go for local produce, crafts, and flowers. Over 65 vendors attend the market, all of whom are located within seventy miles of Durham. Hours and seasonal offerings are available here.
Perkins Orchard
Perkins Orchard has been continuously operating for 52 years, providing fresh, locally sourced produce from over 300 farms every day of the week. Located at 5749 Barbee Road in a stand of cultivated fruit trees, decades of close connections and friendly service have ingrained the Orchard into the fabric of the local community.
Harris Teeter
An upscale grocery store with a wide variety of options and numerous locations around Durham.
- 2107 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
- 3457 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
- 1802 North Pointe Drive, Durham, NC 27705
- 1817 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Durham, NC 27707
The Fresh Market
- 4215 University Drive, Durham, NC 27707
Whole Foods
Emphasizing products without artificial flavors and preservatives, Whole Foods contains a hot bar and otherwise difficult-to-find meats and produce.
- 621 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705
- 81 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Trader Joe’s
Operating in an ecosystem all its own, Trader Joe’s offer a variety of signature items that can’t be found anywhere else.
- 1800 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Food Lion
A reliable choice for pantry and refrigerator staples at reasonable prices.
- 2000 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707
- 3022 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC, 27707
- 2930 West Main Street, Durham, NC, 27705
- 4621 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
- 1720 Fordham Boulevard, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Malls and Shopping Districts
Brightleaf Square
Located in a restored tobacco warehouse at the corner of West Main Street and South Gregson Street in downtown Durham, Brightleaf Square contains a wide variety of award-winning restaurants and retailers.
Bull City Market
A short walk away from Duke’s East Campus, the Bull City Market houses a Whole Foods, along with a sushi restaurant and the Mad Hatter Cafe + Bakeshop.
Durham Festival Center
Located on Hillsborough Road, the Durham Festival Center is a strip mall anchored by a Harris Teeter. Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian restaurants round out the offerings, along with a Chick-fil-a and Jersey Mike’s.
Eastgate and Rams Plaza
Located towards Chapel Hill on opposite sides of US 15-501, the traffic around these shopping centers can sometimes be onerous. However, many of the restaurants are exceptionally well-regarded, and a Trader Joe’s and Food Lion provide convenient grocery options.
Lakewood Shopping Center
The Lakewood Shopping Center is in South Durham, and offers two large thrift stores and a craft store.
New Hope Commons
Located off of US 15-501 next to I-40, this strip mall contains a Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Men’s Wearhouse, Wal-Mart, Party City, Marshall’s, and Michael’s, along with various restaurants. Navigating the parking lot can be a bit tricky, but the concentration of useful stores in this location makes it worthwhile.
Ninth Street
Running through the heart of Old West Durham, this revitalized shopping district is very popular with the Duke community. Retail outlets include several boutique, clothing, and specialty stores, while restaurants from bagel shops to steakhouses line the street. If you’re looking to spend an afternoon getting some sunshine after studying in the library, this is the place to go!
North Pointe Shopping Center
Anchored by a Home Depot and Harris Teeter, this shopping center connects directly with other lots that house a Costco and an array of new and used clothing stores.
Oak Creek Village
Located where Garrett Road intersects with US 15-501, this strip mall contains a T.J. Maxx, JOANN Fabrics, and a wide variety of restaurants. Of particular note is Zweli’s, a Zimbabwean restaurant that has earned rave reviews since opening in 2018. However, the only entrance is located on Garrett Road, and can sometimes be quite congested.
Patterson Place Shopping Center
Located across US 15-501 from New Hope Commons, this large shopping complex contains music, clothing, furniture, home goods, and home improvement stores, as well as reliable restaurant options like Five Guys and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Shops at Erwin Mill
The Shops at Erwin Mill are a recent addition to the greater Ninth Street district. Relatively small in scale, this area is dominated by spas, beauty salons, and restaurants specializing in many different types of cuisine.
South Square
South Square used to be a singular mall—however, after facing competition from The Streets at Southpoint, it was razed in 2004 to make way for a big box retail hub. The area has a Super Target, Sam’s Club, and Petco, as well as serving as an anchor for three smaller strip malls with their own offerings: Westgate, Regency Plaza, and Parkway Plaza.
The author of this website, who previously worked at Target, would like to make it known that, as far as Targets go, this is a bad Target. Located on a major thoroughfare near several large apartment complexes, the staff simply can’t keep up with the demand—as a result, lines are long and product availability is inconsistent, especially at the beginning of the school year.
The Streets at Southpoint
The Streets at Southpoint is, without question, the largest and fanciest mall in the area. Located to the south of Durham, it houses many specialty stores and most major mall chains including Nordstrom, JCPenny, Belk, and Macy’s. Outside, the open-air walkway contains larger retailers like Barnes & Noble, Pottery Barn, an Apple Store, and an AMC. In addition to the regular food court, upscale dining options include Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, and Maggiano’s Little Italy.
Woodcroft Shopping Center
This strip mall to the south of Durham contains a Food Lion and several excellent restaurants, alongside a store dedicated entirely to birdwatching supplies.
