Who We Are

Veterans and current members of the US military are eligible for discounts at the following Downtown Chapel Hill restaurants: Bandido’s: 15% Ben & Jerry’s: 15% Bonchon: 10% Brandweins Bagels: 10% Bul Box: 15% Carolina Brewery: 10% Carolina Coffee Shop: 10% Cholanad: 12% Cosmic Cantina: 10% Crumbl: 10% Might As Well: 10% Raising Cane’s: 10% Vegan Flava: 13% *Be prepared to show your veteran/military ID

By Weller Maret, Sean Doyle, and Kee Griffith

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

The 2023 FC Series is coming to Chapel Hill! Chelsea and Wrexham will square off on Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 pm. The match quickly sold out, so we expect over 60,000 fans, players, coaches, and staff to fill up Kenan Stadium. For those who could not purchase tickets, we’ve got you covered! Catch the game at one of our downtown bars or restaurants. Here are some local spots hosting watch parties and offering specials:

By Mae Golden

The results are in! Many of our Downtown Chapel Hill businesses received top honors in this year’s “Best Of Chapel Hill” issue by Chapel Hill Magazine , including Downtown Chapel Hill as one of the best Overall Shopping Experiences! The publication asks readers to vote for their favorite restaurants, bars, retail shops, movie theaters, fitness centers, and more. More than 60,000 votes came in this year for over 400 categories. Some of our merchants were also feature stories! Take a look at spreads covering Karen Cunningham of Simply Audrey , Katy Poitras and Ilene Speizer of Cat Tales Cat Cafe , and a story on Morehead Planetarium’s 75th anniversary . Keep scrolling to see the Downtown winners!

This summer, go off the beaten path and explore the west end of downtown Chapel Hill. West Franklin and Rosemary contain world-class dining options and unique retail shops. Moreover, town-operated downtown parking is free on weekends in June and July!

Summer is the time to get outside and embark on exciting adventures. Join us this summer and experience downtown Chapel Hill to the fullest – from the popular places you love on East Franklin to the hidden gems on the West end. Don’t worry when the temperature gets too high; “C’hill Out” and download your free pass to earn points as you explore and experience classic spots in downtown Chapel Hill!  See Participating Businesses FAQs What is C’Hill Out?C’Hill Out is the third in a series of mobile passes designed by Bandwango and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. The program encourages downtown visitors and residents to explore the area and rewards them for checking in and visiting various businesses. When do I start earning points?Once you have registered for an account, you can start checking in at various locations and earning points immediately. How can I earn points?Check-ins are worth 100 points; discount offers are also worth 100 points. Once you reach a certain amount of point totals, you’re eligible for the following prizes:

We want to build a visual identity for Chapel Hill that captures our community’s unique feel. Franklin Street has served as a social, economic, and cultural center for Chapel Hill since the 1790s. Downtown has grown to include Rosemary Street and several side streets. By carving out an identity, we seek to set the town apart from our neighbors and create a sense of community pride. We worked with Clean Agency to create the images below. All of the files are free to use. Stickers, patches, posters, anything! Be creative! We took inspiration from the official seal of the Town of Chapel Hill. Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, symbolizes civilization, helpful knowledge, noble reasoning, and logic. She graces the Town logo to show the similarities between Chapel Hill, a community shaped by reason, research, and the arts, to ancient Athens. Another aspect of our community is the relaxed vibe! Chapel Hill is one of the three cities anchoring Research Triangle Park, each one with its own unique feel. Our area is thriving yet off the beaten path of the hustle and bustle of the Triangle region, so we tend to be more…chill. One thing we love in Chapel Hill: nostalgia. The retro feel evokes memories of live shows at Cat’s Cradle, slices of pizza from Pepper’s, hot dogs at Sutton’s, and cool treats from The Yogurt Pump. We love watching UNC alums and former residents return downtown and reminisce. Our community is growing in many ways, and there are fears that this growth will change who we are. This is understandable. But we’re confident we can keep these classic vibes as we enter a new era. We want everyone to feel welcome to these images. To receive image files, please contact Stephanie Cobert, Director of Marketing.

It’s a new era for classic businesses in downtown Chapel Hill! A strong downtown creates opportunities, culture, and innovation, which enhance the fabric of the community. Downtown Chapel Hill has experienced significant growth and the last year was a busy one! New retail shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants have opened their doors, while others are prepping their spaces to open soon. The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for our small business community. The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership helped merchants directly meet some of these challenges. As a result, we believe that we are creating a downtown that locals can be proud of.