To reflect on the year, Chapelboro.com is revisiting some of the top stories that impacted and defined our community’s experience in 2022. These stories and topics affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our region.

One of the recurrent features in the “Trending Stories” section of Chapelboro.com has been our gallery of photos from the opening of Chapel Hill’s new Cook Out location, but that particular post is far from the only story featuring a local restaurant opening, closing or expanding that saw a great deal of interest. Here’s a look back at some of the most-read stories with a focus on food:

Seafood Destiny Express, Franklin Street

The lauded North Carolina chain of seafood restaurants that began with catering and a food truck opened a location on Franklin, but the Chapel Hill Seafood Destiny Express closed relatively quickly due to significant legal trouble. That closure ended up being permanent, but Seafood Destiny has been strong on the rebound elsewhere, leaving the Chapel Hill location shuttered while opening two new ones.

Acme Food & Beverage Company

The Acme strike over alleged harassment and unfair labor practices that began in late 2021 and continued well into 2022 and, while not a permanent closure, was one of the largest restaurant-focused stories of 2022 in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. After a nearly three-month strike, employees and Acme management did not reach a satisfactory agreement or solution, and striking employees permanently left their positions.

The Flying Biscuit, Brandwein’s and Blue House Café

Early 2022 saw a flurry of news, with two new restaurant openings and an expansion to a local institution. From Chapelboro in January:

Chapel Hill will soon have three new restaurant additions: The Flying Biscuit Café, Blue House Café and the expanded Brandwein’s Bagels.

The Flying Biscuit Café is set to open Monday, January 31 at University Place. The restaurant is part of a national chain serving southern-style breakfast food.

The Flying Biscuit Café is moving into a new space within University Place’s initial phase of redevelopment. The café is located between Hawkers and bartaco at University place and will be able to seat about 110 patrons indoors and 30 on the outdoor patio.

Blue House Café is also set to open January 31. The business is a UNC student-founded coffee shop and is located at 462 West Franklin Street. It began as a pop-up coffee shop in November 2021. Now, Blue House Café will be open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Raising Cane’s and Capriotti’s

The famous Franklin Street corner, home to Spanky’s, Lula’s and future site of a franchise location for Raising Cane’s, isn’t open for fried chicken business just yet. But, with any lucky, early 2023 will see some news regarding renovations and openings. In other Franklin Street franchise restaurant news, sandwich shop chain Capriotti’s is in a similar boat: announcement made, but doors unopened.

Crook’s Corner

No restaurant roundup for the past year would be complete without coverage of Crook’s Corner, which closed in June of 2021 but has seen limited pop-up events selling past favorites such as honeysuckle sorbet, Atlantic Beach pie and persimmon pudding. These pop-ups have allegedly been steps on the road to reopening one of the area’s most storied restaurants, but there has yet to be an announcement of what that timeline looks like heading into 2023.

Bojangles

While far from an uncommon sight in North Carolina, it was big news as a Bojangles opened up on UNC’s campus.

Cook Out

Of further campus-adjacent interest is the opening of a drive-thru equipped Cook Out location in Chapel Hill. In the former home of the Burger King on South Elliott road, Chapel Hill’s new Tar Heel-themed location has more or less stayed busy since opening late in 2022.

Shake Shack

Chapel Hill burger-lovers will ring in the new year with another restaurant option in town. Once open, the Chapel Hill franchise will be one of the few Shake Shacks in North Carolina. Most of the restaurants’ locations in the state are around Charlotte. There’s just one other true Shake Shack restaurant in the Triangle in Cary, while PNC Arena in Raleigh has a Shake Shack concessions station for visitors to games and events.

Still Life

After months of construction above Franklin Street and a soft opening period earlier this summer, the Stilllife nightclub and rooftop bar finalled opened its doors.

The business, which is located at 159 East Franklin Street, is open most nights until 2 a.m, with a full bar and dance floor open to patrons.

Still Life expanded to Chapel Hill after opening in Greenville, NC, near East Carolina University and is leasing space on East Franklin Street that previously was occupied by Players. Opened in August, the student population-marketed Still Life — complete with rooftop bar — has already hosted some big events, including an LDOC party with special guest Waka Flocka Flame.

Carrboro Pizza Oven

2022 also saw the permanent closure of Carrboro Pizza Oven, after a period of seeking new ownership. The closure of CPO, a local favorite often featuring pizza styles outside the standard slice, has left many neighbors looking for a replacement restaurant to find Detroit-style slices and more.

Bluebird

Brandon Sharp, local chef and restaurant owner, opened his second restaurant in 2022. Bluebird is a French bistro in the space formerly occupied by Café Carolina, and continues the local upscale menu legacy Sharp began with Hawthorne & Wood.

Beer Study and Lapin Bleu

The Beer Study at 106 North Graham Street announced it was moving into 504 West Franklin Street, the space that previously housed Mint Indian Cuisine. With Beer Study taking on a new location, Mike Benson was quoted pitching a new art gallery/bar in Beer Study’s former home.

“You’re hearing it here first,” Benson said. “The Beer Study space is going to be called ‘Lapin Bleu’ and it’s going to be a bar and an [art] gallery. So, I’ll be splitting my time after we get that up and running between what’s going on at Franklin Motors Beer Garden and over at Lapin Bleu.”

Al’s Burger Shack

Big news out of Al’s: the burger shacks are officially under new management. From the Chapelboro report:

Despite the sale of the Al’s Burger Shack locations, Bowers says this isn’t the end of his restaurant career. He says there are a few properties he and his wife, Melody, have plans for in the future. Right now, though, it’s about appreciating the journey of what Al’s Burger Shack has become.

“I’m going to sleep a little bit and just take some time – not rush into anything,” chuckles Bowers. “But we’ve got a couple of things cooking.”

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