Carrboro has a new bar on the way where locals will find draft beer side-by-side with seafood po’boys and fried pickles.

Al Bowers, of Al’s Burger Shack fame, has teamed up with Chapel Hill native Chris Baldwin to open a new bar called 401 Main in Carrboro this summer.

“Al and I have been friends for years and we’ve been plotting to open a bar like this for some time,” said owner Chris Baldwin in a press release. “We’re right in the middle of town and we hope you’ll leave your car in the driveway, grab the dog and head on up for a great po’boy and a beer.”

Billing the new concept as an “upscale dive bar,” Bowers and Baldwin’s 401 Main will be serving oyster, shrimp, grouper and vegetarian po’boys, roast pork sandwiches, fried pickles and a signature “Dawg Bites” – fried shredded potatoes stuffed with shrimp, bacon and pimento cheese.

The bar portion of 401 Main promises a “large selection of local and international beers, wines by the glass, and their version of classic and frozen cocktails” along with two outdoor patios and a stage for live music.

According to the announcement of its soon-to-be-opening, 401 Main will also have “special treats just for the dogs.”

Related Stories
‹
New Carrboro Bar, 401 Main, Opening September 16
Relatively quickly after its formal announcement, a new bar is opening in Carrboro on Monday, September 16. 401 Main in Carrboro comes from the team-up of Al Bowers, of Al’s Burger Shack fame, and Chapel Hill native Chris Baldwin. The bar and restaurant will feature local draft beer and a selection of food (full menu found […]
Carrboro's Bowbarr Set To Close At The End of April
The owners of Bowbarr, a Carrboro bar that's been open for more than a decade, said it will close its doors at the end of April.
This is Tourism: Vecino Brewing
Spanish word for “neighbor,” and Vecino Brewing in Carrboro takes great care to be a good neighbor through local beers, local food prepared by Chef Leah Plumlee and frequent partnerships with local non-profit organizations. Listen below to hear WCHL’s Ron Stutts speak with the general manager of Vecino, Monica Molina, and to hear […]
CrossTies Bistro & Beer Garden: Expanding the Space and Evolving the Menu
CrossTies Barbecue is now CrossTies Bistro & Beer Garden, and that name change reflects a shift in how the local institution will continue to be a part of the local food and nightlife scene. The same acclaimed mesquite brisket, hickory pulled pork and ribs — along with the locally famous Cubano and Chicken & Herb […]
21 Years of Music Celebrated in This Weekend's Carrboro Music Festival
Carrboro Music Festival, an annual celebration of Carrboro culture and music featuring around 200 acts performing across 29 venues. The event is coordinated through cooperative efforts from the Carrboro Recreation and Parks department, as well as the Carrboro Music Festival Planning Committee. The festival enjoys the full support […]
New Brewery Opens in Downtown Carrboro
A new brewery with some familiar faces has opened in the space formerly occupied by YesterYears Brewery in downtown Carrboro. David Larsen was the founder of YesterYears Brewery and will serve as the brewmaster for the new venture – Vecino. “We’re a brewery by and for neighbors,” Larsen said in a release announcing the opening […]
Tu for Two: Krave Krush
Chela visits Krave for some kava!
CHCCS High Schools Win State Championships in Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer
Two local high schools each took home state championships last weekend. Chapel Hill High School took home the North Carolina 7A championship in women’s lacrosse, while Carrboro High won the 4A championship in women’s soccer. View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram Chapel Hill High won the women’s lacrosse title, its first […]
Carrboro Man Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation. 42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual […]
Local Government Meetings: June 1-5, 2026
This week in local government: budget decisions for Orange County, Carrboro, and Durham, and the final vote on a CHCCS school closure.
›