All Up In Your Business: Chicken, cider and Franklin Street closings

Franklin Street will see some changes soon, as two businesses close their doors and a new restaurant is on the way. Cans of Orange County cider also recently became available at local and state-wide retailers. 

Botanist & Barrel

Orange County cider makers Botanist and Barrel released its first canned cider this month. 

The cider is available at several retailers across the state as well as nearby locations, according to Botanist and Barrel co-founder Lyndon Smith. Locally, you can grab a can from any of the Weaver Street Market locations or at local bars like Beer Study, Smith said. 

Founded in 2017, Botanist and Barrel creates a variety of craft ciders, sours and dry fruit wines. The Farmhouse, the newly-canned cider, is unpasteurized and unfiltered, like all of the cider products they produce. It’s also additive, sulfite and sugar-free, Smith said.

“We’re hyper-local and truly Southern,” Smith said. “So we’re really excited to offer that cider in cans for our customers to enjoy.”

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles is opening its first Chapel Hill location at 147 E. Franklin St. The most recent business to occupy the space was [B]Ski’s, which closed earlier this year. A sign with the restaurant’s name and logo was installed earlier this month.

Dame’s has restaurants located in Durham, Cary and Greensboro.

Walgreens

The Walgreens located at 108 E. Franklin St. will close on Nov. 7. According to a sign posted on the store’s front door, customer prescription records are on file at the 1500 E. Franklin St. location or any other Walgreens.

Steven Howser, a Chapel Hill resident, said he shops at the 108 E. Franklin St. location frequently and will be sad to see its doors close. 

“This store has been here since I came to Chapel Hill, and I really never thought I’d see it close," he said.

Store employees declined to comment about details surrounding the closing.

Passport Motors, Inc. 

According to owner Jim Youngman, Passport Motors, Inc. will close its doors on Nov. 27 — the day before Thanksgiving. The building housing the local automotive shop was recently sold, Youngman said, and the new owner didn’t renew the business’ lease. 

Youngman said he has been working at Passport Motors for over 30 years and has owned the business for 25. 

When they close, Youngman said, many of the employees will move to the West Franklin Street location of Chapel Hill Tire and take their customers and business with them.

“I’ve been here so long, and any change is scary,” Youngman said. “But I think we’ll be okay.”

@jameybcross

city@dailytarheel.com