This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Zoe Dehmer — a co-founder of Carrboro United .
Carrboro United is a local food hub that launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that has since helped dozens of local restaurants and food providers and hundreds of people in the local community who make their living in the food industry.
Dehmer said the public response to Carrboro United has been overwhelming.
“I have three customers that have come over a hundred times in a year. We have, I think, over a hundred people that have come 50 times. That’s an average of once a week to the hud and thousands of customers altogether. So people have made a commitment to it that tells us that they’re really truly trying to save jobs locally.”
 
In addition, local restaurants have been saved thanks to efforts from Carrboro United.
“A lot of business owners have told us that Carrboro United is the difference between having to furlough staff or not, or having to close or not.”
In just over a year, Carrboro United has done about $2 million worth of business for 45 different vendors. Dehmer said it has helped to build a sense of community as well.
“We’re really thinking of ourselves as partners in business, not just on the same block, but faced with the same challenges and why not face them together?”
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters . 
Listen to this week’s Hometown Hero segment: 
https://chapelboroaudio.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/June/02/WCHL%20Hometown%20Hero%20-%20ZOE%20DEHMER.mp3 Related Stories
‹ 
Carrboro United Celebrates One Year of Operations With 'No Plans To Shut Down' Carrboro United – a local food hub program created to protect and stimulate the Carrboro economy during the COVID-19 pandemic  – celebrated its one year anniversary Sunday. Program leaders say they plan to continue the service even past the pandemic.
Carrboro United Launches Emergency Loan Relief Fund for Local Businesses After launching Carrboro United just over a week ago, the food hub has already made an impact within the community. Now, it’s looking to help local businesses even more. The group announced its second initiative, the Carrboro United Emergency Impact Loan Relief Fund, on Monday. The fund, in addition to the Local Food Hub, aims […]
Carrboro 'Food Hub' Provides Family-Style Meals Amid Restaurant Closures A new food initiative called Carrboro United has been created to safely feed the community and support the local economy throughout the coronavirus pandemic. This ‘local food hub’ is considered a one-stop shop to get special meals made and sourced by your hometown favorites. Carrboro United is providing an opportunity for Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents […]
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in April-June 2025 Check out the different local business updates from the greater Chapel Hill community from April to June in Chapelboro's quarterly roundup.
A Pair of Local Festivals Combine to Create 'Salt & Smoke & Sound' in Orange County A pair of Orange County festivals partnered to create a new event this fall: Salt & Smoke & Sound, which will feature local music and food.
Carrboro Businesses Pledge Donation Days to Support The ArtsCenter for Its 50th Anniversary The ArtsCenter announced a lineup of businesses participating in "Artstober" to help raise money for and spread awareness of its operations.
Former Acme Employees Hope to Turn Strike Into Larger Workers Coalition Acme Food & Beverage Company in Carrboro and the employees who participated in a two-month strike have gone separate ways, with strike organizers saying their efforts are now focused on helping more service industry workers. On February 17, the Instagram account for “Acme on Strike” shared those who were striking planned to end their demonstration […]
Acme Strike Holds Rally, March in Carrboro Amid Wait for Negotiations As a workers’ strike over alleged sexual harassment enters its second month, demonstrators and supporters held a rally in Carrboro on Sunday to continue their requests for change. Dozens of people gathered in the Carrboro Town Commons and participated in a march to share support for employees of the Acme restaurant who are striking over […]
Acme Closed to Dine-In Customers, Workers on Strike The Acme Food & Beverage Company in Carrboro recently closed its dine-in option. Now, its workers are on strike.
Hometown Hero: Zoe Dehmer from Carrboro United This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Zoe Dehmer — a co-founder of Carrboro United. Carrboro United is a local food hub that launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that has since helped dozens of local restaurants and food providers and hundreds of people in the local community who make their […]
›