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Cat Tales Cat Cafe receives small business grant

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:48:00 GMT

Franklin Street is an iconic Chapel Hill landmark — during the school year, students can be seen enjoying an after-class snack, studying at coffee shops or buying UNC merchandise. Visitors, town residents and students dine, shop and work alongside each other. It is a bustling hub of UNC community life.

However, due to decreased patronage during the COVID-19 pandemic, some storefronts on Franklin Street have closed their doors permanently, and the effects are still being felt to this day — for instance, Linda’s Bar & Grill, a staple to the Chapel Hill community, closed this January citing loss of revenue and problems with staffing.

Despite this, new developments are coming to Franklin Street. Two storefronts at the intersection of Franklin and Columbia streets, — which previously housedMidici and Seafood Destiny Express — will soon have new life.

“Those spaces were empty for quite a long time. And I know everybody in our town was hoping that somebody would come along and fill those spaces,” Jeri Lynn Schulke, executive director for Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, said. “So thankfully, we saw Raising Cane’s come in last year, and with the two other corners being full, it just gives a lot of vibrancy to downtown that was missing with those empty storefronts.”

Starbucks, currently located next to Raising Cane’s, will be moving into a larger space across the street to accommodate more patrons. Raising Cane’s purchased the whole building including the retail space Starbucks currently occupies, and what comes next for that space is still to be announced.

Playa Bowls, an acai bowl chain based out of New Jersey, will open next to Starbucks' new location later this summer. Playa Bowls will serve a variety of smoothies, acai bowls and drinks inspired by the founder's travels while surfing.

Pulp Juice & Smoothie Bar will move into what was previously Seafood Destiny. Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, which closed earlier this year, will be replaced by Voodoo Wings.

In May, Cosmic Cantina moved from its location on 128 E. Franklin St. to 118 E. Franklin St. to expand services and make way for developments related to UNC’s Campus Master Plan.

“The biggest change is that we're a storefront. Now we're not so much a hole in the wall,” Yeshua Sanchez, manager of Cosmic Cantina, said.

The business is now located on the street — attracting more foot traffic — and is decorated with tiles and memorabilia celebrating Chapel Hill. While the new location may be different aesthetically, the menu remains the same, with the addition of a liquor license and a pressed juice bar.

"There's a lot of energy that has been put forward both by the Town and the University in trying to bring more workers to downtown and more people working downtown," Schulke said.

Michele Phipps, a junior at UNC, said she wishes that there was somewhere students could sit down and chat without having to pay for food or coffee, or places centered around activities rather than dining.

“We have the on-campus spots, but it’s difficult to ask people that don’t specifically go to UNC to meet you at UNC places,” she said. “If you have a lot of friends or family outside of it, it’s annoying.”

Schulke said that having more places where people work and people live is going to be beneficial to downtown, including for non-student, year-round residents outside of those associated with UNC.

“[For] so long, we have been a nine-month economy just really focusing on students. So much of the livelihood of downtown businesses has been reliant on students. When they go away for the summer — or the vast majority do — some businesses really struggled through that,” Schulke said. “So changing our economy to one downtown that can be sustained year-round, is really the right move that the town is making.”

'Empty for quite a long time': New restaurants come to Franklin Street

Since its inception six years ago, the cafe has embraced numerous milestones, including the adoption of over 1,000 cats in January and the celebration of its sixth anniversary last month. Additionally, they marked their one-year partnership with Cat Tales Rescue NC during the same period.

This nonprofit organization in Chapel Hill not only aids at-risk cats and kittens but also collaborates with other groups to lower euthanasia rates by providing foster homes. Established by dedicated volunteers, this rescue nonprofit offers a distinctive opportunity for adoptions, with all funds raised directly supporting the care of the cats and related programs. While waiting for their forever-homes at the cafe, the rescue cats receive personalized care, affection, and attention. As of March 2024, 418 cats have found new homes and 478 have been rescued. Given that North Carolina consistently ranks among the top three states in the U.S. for cat euthanasia, the nonprofit advocates for addressing the pet overpopulation crisis as a community challenge that necessitates a collective response.

Consequently, volunteers diligently strive to create opportunities for community engagement, assistance, education, and active participation in finding solutions.

Carter Hubbard, Director of Operations and Business Services of the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive downtown community, shared her thoughts on the grant program with TLR. Hubbard highlighted the cafe’s unique position in Downtown Chapel Hill as a blend of retail and community service, offering snacks, beverages, and a variety of cat toys alongside responsible pet care and adoption practices. She noted that the significance of this grant is amplified by co-owner Katy Poitras’ intention to reinvest the funds into the local community through various public events aimed at expanding the business’ mission of animal care and responsible pet ownership.

“Being awarded this grant is an outstanding achievement; being selected out of the original 1,000-member applicant pool. The community partnerships that the owners have created with shelters, veterinary practices, and cat adopters in the immediate area has enhanced the term ‘local’ beyond what one might expect. We look forward to promoting these offerings as they arise this year and continuing to help businesses to thrive in Downtown Chapel Hill,” said Hubbard.

Cat Tales Cat Cafe limits the number of visitors in the cat room to ensure an enjoyable experience for cats and guests. Reservations are strongly encouraged. To learn more and to make reservations, visit cattalescatcafe.com The cafe’s address is 431 W. Franklin St., Unit 210, and is open from 12-6pm Tuesday through Sunday.

What is the “Backing Small Business Program”?

In 2021 American Express and Main Street America created the grant program to help small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses. Since then 25 small business owners across the country have been awarded $30,000 as well as $10,000 Enhancement Grants through the program. In its first two years the program provided over $4 million in grants to 680 small business owners across the country and nearly $9.8 million in grants to 1,180 small business owners nationwide, with more than $5.7 million of that granted in 2024.

“Small businesses are a pillar of our communities, bringing culture, character, and connection to our neighborhoods. We are grateful to be able to provide enhancement grants to businesses across the country that bring hope, vitality, and resilience to the communities they serve,” said President of the American Express Foundation Madge Thomas.

Tyria McCray-Bourda is a story-driven journalist whose work also appears in The Carolinian newspaper in Raleigh. With a bachelor’s in journalism & mass communication from North Carolina A&T State University, she has the distinction of having interviewed President Joe Biden when he was a candidate on the campaign trail and Vice President Kamala Harris. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocal Reporter.press

New restaurants come to Franklin Street

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:44:53 GMT

Pulp Juice & Smoothie Bar will move into what was previously Seafood Destiny. Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, which closed earlier this year, will be replaced by Voodoo Wings.

In May, Cosmic Cantina moved from its location on 128 E. Franklin St. to 118 E. Franklin St. to expand services and make way for developments related to UNC’s Campus Master Plan.

“The biggest change is that we're a storefront. Now we're not so much a hole in the wall,” Yeshua Sanchez, manager of Cosmic Cantina, said.

"There's a lot of energy that has been put forward both by the Town and the University in trying to bring more workers to downtown and more people working downtown," Schulke said.

Schulke said that having more places where people work and people live is going to be beneficial to downtown, including for non-student, year-round residents outside of those associated with UNC.

'Empty for quite a long time': New restaurants come to Franklin Street

Kevin Thomas '12, an accomplished recording artist who goes by the stage name Kaze, opened VibeHouse 405 on Franklin Street in 2018 as a recording studio and gathering space for creatives.

"I wanted to put it in an environment that was conscious of community and art and that supports the notion that dreams can come true," he said

KEVIN THOMAS

Jim Kitchen '87 and Susan Kitchen '91 own The Yogurt Pump, or YoPo as this Chapel Hill treasure is also affectionately called, serving up frozen yogurt and toppings just off of Franklin Street.

"Chapel Hill just feels like home to us. It always has, and always will," Jim said.

JIM AND SUSAN KITCHEN

The Home of the Tar Heels

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:41:46 GMT

Chapel Hill routinely ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States. Its reputation is driven by the diverse social, cultural and professional opportunities that flow between the campus and town. Chapel Hill has it all — from live music and eclectic dining to quiet trails and parks.

Discover why Tar Heels call Chapel Hill home not just for the years they are here, but for life.

For more than 200 years, the Town of Chapel Hill has supported Carolina as a critical partner in the University's mission to serve our state, nation and world through teaching, research and public service. Chapel Hill's restaurants, shops and entertainment venues provide an extra level of excitement and comfort to all Tar Heels.

Like most cities, Chapel Hill looks and feels different right now because of the effects of COVID-19. Despite that, businesses in downtown and across Chapel Hill are open. Now is our chance as a campus community to support our local businesses and give back to the town that has brought so much to Carolina.

MEET MORE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS

SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS

Kevin Thomas '12, an accomplished recording artist who goes by the stage name Kaze, opened VibeHouse 405 on Franklin Street in 2018 as a recording studio and gathering space for creatives.

"I wanted to put it in an environment that was conscious of community and art and that supports the notion that dreams can come true," he said

KEVIN THOMAS

Jim Kitchen '87 and Susan Kitchen '91 own The Yogurt Pump, or YoPo as this Chapel Hill treasure is also affectionately called, serving up frozen yogurt and toppings just off of Franklin Street.

"Chapel Hill just feels like home to us. It always has, and always will," Jim said.

JIM AND SUSAN KITCHEN

Downtown Chapel Hill sees over 1 million person increase in visitation, recovers after COVID-19

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:25:33 GMT

Downtown Chapel Hill had over 9 million visitors in 2022 — an increase of over 1.6 million from the last year — according to the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.

Following decreased numbers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest visitation day was April 5 — overlapping with UNC's run in the Final Four.

Numbers are expected to increase in 2023, according to Matt Gladdek, executive director of the CHDP. He said the increase was consequential of many different factors, including UNC sporting events and students returning to classes after breaks.

“You know, I think that it's a broad mix,” Gladdek said. "I would like to think that more visitors coming downtown during the pandemic helped to change people's perceptions of downtown.”

Additionally, downtown improvements in Chapel Hill that took place during the pandemic, such as expanding downtown sidewalks and adding outside seating for restaurants, contributed to the higher numbers, according to Gladdek.

“I think specifically for our downtown businesses, these numbers matter, because when you come downtown, you're more likely to spend a little money and support a local business,” Gladdek said. "That helps our businesses stay open and hire more people, and that makes downtown more attractive when you've got local businesses doing well.”

With numbers expected to continue rising, Dwight Bassett, director of Economic Development and Parking Services for the Town of Chapel Hill said his department is continuing to address current issues like parking, traffic safety and public restrooms.

Bassett said restrooms in Wallace Parking Deck are now open 24 hours a day and a new parking garage downtown will also have restrooms available at its east entrance.

With people driving into downtown and more visitors expected to come in, Bassett said the Chapel Hill Parking Services Department is also going to have to consider how it will manage Chapel Hill's parking resources.

But it’s not just the fact that people are staying in Chapel Hill once again: it’s that all those additional people are eating in town too. Laurie Paolicelli, the executive director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau – which opened its new location in downtown Chapel Hill this March — said of the nearly $195 million spent by tourists around the community in 2021, a large portion was at restaurants and bars.

“Tourism is such an important part of our food and beverage industry,” Paolicelli said. “Of that [money], 38 percent – or $73.9 million — went to food and beverage. A lot of times, people think that [money] is regenerated as just a vertical hotel industry. But when you travel, you pay your hotel bill once, but you pay that dinner tab, food and beverage, catering [over and over].”

As tourism largely drives the local economy, the Chapel Hill community continues to try and maintain a sustainable, year-round economy for its downtown. Paolicelli also said research into visitors’ most-asked questions or tendencies can highlight potential changes to do just that. She said one detail the county visitors bureau is looking to help improve is information and infrastructure for wheelchair accessibility around local businesses.

“Yes, you have to be ADA [compliant] to be open, but there are some variations to that. So, we’ve been surprised to by the increase in [requests of] information for wheelchair accessibility and exactly what that’s means. We’re spending a lot of resources right now to produce that after months of research.”

Paolicelli said the other major area of improvement needed: more racial diversity and equity in the local businesses around town.

“Some of our research has said, ‘It’s nice to see all the Carolina blue, but where’s the brown?’” she said. “So, that’s really a huge focus for us right now: working with diversity officers in all three towns and the county. Numbers-wise, we’re heading in the right direction. Ethos-wise, we’re learning and we’re adjusting accordingly.”

More of the Downtown Chapel Hill-Carrboro panel from the 2022 For’Em On The Hill series can be listened to here .

“That's certainly going to affect our policy because we're seeking to be more multimodal, and it's a general balance between keeping economic vitality as we make that transition to be more multimodal in our thinking for downtown,” Bassett said.

Bassett said safety is always a concern. As a result, the department is conducting a study to learn how to better balance cars, buses, bikes and pedestrians on the street. The study will also start to gather baseline information for a streetscape enhancement plan to better improve visitors' perceptions of downtown Chapel Hill.

“The real goal of those two studies is to increase the feeling of economic vitality downtown and make sure we're incredibly welcoming on our sidewalks and our crosswalks and things of that sort so it's a much better experience downtown,” Bassett said.

According to the Carolina Coffee Shop's Front of House Manager Oszin Gonzalez,the visitation has impacted business in a positive way.

Carolina Coffee Shop opened its neighboring cafe, 1922, in 2022 and has seen its business's growth increase as a result, Gonzalez said.

He added that since COVID-19, people have been going out to eat more which has helped their business. 1922 has allowed them to serve students or visitors getting coffee when Carolina Coffee Shop is closed.

By expanding its business, Gonzalez said Carolina Coffee Shop is hoping to increase its hours to serve dinner in 2023.

“I believe that we're going to continue to grow," Gonzalez said.

CHDP is going to continue to gain a better understanding of where and why the numbers fluctuate. Gladdek said he hopes to build off of both their successes and misses.

“I think both the Town and our organization have changed a lot of our programming downtown and our hope is that trying to listen to the community's needs and desires for programming is helping people rediscover downtown,” Gladdek said.

Chapel Hill Marks High Foot Traffic Downtown in 2022, Outpacing Statewide Rates

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:22:27 GMT

As the calendar year comes to a close, it marks what’s widely regarded as the most “normal” year since the coronavirus pandemic began.

What did that mean for downtown foot traffic and tourism, as events started to pick up and people became more confident in public health? Some local experts report that for Chapel Hill, downtown numbers are outpacing not only surrounding communities but most of North Carolina.

While Chapel Hill is home for many in our community, the vast majority of those who visit Franklin Street or the edges of UNC campus qualify as visitors. Matt Gladdek with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership said his organization uses a data tracking company called Placer.ai to see how much foot traffic the downtown streets experience.

“We can take a look at where our visitors are coming from,” he said during the 2022 For’Em On The Hill . “Right now, about 80 percent of visitors to downtown are people that don’t live in that district or are not employees working there. Of those visitors, 50 percent of them are traveling from [more than] 50 miles away.

“So, we have a decent chunk of people that are here [year-round],” said Gladdek, “but we’re really bringing in a lot of people that come to visit Chapel Hill.”

Like all communities, Chapel Hill saw a significant drop in downtown activity during 2020. But Gladdek said locally, that traffic began to return sooner than many other places – and at a higher rate than before. Data from Placer.ai shows that this past summer, Chapel Hill outperformed its pre-pandemic retail chain and domestic tourism numbers compared to 2019. Gladdek said this most recent fiscal year, which finished this summer, not only marked a five-year high for foot traffic but also outpaced Durham’s recovery of pedestrians.

“Looking at our calendar year, we’re on track for 9.5 million visits downtown. That’s a really impressive number for only 85 acres that we have here. Huge thanks as we look at where our high visit [times] come from – those are our hotel visits and stuff like that around football and basketball [games]. So, thanks to UNC sports for being so good this year.”

Paolicelli said the other major area of improvement needed: more racial diversity and equity in the local businesses around town.

More of the Downtown Chapel Hill-Carrboro panel from the 2022 For’Em On The Hill series can be listened to here .

Nonprofit Spotlight: Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership

carter@downtownchapelhill.com (Carter Hubbard) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:12:59 GMT

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is a 501c3 charitable organization that, according to its website, “is here to strengthen the cultural relevance and financial stability of downtown.” XDCH is an initiative working to celebrate the opportunities happening now, while paving the way for an exciting new chapter in this unique and growing hub for arts, innovation, food, and retail in Chapel Hill.

“We are so thankful to you, the vital members of our community, for all the support and patronage you’ve given our local businesses on Franklin and Rosemary streets — from Henderson to Merritt Mill — throughout the last year,” said Matt Gladdek, executive director for XDCH. “Each small shop, bar, restaurant salon and local favorite continues to need your business.”

With a series of programs and promotions in place and set to begin in the near future, XDCH is part of the movement to push Chapel Hill’s downtown out of the pandemic and into a brighter future — one that includes new facades on buildings, live music downtown and a step up into a vibrant, inclusive tomorrow.

Veterans Discounts

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Veterans and current members of the US military are eligible for discounts at the following Downtown Chapel Hill restaurants:

*Be prepared to show your veteran/military ID

Social Host Ordinance Petition

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Following our 2020 Action Plan, we’ve researched and developed recommendations for a social host ordinance alongside community partners. We’re sharing this with the Town of Chapel Hill Town Council in the form of a petition. Town petition status can be checked here. CCC-Social-Host-Ordinance-Petition-FAQ-2024.01.17Download

CCC: Alcohol & Coping During COVID 19

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

By Mae Golden

In France, a BBC article reveals that students have planned a series of protests to bring awareness to the increasing mental health problems that they believe are a result of the coronavirus pandemic. They have coined the movement #GhostStudents: due to “a combination of isolation, inactivity and a broader loss of purpose…many students [are] close to breakdown,” and feel forgotten by the government administration.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon isn’t unique to France: it is an abyss into which students everywhere are falling. In the article , students are quoted saying, “I no longer have dreams” or “There’s nothing to look forward to. When you’re in your early twenties, you live intensely and social interactions are at the centre of your life.” Student mental health resources, such as counselors, have been massively overwhelmed. Thus, students feel unheard and alone—feeling forgotten in the “inbetweeness” stage of their lives. This movement speaks to the loneliness and poor mental health of students. In the pandemic, students who feel lost in the pandemic are looking for ways to cope.

As a result, some students may be turning to alcohol in the hopes of coping. In fact, research from the CDC shows that alcohol use among younger adults has increased during the pandemic. But coping in this way can actually amplify the negative feelings that students may wish to avoid. According to this article , a professor of neuropsychopharmacology, warns that feelings of anxiety, guilt, and stress are emotions that can be amplified by drinking the morning after, or what he coins “hangxiety.” Coping in this manner is also a slippery slope according to the Higher Education Center , which revealed that college students are at higher risk of alcohol-related consequences such as embarrassment, adverse sexual outcomes, academic problems, and physical injury. Additionally, a study from Binghamton University reveals alcohol abuse in this manner can begin a vicious cycle of substance abuse, stress, and poor academics. Mental distresses in college students were identified with substance abuse, lack of sleep, unsocial behaviors, poor academic attitude and behaviors, and low GPA. If students do not know all the risks of using substances to cope, their response to these triggers will only exacerbate their initial negative feelings.

Nonetheless, the perception that all students are turning to substances as a way to cope is not representative of how all students are dealing with the increased pressures of the pandemic. A majority of students are taking the challenges of the pandemic one day at a time, inserting small acts of self-care into their new forms of a daily routine. Whether that is spending time outdoors, or simply trying to drink more water, students across campuses are resiliently maintaining friendships through phone calls, zoom rooms, and maintaining small social bubbles. Personally, I practice self-care by trying to keep a daily routine and relaxing on the weekends by watching movies with my roommates. College campuses are also offering resources to which college students have access. For UNC students, Davis Library has limited floors open for studying, the Rams Head Rec Center and the SRC are open under regular hours, and my personal favorite, the hiking trails of the UNC Botanical Gardens .

Students are standing together on the precipice of their future, and it is our responsibility to support them and each other’s mental health during this extremely difficult time, a time when dangerous habits may be formed. Nonetheless, all students deserve our support at these pivotal moments in their lives for their future mental well-being. The end of the pandemic is in sight! Together, the culture around alcohol consumption can be changed to foster a healthier environment.

Do's and Don'ts for the Big Game

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas; college basketball season! While a great season for the Tar Heel men’s and women’s basketball teams can be exciting, there are also some things to remember in order to stay safe while celebrating in Downtown Chapel Hill. Here are some tips for staying safe and having fun from your friends at the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, the Campus & Community Coalition , the Town of Chapel Hill , and UNC Student Wellness .

Do: Follow local laws and safety regulations.

This is always an exciting day in Chapel Hill, but we want everyone to stay safe. Be conscientious about celebrating within the context of Chapel Hill and NC laws. This includes respecting others and their property, including businesses and town signage. Please follow all local laws regarding open containers, vandalism, fires/fireworks, and safe assembly. Click here to review a list of prohibited items.

Don’t: Celebrate alone.

Basketball is a team sport and so is watching basketball! Find your “team” and stick together. You’ll cherish the memories of watching the big game with friends. Always walk in a group and take care of one another. Be aware that other students (and community members) may be overly excited and not always conscious of the impact of their own or others’ actions. Community safety is a shared responsibility. So keep an eye open for safety, and call for additional support if needed. If you or someone else does overdo it, remember the Medical Amnesty policy allows one to call for medical or other support without fear of getting in trouble with legal or campus officials.

Do: Enjoy responsibly.

We don’t mean to brag, but we have some incredible local bars and restaurants. Okay, we did mean it. But remember: you don’t have to drink to celebrate a big win. Great memories are often best kept with a clear mind at the time. Many of our local spots have non-alcoholic options . Snacks are a must for game day, so sample the food menu alongside your beverage. If you do choose to consume alcoholic beverages, be intentional about consuming at a rate and quantity that is best for you personally. Be conscious of the potential for the wave of excitement to push you to consume more than you plan to or may be safe for you. Worried about traffic, parking, or getting home safely? Make use of FREE public transit or the rideshare of your choice.

Do: Stock up on gear.

Grab a friend and get your gameday gear downtown! There are plenty of shops selling gear for Tar Heels of all ages. Chapel Hill Sportswear , Classic Carolina , Johnny T-Shirt , and Alumni Hall have everything you need to cheer on the Tar Heels. Shrunken Head Boutique will give out free “Beat Duke” pins while supplies last. Looking for something a little more versatile than a t-shirt or ball cap? Julian’s and Uniquities also have stylish options on that famous Carolina Blue!

Don’t: Forget to plan ahead.

Couldn’t snag a ticket to the game? No problem! Snag a table at a downtown business and join the community game-watching experience. Fair warning: many of our downtown spots take reservations or will fill up quickly on the day of the game. So have a plan before you go. Check the bus schedules and coordinate travel with your friends. If you plan to drink, settle on the Designated Driver beforehand or have a rideshare plan in place. For parking information, check the Park on the Hill website.

The Burden of Excessive Drinking in Orange County, NC

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Excessive drinking leads to harm that often impacts the wider community, not just the drinker. This cost-of-illness analysis of excessive drinking in Orange County (OC), North Carolina uncovers just how much the community is paying, both literally and figuratively, for these behaviors. Excessive drinking cost OC $111.8 million in 2017 and is a leading cause of death in OC. The cost breakdown includes healthcare costs ($8.2 million), miscellaneous costs ($11.5 million), and productivity losses ($92.2 million). There were 234 alcohol-attributable emergency department visits and 237 alcohol-attributable hospitalizations involving both chronic and acute conditions. 15.9% of deaths in 2017 were due to excessive drinking, and those due to suicide and homicide largely impacted younger populations. While impactful, these analyses do not account for intangible losses like pain and suffering; excessive drinking impacts numerous aspects of society, and overall, the harms are preventable and can be mitigated. CCC-The-Burden-of-Excessive-Drinking-in-Orange-County-NC-Final-ReportDownload

Celebrating 80 Years of Julian's

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

You can’t imagine Franklin Street without Julian’s. The retailer has been a downtown fixture for nearly a century, clothing local dignitaries, businessmen, and, of course, UNC athletes. Still family-owned and operated, the retailer maintains the highest standards by celebrating the old school sense of “prep” style mixed with a contemporary feel.

Mary and Maurice Julian opened the original Julian’s College Shop on East Franklin in 1942. Back then, competition was fierce with five other menswear stores on Franklin Street. After Maurice’s passing in 1993, each of their children ran the store: Missy Julian-Fox, with her husband Michael until 2007, and Alexander Julian, who currently operates it with his nephew, Bart Fox.

Alexander and Missy each made their own ways in the world before returning to the original shop. Alexander opened his own boutique in 1969 on Franklin Street called Alexander’s Ambition. He later moved to New York City where he became an award-winning designer; he also became the first American clothing designer to create his own exclusive fabrics. In 1988, he was tapped to design the uniforms for the Charlotte Hornets. In 2015, he worked with his son Huston to relaunch his signature clothing brand. Missy has worked for years in education and literacy and has written numerous children’s books. She also served as the director of the UNC Visitors Center, and, most recently, founded Heart of the Hill Tours , which teaches local history via themed walking tours. Her son, Bart (pictured below), currently manages the menswear side of Julian’s.

Julian’s is synonymous with Chapel Hill. The distinctive argyle pattern permeates local fashion, most notably UNC Athletics thanks to a redesign by Alexander of the men’s basketball uniform prior to the 1991-1992 season. They were also the first retail shop to put the Old Well on an item of clothing (the item was a neck tie and a variation of it is still in production today). The store has expanded into women’s wear and, most recently, handmade shoes. Most products are American-made, some even produced locally in North Carolina. They’re even working on celebratory 80th anniversary items! From custom designs to ready-to-wear fashions, you can find anything you need to look and feel your best. We celebrate Julian’s and wish them a happy 80th anniversary!

Relationship Violence Awareness Month

duda@levitateapp.com — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Relationship Violence Awareness Month (RVAM), also known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is a national observance in October that aims to raise awareness and coordinate efforts to fight relationship violence. UNC defines interpersonal violence (including intimate partner violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and relationship violence) as a broad range of abusive behavior committed by a person who is or has been:

Interpersonal violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions, attempted actions, or threats of actions that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances and with similar identities to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or to experience substantial emotional distress. Such behaviors may include, but are not limited to, physical violence and threats of violence to one’s self, one’s family member, or one’s pet.

Throughout the month of October, offices across the UNC campus and downtown businesses will host different opportunities for you to learn more about RVAM. The following local businesses will have goodie bags filled with more information and resources on October 17-19 as well as special promos to raise awareness for RVAM:

The Meantime Cafe
The Gathering Place
Imbibe & Zogs
Linda’s
Goodfellows
Gizmo Brewery
Blue Horn Lounge
Epilogue Book Cafe
Purple Bowl
The Northside District
Brandwein’s
Lanza’s Cafe
The Spotted Dog
The Cave
Local 506
The Dead Mule Club

Community-Related Consequences of High-Risk Drinking: Chapel Hill, NC

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This report details qualitative interviews of residents in two historic neighborhoods, Northside Historic District and Cameron-McCauley Historic District, near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) and downtown Chapel Hill. The Northside neighborhood is historically the largest African American community in Chapel Hill and has been experiencing a loss of homeownership for several decades and an increasing demand for student rentals, while Cameron-McCauley residents indicate that they are aware they are moving into a student-dense area when choosing to live there. Residents from both neighborhoods reported negative impacts of UNC-CH student drinking, such as vandalism, noise disturbances, and property damage. While both neighborhoods faced similar negative impacts, there were differences in residents’ perceptions. Cameron-McCauley residents generally had positive feelings toward student neighbors, while Northside residents felt disrespected, especially by white students, raising concerns about racial disparities in how drinking behaviors are addressed. Despite these issues, residents expressed a desire to address problems internally, suggesting the importance of community-level interventions to reduce alcohol-related consequences and financial burdens on the town. Community-level-consequences-of-high-risk-drinking_finalDownload

UNC-CH Color of Drinking Project

duda@levitateapp.com — Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Color of Drinking survey investigates the influence of the alcohol culture at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) on the experiences of undergraduate students belonging to diverse communities, including people of color and LGBTQ+ students. Adapted from the Color of Drinking Study at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW-Madison), this research aims to comprehend the perceptions and experiences of undergraduate students, with a specific focus on LGBTQ+ individuals and students of color, in the context of alcohol culture at a predominantly white institution. Additionally, the study examines secondhand harms encountered by these populations. Out of 1,788 survey participants, 1,465 responses were analyzed, revealing that students, particularly those of color and LGBTQ+, acknowledged the harmful effects of the alcohol culture at UNC-CH on their mental health and safety. While some expressed positive experiences, negative harms were disproportionately experienced by students of color and LGBTQ+ students, who reported drinking less compared to their white, non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. CCC-UNC-SWCCC-CoD-Final-ReportDownload

A Q&A with a Local Innovator

duda@levitateapp.com — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

As the Innovation District takes shape in downtown Chapel Hill, we want to highlight some of the ideas, people, and products that have come out of it. We sat down with Willie Barron and Maddi Lane to discuss their app, WAVE .

What is WAVE?

WAVE is a nightlife app for bar-goers and bar owners. Patrons can see what’s happening in the local area and coordinate plans with their friends. It can help owners connect with one another and their patrons. The platform is currently undergoing extensive beta testing. “We hope to add more users this summer,” says Willie.

How does it work?

So how does WAVE work? “It’s like if SnapChat, Instagram, and Yelp had a baby!” jokes Maddi Lane. Users will be able to create plans for certain days/times by seeing the events happening at local venues. They can also share their plans with other users by creating friend groups. That way, every one in the group can make plans to hang out at the same place, at the same time!

Take us through the process of creating the app.

“People don’t know where to go. They find out about things after the fact,” explains Willie. The app was born out of his enjoyment of local nightlife. “This idea was sparked when I was 22, 23 so my focus was nightlife. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen the value in moving to more leisurely activities.” He started working on it in January 2019 with market research and curating data. “We spent a lot of time prototyping.” As he and his team learned more through the prototyping, they built the app out…and then COVID happened. “We made an aggressive pivot,” Willie says. Instead of focusing on finding parties and live music, the app featured bar capacities for social distancing.

In 2022, they finally hit a stride. Currently, WAVE needs $100,000 in capital as Willie had built the beta himself to save money. He taught himself coding and found a platform that worked for his needs. “We’re hoping over this next year or so that we can raise funds to really scale up,” he explains.

How do you foresee WAVE helping downtown businesses?

Most marketing strategies for local bars and restaurants are very similar. But at the consumer level, that’s not how people make plans. Maddi explains that EventBrite and Yelp are as close are you’re going to get, but there’s nothing to tie it all together. The social aspect is missing. Businesses and consumers want to do more, but patrons don’t often hear about events and promos in time. Willie explains “The consumer and the business are trying to reach other but they just don’t know how.”

By integrating social networking, WAVE creates a marketing platform that can be huge for local businesses. Users can build micro-communities and collaborate. The team also hopes to add in more features and analytics for both patrons and owners as the app grows and work with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership on advertising and marketing.

Why downtown Chapel Hill?

WAVE is an app born in downtown Chapel Hill, for use in downtown Chapel Hill. Willie explains why he chose to use the area for beta testing the WAVE app: “I’ve looked at Chapel Hill for a long time as dormant potential. I think this place has so much room for growth. I think that this is almost the perfect market to incubate in. It’s small enough that people can talk but big enough that everybody isn’t connected. Plus, I just love Chapel Hill!”.

Willie and Maddi have reached out to local businesses primarily on the west end of Franklin Street for collaborations. Their team has created a great working relationship with owners and seek to help with events and promotions to drive foot traffic. This includes concerts, bar crawls, and the reimagining of The Pitch event space. The building, located at 462 W. Franklin St., is undergoing aggressive renovations with the goal of a grand opening in the fall. It will boast an event space, co-working area, meeting rooms, a venue on the third floor, a creator space with 3D printers, camera equipment, green screen, and podcast studio, and a student-run coffee shop. Willie and Madi hope to work with the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at UNC to identify top students and teach them how to run a business.

“Now we have the opportunity to really make some waves, pun intended.”

CCC: Talk to your kids about alcohol (they're listening)

duda@levitateapp.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

By Mae Golden

Youth who have their first drink before fifteen are seven times more likely to experience alcohol-related problems than those who did not drink underage. Researchers at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) confirm that “…parents are the #1 reason young people decide to not drink.” They encourage starting conversations about alcohol with your children before they even start drinking—as early as nine years old. “Even if it doesn’t seem like it, they really do hear you.” Every time children hear their parents reiterate their expectations about alcohol, the message gets stronger—SAMHSA recommends many smaller talks over time rather than one “Big Conversation.” Having honest conversations about alcohol with your children isn’t easy, but knowing more about the role you play in defining your child’s alcohol decisions can lead your children to safer choices.

Having clear conversation goals can make it easier to talk to your children about alcohol. First, set clear expectations about academic performance, financial responsibility, and how alcohol use can impact both. Don’t be afraid to take a strong stance against underage drinking. Establish consequences for drinking that are concurrent with your parenting style. Research has shown that children whose parents communicate zero-tolerance expectations are much less likely to drink excessively than children whose parents have permissive attitudes. According to an article from Stanford University’s Office of Alcohol Policy and Education, parents regularly overestimated other parents’ approval of alcohol use— in fact, most parents do not tolerate underage drinking. You are allowed to disapprove and you’re not alone.

Secondly, when you disapprove, make sure your kids know that you are taking this stance because you want them to feel happy and safe—holding such a nuanced stance will encourage your children to be open in their communication with you. Furthermore, Collegeparentsmatter.org shares that you can simultaneously establish that your child shouldn’t drink, and also encourage future discussions about their drinking experiences. Have open and honest conversations about underage drinking–keep conversations brief, but don’t forget to listen! Use a current newspaper article or recent event about alcohol as a way to begin a conversation. Even if your children doesn’t follow all of your advice all the time, you can still show them that they can speak honestly with you about alcohol.

Thirdly, establish yourself as a reliable source of information. If your child can rely on you for accurate information about alcohol, they are less likely to get their information from their less-informed peers. And even if your child doesn’t want to drink, having good information can combat the pressures they’ll face from their peers and continue to help them say no.

At the end of the day, it comes down to Parenting 101: show you are paying attention. According to SAMHSA, young people are more likely to drink if they think that no one will notice. Ways to monitor include evaluating your child’s mood changes, physical health, school performance, and checking in on them when they have friends over. In doing so, you establish that you are involved in a relationship with them and their relationship with alcohol.

Having honest conversations about alcohol with your children can be hard, but understanding your role in your child’s decision not to drink can make it easier. Remember, show you disapprove, show you care, establish yourself as a reliable source, and pay attention. As you continue to talk about alcohol with your child, you help them build crucial tools to navigate alcohol culture, while remaining present for advice and understanding.