by Melissa Howsam | Feb 25, 2025 | Buzz, March 2025
An effort to bring more regional dining concepts to RDU is helping local businesses take off.
“The new restaurants we opened this year reflect the vibrant flavors of the Triangle region and elevate the airport dining experience to a new level.”
— Stephanie Hawco
Boasting a benefit that soars far beyond the hungry traveler, RDU’s commitment to local has really taken off. Already replacing a slew of chains with hot local concepts since its 2020 inception, the RDU concessions model is also rooted in keeping the airport relevant via a continuous “refresh” process. So, as agreements expire every three to 10 years, new businesses have the opportunity to submit proposals to earn their time in the terminal.
Now looking to welcome more than a dozen additional concepts in 2025 as RDU “reimagines its restaurant scene,” says Stephanie Hawco, director of media relations at Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, that concerted effort to lean local and keep concepts fresh is already apparent from first entree of highly traveled Terminal 2 via the swap of two prominent Starbucks spots bookending TSA.
The long-defunct pre-security, post-flight locale now boasts Bull City fave Beyu Caffé, while the always buzzing post-TSA cafe is brewing up Raleigh-based Black & White Coffee Roasters—the latter of which “serves more coffee than our two streetside locations combined,” says B&W Director of Education Trevor Clark. And, of course, the adjacent 2021-bowed La Farm Bakery & Cafe continues to be a crowd favorite.
“The record number of passengers who are traveling through RDU need a great cup of coffee and a meal to fuel their journeys,” says Hawco. “The new restaurants we opened this year reflect the vibrant flavors of the Triangle region and elevate the airport dining experience to a new level.”
Of those—and giving a glimpse of the airport’s vision—there’s long-revered RDU respite 42nd Street Oyster Bar-turned-Crawford’s Genuine, alongside celeb chef Scott Crawford’s proximal Carolina Craft. Additional imminent highly anticipated local concepts set to bow as early as spring include Durham Distillery’s Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine, Adios! By Oscar Diaz, Bongiorno & Son Italian Specialties, and Raleigh Beer Garden, among several others.
Beyond “connecting visitors with our region’s culture,” expresses Clark, “and giving residents access to their favorite local brands before traveling” at one of the fastest-growing international airports in the country, RDU’s conceptualization is bigger than tasty tours through local favorites and flavors—it’s about brand visibility. And it’s big business for NC, adds Durham Distillery co-owner and CEO/President Melissa Katrincic.
A boon for the local economy and a win-win for the hospitality community, these concepts take it a step further by leaning local for their purveyors, creating a big ramp up in business. Think the cult-classic Union Special breads and pastries featured at Black & White and Crawford’s proximal pair, or the premium dark chocolate from Raleigh’s Videri Chocolate Factory blended in Durham Distillery’s Damn Fine Chocolate Liqueur.
“RDU is such a representation of the Triangle,” emphasizes Union Special owner/baker Andrew Ullom. Ultimately, by embracing the Triangle’s F&B scene from the ground up, the terminal is serving up far more than tasteful destinations on your next layover—it’s serving as a vehicle for community allowing travelers and residents alike to feel good about the money they spend.
by Lauren Kruchten | Feb 3, 2025 | Buzz, February 2025
Buzzy news you need to know now.
WHAT’S HOT
Raleigh’s on top. The City of Oaks ranked No. 1 for economic growth in the Milken Institute’s 2025 Best-Performing Cities report.
Catching flights not feelings, RDU saw a record-breaking 15.5 million passengers in 2024, up 6.5% from 2023.
Raleigh City Council approved $6.3 million for the DTR City Hall project, which will cover the costs of building out another floor at the new 17-story-slated East Civic Tower. A portion of the funds will also go toward public art.
Talk about a population boom. NC’s population grew by an estimated 164,835 people in the year ending July 1, 2024—with the total state pop topping 11 million residents for the first time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
NC’ers are going to college to get more knowledge. Public universities across the state saw an increase in enrollment this year, with 16 public universities enrolling 247,927 students (a 2.2% jump from last year).
The South is where it’s at. According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors, more people moved to the South than any other region last year.
The Carolina Mudcats are on the prowl—making the move to Wilson and changing its name to the Warbirds in 2026.
In magical news, Disney’s planned high-end residential community Asteria at Chatham Park could break ground as soon as Q1 of 2025, with the first of its homes available for sale by 2027.
Raise your hand if you’ve experienced brain rot in the past year. … Oxford English Dictionary recently named it the 2024 Word of the Year.
North Carolina ranked the No. 6 underage vaping hot spot in the U.S., with 23.8% of youths vaping.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 23, 2024 | Buzz, October 2024
The hottest goss in today’s local and national news world.
All aboard! Amtrak’s new route, the Floridian, will offer a direct line from Raleigh to the Midwest beginning Nov. 10.
RDU is going electric. The airport is adding eight more electric buses to its existing fleet of 10 late next year to transport airportgoers between passenger terminals and remote parking lots.
Raleigh was named one of the top 10 metros for new apartment construction anticipated in the next five years by RentCafe, with 11,174 apartments anticipated to open by 2028.
Following the City of Raleigh’s approval of new enhanced safety requirements for motorized vehicles during parades—including safety checks, training and more—the Veterans Day Parade in November was once again canceled for the second year in a row.
Stop scrolling. … NC Attorney General Josh Stein—plus 12 additional attorneys general—are suing TikTok, claiming its addictive and mentally, emotionally and physically harmful to children.
by Heidi Reid | Aug 7, 2024 | 2024, Buzz, July 2024/August 2024
Save the stress for once you’re inside the airport with these parking tips.
POV: You allowed yourself just enough time to scrape through security and *barely* catch your flight—only to arrive at RDU Airport to full parking decks. If only your yesterday self had you covered…
Enter ParkRDU. Though parking is perhaps the most stressful part of flying—causing anxiety before you even step into the airport—RDU offers a pre-booking option online for flyers to reserve a spot ahead of time. Read: No more spontaneously backtracking to a remote lot and bussing in (hey, missed flight!).
So in the interest of sanity and no missed connections, here’s how to book… so you can use that spare time to stock up on plane goodies before you head to your gate. Trust us, your tomorrow self will thank you.
Where?
ParkRDU Central, Economy, Premier and Express decks
When?
Book your parking as soon as you book your flight—it can sell out and you have to book at least 24 hours in advance anyway. But don’t stress about the commitment—RDU allows changes to be made up to ParkRDU reservations up to 24 hours in advance without penalty.
What should I bring?
When booking online, print out your QR code just in case—it will save you from being that person and having to press the call button and hold up the line if there’s a technological difficulty. And, upon your return to Raleigh, the nonstop (!) process will read your license plate as you fly out of the lot in your own separate lane.
Why?
The new parking guidance system in the terminal deck allows ParkRDU Premier and Central customers to forgo circling the lot and easily find an empty space thanks to electronic wayfinding. And, ICYMI, the ParkRDU Express lot added nearly 1,000 parking spaces for travelers—NTM it offers luggage assistance at your car and shuttles to the terminals running at all hours of the day, ideal for overpackers and large families alike. Bon voyage!
by Raleigh Magazine | Jul 29, 2024 | 2024, Buzz, July 2024/August 2024
Taking the temp on local and national news you need to know now.
👑 Yes, queens! The Wake County School Board approved the CROWN Act, which ensures students will not be punished for wearing natural hairstyles like braids, Bantu knots or twists.
🎾 Causing a racquet: The City of Raleigh pledged $10 million to the massive Swing Racquet + Paddle facility expected to begin construction this summer, ultimately delivering pickleball, tennis and padel courts; a celeb chef-run restaurant/rooftop sports bar; and much more.
🛫 Raleigh is now one of CLEAR’s 40 TSA PreCheck enrollment locations across the U.S.—meaning passengers can now get both CLEAR and PreCheck through CLEAR instead of going through TSA.
💉 Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic! The pharmaceutical company behind the weight-loss drug (also behind Wegovy) announced a new manufacturing facility in Johnston County that will invest $1.4 million in the area, as well as provide 1,000 jobs.
💊 Here’s a new to-do for your aftercare routine. The CDC recommends taking an antibiotic after sex as a way to prevent STDs.
🚗 Cruising around in your little red 2012 Honda Civic? You aren’t alone—the average U.S. vehicle age has hit a record high of 12.6 years old.
💻 ICYMI: Consider RTP’s previously announced Apple campus on sleep mode. The tech giant’s local project is on pause due to permitting issues.
🌳 Perhaps other cities shouldn’t be so green with envy over us? Raleigh’s ParkScore ranking dropped from No. 53 last year to No. 56 this year.
WHAT’S NOT
🪪 The NC DMV is asking patrons to cough up more cash, as they increased the price of driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and vehicle registrations at the beginning of July.
