The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Raleigh, NC

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Raleigh, NC

North America’s largest award-winning interactive true crime murder mystery dinner show invites you into a night of laughter, mystery, and audience-driven intrigue. Enjoy a full dinner while a hilarious crime unfolds around you—but stay alert. The culprit is hiding in plain sight, and before the night is over, you could find yourself named a Prime Suspect.

Now playing at Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh-Crabtree in Raleigh, NC, this murder mystery dinner experience is unlike traditional dinner theater. Our professional actors are not in costume and are secretly planted among the guests, creating a modern, social, and highly interactive evening. Each ticket includes our signature live murder mystery show, a complete dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of unexpected twists. Reserve your tickets now and crack the case before it’s too late.

Planning a group celebration or private event in Raleigh? We specialize in custom private shows for companies, parties, and organizations of nearly any size—hosted at our public venue or brought directly to your location. Perfect for team outings, corporate events, and unforgettable celebrations.

Happens on the following Dates:
Mar 14, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Mar 28, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Bites & Bytes: Local F&B BTN

Bites & Bytes: Local F&B BTN

Raleigh is hungry—and a resilient city has responded by serving up a banner year. Now the world is taking notice. Recently billed as the Best Performing Large City by Milken Institute, Raleigh’s “strategic advancements in the tourism and hospitality industry elevate our region and amplify why Wake County is a preferred destination for leisure and business travelers alike,” said Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards upon the recent release of its Wake County 2024 Tourism Industry Report—and on the heels of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s Q4 2024 market report. Here, take a bite out of Greater Raleigh’s vibrant food & beverage scene by the numbers. 


↑5.7% from 2023

Prepared food and beverage tax and hotel lodging hauls shattered records, raking in a staggering $87.45 million—marking the strongest calendar year yet.


425

Turning the city into an action-packed hub and drawing ~665,000 attendees alongside a slew of local F&B vendors, Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance hosted 425 events, tourneys, conferences and fests in 2024. 


$314M

Est. DTR F&B sales July 2023–24, a 16% YoY increase and 30% over 2019 for all of Wake County


268+

F&B establishments now in Downtown alone


29+

Restaurants and bars recently opened Downtown, with 184 storefront businesses bowing—including F&B—since 2020, and 28 more coming online soon

Raleigh’s Black-Owned Small Businesses

Raleigh’s Black-Owned Small Businesses

Updated January 2026

Raleigh ranks as the third best state for Black-owned businesses—and we want to make sure they get the love they deserve. With 3 million+ Black-owned businesses spanning the country, these organizations have produced $217 billion in earnings and employ 1.2 million, people per the U.S. Small Business Administration—NTM Downtown Raleigh continues to position itself as a frontrunner in terms of fostering incoming minority- and female-owned spots.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the city’s Black-owned restaurants, shops, fitness centers, arts studios and other businesses for you to shop, savor and support. Here’s to Raleigh’s Black community. 

Food & Bev

Bestow Baked Goods
4208 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs

Black Farmers Hub
1409 Cross St.

Boricua Soul
705 Willard St., Durham

Cake Town Bakery
903 North Smithfield Road, Knightdale

Corner Boys BBQ
Food truck, rotating locations

Crema Cafe
421 S. Fayetteville St.

Crumbstruction
Food truck, rotating locations 

The Davie
444 S. Blount St., Ste. 101

Fishin’ Shrimp
Food truck, rotating locations

The Fish House
Pop-ups, rotating locations

Goodness GraceUs
Catering, 919.279.2690

Jack’s Seafood & Soul Food Restaurant
1516 New Bern Ave.; 5416 Rock Quarry Road 

Jamaican Grille
5500 Atlantic Springs Road

Juiced!
3301 Rock Quarry Road

Kwench Juice Cafe
9660 Falls Neuse Road

Lee’s Kitchen
Food truck, rotating locations

Melanated Wine

Melanated Wine
4608 Industry Lane, Ste. F, Durham

Mum’s Jamaican Restaurant
3901 Capital Blvd., Ste. 101

Nafkot Ethiopian Restaurant
2109 Avent Ferry Road, Ste. 146

The Naked Empanada
Food truck, rotating locations

Oak City Fish and Chips
Food truck, rotating locations

Oink N Moo
Food truck, rotating locations

ORO Restaurant and Lounge
18 E. Martin St.

Premier Cakes
6617 Falls of Neuse Road, Ste. 105

Sarge’s Shrimp & Grits Sauce
5201 Sinclair Drive

The Shrimp Truck
919.417.8242

Smallcakes NC
1231 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary; 4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham

Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies
Catering, 321-210-5819

Sweetheart Treats
6150 Rogers Road, Rolesville

Sweet Tea and Cornbread NC
4325 Glenwood Ave., Crabtree Valley Mall

Tall Grass Food Box
Subscription Service

Retail

Azurelise Chocolate
702 N. Boylan Ave. 

Blackology Coffee Company
Subscription Service

Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge
Rotating locations

Bria’s Balloon Boutique
3708 Benson Drive, Ste. 505

Caps Raleigh
1601 Cross Link Road, Ste. 55

The Chocolate Boutique
8480 Honeycutt Road, Ste. 100

Cocoa Body Co.

Cosign1975

Élan House

Graffiti Panda

Hemp2Heal
6451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Ste. 108

The Hemptender
590 E Chatham St., Ste. 110, Cary; 1920 NC-54, Ste. 50b, Durham

Liberation Station Bookstore
430 Hill St.

McCormick Creations Gifts Co.
4325 Glenwood Ave, #1057

Rocket Fizz
5017 Falls of Neuse Road

The Rooted Baby Co.

Shea La Vie

Sircastletees
610 W. South St. 

Social Status
308 Parham St.

Triangle Cultural Art Gallery

TresLife
119 Wind Chime Court, Ste. 2

Usu Company Candles

The ZEN Succulent

Health & Fitness

Find a Way Fitness
3607 Falls River Ave., Ste. 111

My Pink Cherry Pole Studio
3862 Capital Blvd.

Salons, Spas & Personal Care

Adara Spa
608 W. Peace St.

Azia B’s Beauty Studio
7400 Six Forks Road, Ste. 23

Brit & Yank

Brit & Yank
6608 Six Forks Road, Ste. 102

City Market Barber and Style Shop
307 S. Blount St.

Black-owned businesses
Geometry Curly Hair Studio

Geometry Curly Hair Studio
404 E. Six Forks Road

Metro Style Salon
3611 Spring Forest Road, Ste. 104

Nail Yeah
431 Hill St.

Nicholson’s Barber and Style
106 E. Hargett St.

Posh Hair Concepts
450 E. Davie St., Ste. 105

Hair by Evette
133 S. Wilmington St.

Something to Smile About
6213 Rock Quarry Road, Ste. 110

Professional Services

AJ Custom Services, LLC

Araminta Wellness

Birth Sisters Doula Services

CLS COX Locksmith
3009 Village Park Drive, Ste. B, Knightdale

DDR Realty
1 Glenwood, 5th Floor

Dream Weddings & Events
3708 Benson Drive, Raleigh, NC

Dream Weddings & Events
Photo courtesy of Dream Weddings & Events

Events by Debra’s Details & Designs
Wake Forest

Find a Way Travel

Glenwood South Tailor & Alterations
743 W. Johnson St., Ste. A

Goodson Residential & Commercial Services LLC

JT Willis Moving Services

Lavish Leaf

Legacy Street Law

Life Lines

McLaurin Realty Group
555 Fayetteville St., Ste. 300

Mechanics and Farmers Bank
116 W. Parrish St., Durham

Men at Work Car Care Center
330 Tryon Road

Milan Public Relations

Nelson Orthodontics
10940 Raven Ridge Road

New Legacy Realty
5200 Greens Dairy Rd. Suite 9

Open Arms Child Care of NC LLC
5875 Sparrows Nest Way, Wendell

Pretty N Paid Media

Relatable Lactation

Renewed Strength Counseling Services
7419 Knightdale Blvd., Ste. 110, Knightdale

Triangle Doulas of Color

Urban Healing Counseling
8392 Six Forks Road, Ste. 201; 742 McKnight Drive, Ste. 200, Knightdale

The Wardsworth Group
2409-107 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 103

Wobo Cleaning Services
919.888.7340‬

Arts, Music & Dance

Expressions in Rhythm Studio
3545 Maitland Drive

Music Is Life RDU

*Have or know of a Black-owned small business in Raleigh or Wake County that isn’t on the list? Email [email protected]

Raleigh Women-Owned Small Businesses

Raleigh Women-Owned Small Businesses

Updated March 17, 2026

The month of March is for the girls. With Raleigh recently ranking the No. 3 largest U.S. metro for women-owned businesses, our city continues to situate itself as a hub for thriving female-owned enterprises.

In celebration of our local fab females, we’ve compiled a list of can’t-miss women-owned businesses in Raleigh across all sectors—from hospitality and retail to fitness, art and more.

Food & Bev

Ajja
209 Bickett Blvd.
Check out our coverage on Ajja here.

Amorino Raleigh
137 E. Davie St.

Angus Barn
9401 Glenwood Ave.

Anise Pho
222 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 113 

A Place at the Table 
300 W. Hargett St., Ste. 50
Check out our coverage on APATT here. 

Bad Oven

Bitter Social
104 S. Wilmington St.
Check out our coverage here

Bittersweet
16 E. Martin St.

Black Sheep Bakery

The Bomb Bar
2409 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 117

Bombshell Beer Company
120 Quantum Drive, Holly Springs

Bru’s Public House
5433 Wade Park Blvd., Ste. 100
Check out our coverage on Bru’s here

Captain Cookie and the Milkman
500 E. Davie St.

Centro
106 S. Wilmington St.

Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
202 N. Corcoran St., Ste. 100, Durham
Check out our coverage here.

Clockwork
519 W. North St.

Crude Bitters/The Bittery
501 E. Davie St.

The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery
104 Glenwood Ave.

Curry in a Hurry
411 W. Morgan St.

Death & Taxes
105 W. Hargett St.

DICED
121 Fayetteville St., Ste. 108; 1028 Oberlin Road, Ste. 234; 1377 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary; 7157 O’Kelly Chapel Road, Cary

DOH! bakery & bread

Donovan’s Dish
800 W. Williams St., Ste. 112, Apex

Dos Taquitos
6101 Glenwood Ave.

Dose Yoga & Smoothie Bar
415 N. Harrington St., 540 St Albans Drive, Ste. 100
Check out our coverage on Dose Yoga here, and its walk-up window here.

Drink
215 Glenwood Ave.

Element Gastropub
421 Fayetteville St.
Check out our coverage on Element here.

Escazu Chocolates
2409 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 124

The Fiction Kitchen
2431 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 103

Firsthand Foods
2210 E. Pettigrew St., Ste. F, Durham

Five Star
301 N. West St.

Geluna Gelato
111 East Chatham St., Ste. C

Good Graces
540 St Albans Drive, Ste. 130

Graze Charcuterie

Hummingbird
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 111

ItsAWrap
10970 Chapel Hill Road, Ste. 120, Morrisville

Kandy Apples by K
6320 Capital Blvd., Ste. 107

La Farm Bakery
Multiple locations

Ladyfingers
3710 Exchange Glenwood Place, Ste. 104

Las Marias
1600 Ronald Drive

Le Dive
14 W. Martin St.
Check out our coverage here.

Little Blue Bakehouse
2116-H New Bern Ave.

Little Blue Macaron
2116 New Bern Ave., Ste. H

LM Restaurants

LocoPops
2618 Hillsborough Road, Durham

Mama’s Salsa

Michael’s English Muffins
3611 Spring Forest Road, Ste. 114

Nation’s Pantry

Needs & Wants

Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie
518 Pershing Road

Oak City Pizza & Grill
2811 Hillsborough St.

Poole’s Diner
426 S. McDowell St.
Check out their 2021 25 Best Dishes coverage here.

Poppyseed Market
8801 Lead Mine Road

Posh Nosh Catering
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 135

Pure Vegan Cafe
8369 Creedmoor Road; 2812 Erwin Road, Ste. 104, Durham

Purr Cup Cafe
210 Prospect Ave.

Raleigh Brewing Company
3709 Neil St.

Raleigh Cheesy
3075 Medlin Drive

Raleigh Raw
7 W. Hargett St.

Raleigh Tamales

RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar
210 E. Chatham St., Ste. 10, Cary

Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar
5625 Creedmoor Road

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
8521 Brier Creek Parkway, Ste. 103

Slice Pie Company
8101 Holly Springs Road

Slingshot Coffee
1415 S. Bloodworth St.

Soul Cocina

Southern Sugar Bakery
4517 Lead Mine Road, Ste. B

Stella’s
911 N. West St., Ste. 103
Check out our coverage here.

Sweet Nothings Bakery & Cafe

Tamasha Modern Indian
4200 Six Forks Road, Ste. 130

Triangle Wine Company
575 New Waverly Place, Ste. 103-B; 4204 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs

Urban Food Group
5000 Memory Road

Umbrella Dry Bar

Union Camp Collective
115 Old Williamson Road

Vita Vite
200 Park at North Hills St., Ste. 130
Check out their 2021 Best Bars coverage here.

Vitis House
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 115

Wilco
616 N. Person St.
Check out their 2021 Best Bars coverage here. 

Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
201 S Boylan Ave.

Yellow Dog Bread Company 
219 E. Franklin St.

Retail

Liberation Station
Liberation Station Bookstore, photo courtesy of The Durham Hotel

2 Girls Antiques & Estate Decor
5301 Hillsborough St.; 5655 Western Blvd., Ste. C

BBLUXANDBOUTIQUE
Fuquay-Varina

Bria’s Balloon Boutique
3708 Benson Drive

Brio Laser Etching

Cockamamie Jewelry

Copperline Plant Co.
23 W. Hargett St.
Check out our coverage on Copperline here.

Corporate Incentive Products
2320 Lake Drive

Craft Habit Raleigh
3224 Lake Woodard Drive

Curate
15 W. Hargett St.

Deco Raleigh
207 S. Salisbury St.

Designed for Joy
517 W. Cabarrus St., Ste. A

Dress Raleigh
3528 Wade Ave.

Edge of Urge
215 E. Franklin St.

ELLA collective
8480 Honeycutt Road, Ste. 108A

Fall Back Vintage
1101 East Whitaker Mill Road

The Flourish Market
2201 Iron Works Drive

For Your Convenience
1700 Glenwood Ave.

Furbish Studio

Gianni Cooling

Grazin’ Gals
Check out our coverage on Grazin’ Gals as 40s & Fearless here.

Gussie’s
927 W. Morgan St., Ste 116

Hartwell
620 W. South St.

Hause of Dogs
421 N. Harrington St., Ste. 120

Heir Raleigh
627 W. Lane St., Ste. 101
Check out our coverage here.

The Hemp Store
5801 Farm Well Road

Houseplant Hippie
Check out our coverage on Houseplant Hippie here & here.

House of Swank
3915 Beryl Road, Ste. 120
And check out our coverage of their podcast here.

Inspirations
8601 Glenwood Ave., Ste. O

JuJu’s Basics

Kenda Kist Jewelry
741 W. Johnson St.

Ky’s Kandles
540 St Albans Drive

Leaf Plant Shop
112 N. Church St., Clayton

Left Hook Coffee
912 E. Hargett St.
Check out our coverage here.

Liberation Station Bookstore
430 Hill St.

Linda Ruth Dickinson
22 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 11A

Little Oak Collective
233 Bickett Blvd.; The Factory, South Main Street, Wake Forest

The Living Soaperie

Lunae

M & M Tack Shop
615 Germantown Road

MODE Consignment
510 Daniels St.

Monkee’s of Raleigh
4158 Main at North Hills St., Ste. 100

Mulberry Silks & Fine Fabrics
200 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro

Nons Salts
2505 Remington Road

Pacero Studio
120 S. Wilmington St., Ste. 120

Pamut Apparel
436 N. Harrington St., Ste. 110

Paper Buzz
4209 Lassiter Mill Road, Ste. 125

The Pour House Record Shop
224 S. Blount St.

Pop-Up Raleigh
656 Maywood Ave.

Quercus Studio
201 S. Salisbury St.

Quail Ridge Books
4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd

RaleighPOP Balloons

Raleigh Reservoir

Raleigh Vintage
18 Glenwood Ave.

Redhead Hemp
1809 Glenwood Ave., Ste. A; 413 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham

Revolver Consignment
610 Hillsborough St., Ste. 101

Roshambo Market

The Self Care Marketplace
12 W. Martin St.

SerendiB workout apparel
Check out our coverage here & her art here.

Sunshine & Grace

TrenLend
540 St Albans Drive, Ste. 122
Check out our coverage here.

Triangle Pop-Up

TrunkShow
1526 Wake Forest Road

Usu Company Candles

Vintage Labrador
1515 Gavin St.

Voda Boutique
4209 Lassiter Mill Road, Ste. 112

Wicks For Wags

Zzp Apothecary
8604 Falls of Neuse Road
Check out our coverage on Zzp Apothecary here.

Health & Fitness

Nathan and Brit Guerin
Nathan and Brit Guerin | Photo by Chris Nieto, @nietophotography

110 Yoga
444 S. Blount St., Ste. 110

Barre-Up Raleigh
4224 Beryl Road, Ste. A

BK Pilates
1019 S. Saunders St.
Check out our coverage here.

Cary Pilates
800 Gathering Park Circle, Suite 106, Cary

Current Wellness
219 S. East St.
Check out our coverage on Current Wellness here.

Dogwood Country Club
2431 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 101

Dose Yoga & Smoothie Bar
415 N. Harrington St.; 540 St Albans Drive, Ste. 100
Check out our coverage on Dose Yoga hereand its walk-up window here.

F45 Training Downtown Raleigh
207 W. Davie St.

Franny’s Farmacy
280 Meeting St., Ste. 104, Cary

Glow Fitness
1924 Wake Forest Road

Heat Strength
1609 Old Louisburg Road

Heights Pilates
330 Dupont Circle, Ste. 104

The Hemptender
590 E. Chatham St., Ste. 110, Cary; 1920 NC Highway 54, Ste. 50, Durham

Indigo Hot Yoga & Wellness Center
1028 Oberlin Road, Ste. 244

The Mega Workout
2330 Bale St., Ste. 104

Raleigh Pilates
2003 Fairview Road, Ste. B

Red Wolf Elite Diving Club
401 Morrill Drive

ReFit Therapy
703 W. Johnson St., Ste. A

Remedy Movement
2010 Hillsborough St.

Restore Hyper Wellness
Multiple locations 
Check out our coverage on local franchisee Meri Clark as 40s & Fearless here.

Third Wave Pyschotherapy
5401 Six Forks Road, Ste. 200; 137 E. Franklin St., Ste. 630, Chapel Hill; 3211 Shannon Road, Ste. 620, Durham

Wake Women’s Health
3237 Blue Ridge Road; 10880 Durant Road, Ste. 100

YoBa Studio
5003 Falls of Neuse Road; 2201 Iron Works Drive

YogaSix
621 Hillsborough St., Ste. 103; 5273 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs; 703 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill

Yoga Soullective
400 W. Morgan St.

Salons, Spas, Pets & Personal Care

Adara Spa
608 W. Peace St.

Alter EGO Salon and Blow Dry Bar
119 E. Hargett St.

aMANda’s Best Friend
702 N. Blount St.

Brow Bar Raleigh
3660 Capital Blvd.

Conspiracy Ink Tattoos
328 W. Morgan St., Ste. A

Joja Nails
201 S. West St.

Hightide Salon
309 W. Martin St. + 307.5 W. Martin St.

Lip Print Beauty Bar
6164 B Falls of Neuse Road

The Lotus Spa
714 W. Jones St.

Loxxe on Jones
618 W. Jones St.

Marigold Parlour
713 Tucker St.

N Style Hair Designs
2233 Avent Ferry Road, Ste. 110

Nail Yeah
432 Hill St.

Phantastic Nails & Spa
5910 Duraleigh Road, Ste. 121

Posh Hair Concepts
450 E. Davie St., Ste. 105

regener8

Ritual Hair Company
1814 Oberlin Road, Ste. 101

Salon Blu
Multiple locations

Salon RG
444 S. Blount St.

Salon Veritas
3414 Six Forks Road

Smoothe & Co
2210 E. Millbrook Road, Ste. 109

Tao Day Spa
2012 Fairview Road, Ste. B

Unfiltered Beauty
2008 1/2 Fairview Road

Village Salon
402 Oberlin Road, Ste. 116

Woodhouse Spa
4204 Six Forks Road, Ste. 102

Arts, Music & Dance

Taylor White
Taylor White

ArtSource Fine Art & Framing
4421 Six Forks Road, Ste. 123

Artsuite

Bayleaf Market
11723 Six Forks Road

Karoline Olivia Studios

Charlotte Russell Contemporary

Cirque de Vol Studios
300 W. Hargett St., Ste. 40

Gallery C
540 N. Blount St.

Hello Yellow Art Studio
401 N. West St., Ste. 117

Rebus Works
301-2 Kinsey St.

SerendiB Creative
Check out our coverage here & her art here.

Taylor White

Tutu School Raleigh
709 Tucker St.

Services

APW Media

BaySix
414 Dupont Circle

Blue Ink Press

Blush Cowork
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Cary

Catering Works
2319 Laurelbrook St.

Che Ink Tattoo Studio
510 St Marys St.

Clairemont Communications
101 S. Bloodworth St.

The Crowded Table Club

Design by Tula
535 Hertford St.

Doulas of Raleigh

Food Seen
5 W. Hargett St., Ste. 409

JNK Public Relations

Joy Worthy Co.
131 S. Wilmington St.

Lock & Key Photography

The Maxwell
330 Gideon Creek Way

Nine19 Photography
19 W. Hargett St., Ste. 902

Pawlite Pups

The Petal Haus

Protea Farm

Spade and Sparrow Designs

Susan Holt Photography

Triangle Tech Savvy Seniors

Vine Rich Events

Witek Marketing

The Women’s Social Club

Lodging

Heights House Hotel
308 S. Boylan Ave.

Nonprofits & Philanthropy

Diaper Train
1812 Tillery Place

The Diversity Movement
Check out our coverage on The Diversity Movement’s Jackie Ferguson & Shelley Willingham here.

Headbands of Hope
310 S. Harrington St.

Podcasts

Office Talk w/ Raleigh Magazine

Office Talk w/ Raleigh Magazine

Sound Palate

*Have or know of a woman-owned small business in Raleigh that isn’t on the list? Good news! We update this list on a regular basis. Email [email protected].

One-Stop Shop

One-Stop Shop

WEB EXCLUSIVE Restaurants might have closed their dining rooms but purveyors and farmers still need to sell their food to someone–and, obviously, we all still need to eat. The solution? kō•än’s new ko•mmunity Hub, spearheaded by kō•än chef Drew Smith, Tabletop Media Group founder Kristen Baughman Taber and Jenn Rice, a local journalist and brand consultant.

Inspired by Carrboro United, a multi-weekly community hub led by chef Kevin Callaghan of Acme that has been successful in Carrboro since its launch in late March, the goal of ko•mmunity Hub is to “bridge the gap between the purveyor and the public,” says Smith. Through the hub, Smith can continue buying products from purveyors to sell to the community. “Our mission is to help small businesses, local farmers and purveyors keep afloat during these hard times by uniting the community together at kō•än—and directly funneling money back into our food and beverage community.”

Smith says to think of ko•mmunity Hub like a more specialized farmers market, with an elevated feel and more items available other than just produce. Confirmed purveyors include Botanist and Barrel, Slingshot Coffee Company and Sugar and Spice Kitchen. Many of these products will be available in CSA (community-supported agriculture)-style boxes, including a picnic box with two ciders from Botanist and Barrel and two cheeses from Boxcarr Handmade Cheese and a homemade salsa duo box with chips for snacking from Mama’s Salsa. G&D Produce in Norlina, NC is also offering a produce box that will change weekly depending on what’s available. Other local farmers will contribute to the boxes as well, so customers can expect anything from mushrooms to strawberries to honey.

Lettuce from G&D Produce
Lettuce from G&D Produce

“In a normal setting you’d usually subscribe and get a box a month or every two weeks,” Rice explains. “But here, we’re looking to tie together farm produce and products into one box from different farms in the area.”

ko•mmunity Hub will also feature meal kits from Triangle-area restaurants and beyond. Whiskey Kitchen is offering a chicken and broccoli casserole that feeds six to eight people; Baba Ghannouj Mediterranean Buffet in Durham is offering a “Greek Night” kit consisting of chicken kebabs, lamb and beef gyros, rice, pita bread, hummus, tzatziki and baklava; and Under the Oak in Smithfield is offering a three-course meal kit for two, including chef Blake Gotliffe’s homemade charcuterie and a dessert from his wife, Megan, a pastry chef. Smith says the hub provides an exciting opportunity for folks like the Gotliffes because it’s one of the only channels that’s currently available to get their products to Raleigh consumers.

Having so many products in one location is convenient and safe as it limits the amount of time people are out of their houses shopping in different stores. And, where else can you get a meal from Wye Hill, a cold brew from Slingshot and specialized groceries like curry, cookie dough and granola from kō•än? “I don’t know any other concept where you can get so many different things in one place,” says Smith. “If you wanted to get all these things you’d have to go to three or four stores in one day.”

Smith hopes that, instead of running to Harris Teeter or other chain grocery stores, people will turn to ko•mmunity Hub for products from these local farmers and purveyors. It’s also possible that, with food shortages predicted in the near future, people will have to rely on more local suppliers anyway.

Smith, Baughman Taber and Rice say they will continue to reach out to more local farmers, purveyors and restaurants to get them to participate in the program as well. “We’re all pretty excited about this,” Smith says. “We can’t wait to see it come to fruition and help the people that need it most right now.”

ko•mmunity Hub’s first pickup day is this Saturday, May 9 at kō•än from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Orders must be placed by Thursday at 3 p.m. in order to give partners and chefs time to create the meals and boxes ordered. Place your order at koancary.com/kommunity-hub.