A restaurant at a prominent Franklin Street location has closed its doors and a new concept is reportedly set to open at University Place mall in Chapel Hill.
Midici Italian Kitchen has permanently closed its location at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets in downtown Chapel Hill, according to signs outside the building. Signs indicating the restaurant was under renovation had previously been displayed, along with brown paper covering the windows. Now those renovation signs have been replaced with For Lease signs.
Midici occupied a space at 100 East Franklin Street underneath the popular Top of the Hill bar that is known for its high turnover rate.
Midici is not the first Chapel Hill-area restaurant to close this summer. Milltown and CrossTies Bistro & Beer Garden in Carrboro both announced their closings in May. In addition, Hop’s Burger Bar and Babalu Restaurant in Chapel Hill also closed in recent months.
But while some restaurants are closing in Chapel Hill, others are opening.
According to the News & Observer, Orlando-based Hawkers is set to open another location at University Place mall on Estes Drive.
Named after Asian street vendors who sell from carts and stands, Hawkers serves traditional recipes like dumplings, wonton and pork belly. It was founded in 2011 in Orlando, Florida by four friends and has locations in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Nashville among others.
The Chapel Hill location will be Hawkers’ second restaurant in North Carolina, joining one in Charlotte.
The addition of Hawkers is part of a larger “multi-phase” renovation of University Place mall by new owners Ram Development, who announced in January that plans were being developed to “modernize the property and create a true town center for Chapel Hill.”
Hawkers will join Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, Silverspot Cinema and Bartaco as exterior-facing spaces on the Estes Drive side of the mall.
Related Stories
‹

'A Perfect Marriage': Long Relationship with Franklin Street Realty Led to New WCHL HomeThe Chapel Hill Media Group's operations — 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com — are now up and running at its new East Franklin Street home.

One Week: Exploring Our 'Hometowns'Exploring our ‘hometowns’ is an activity that has been continually present in my life thus far. As a 16-year-old, I have accumulated a sense of the culture of our hometown communities as well as what they have to offer; to enumerate: where to grab a bite to eat, fun activities, places to shop and must-see […]

Combination Jimmy John's, Baskin-Robbins Store Coming to West Franklin StreetA combination Jimmy John’s and Baskin-Robbins store will soon open on West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. The store is located at 143 West Franklin Street, Suite 90, in the same building which houses Target. The suite was most recently occupied by pÅ«rvelo cycle. Currently, neither Jimmy John’s nor Baskin-Robbins have any open stores […]

Postino Restaurant and Wine Bar Opening in Chapel Hill's University Place This FallThe restaurant and wine bar Postino will open in Chapel Hill’s University Place shopping center this fall, the business shared in a press release Tuesday. The restaurant will occupy Suite 302 in the complex. Postino’s new space will include both a 4,485-square-foot interior and a 1,888-square-foot patio, “offering plenty of space for guests to gather, […]

Pair of W. Franklin Street Restaurants Permanently Shutter in MayThe Central American restaurant The Latin Effect closed on May 28, while Rams Corner closed to Franklin Street customers earlier in the month.

Crumbl Cookies Closes Chapel Hill Location After 3 Years In BusinessThe store, located in Suite 150 at 133 West Franklin St., first opened its doors in February of 2023. It was open for just over three years.

Al's Burger Shack Hailed as 'Best Cheeseburger in North Carolina'The website Fast Food Club named Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hill as the best cheeseburger in North Carolina in a new list, which sought the best cheeseburger in every state. “The beef is locally sourced, the toppings are creative and seasonally inspired, and every burger is cooked with the kind of attention usually reserved […]

‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in January-March 2026The start of 2026 featured some early closures, openings and plenty of returns to business in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and beyond.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore Coming to University Place in 2026The bookstore Barnes & Noble will open at University Place in Chapel Hill later this year, the shopping center said in a release Wednesday. The announcement was made while also detailing four other new businesses at the complex. Three of those businesses have already opened: the SWTHZ fitness center, VEG Emergency Vet and H&H Bagels. […]
![]()
On Air Today: Supporting West Chapel Hill Businesses Through Street ConstructionLapin Blue owner Mike Benson, Baxter Bar and Arcade owner Nick Stroude, and Franklin Real Estate's Sammy Martin spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, February 24. They discussed some of the challenges facing Midway area businesses with recent construction on Rosemary St. They highlighted the appeal of the Midway district's locally owned businesses and "old Chapel Hill" vibe, and more.
›