Grocery Stores

Harris Teeter

Common grocery stores in North Carolina, there are several in Chapel Hill and surrounding area. More expensive than Food Lion, but higher in quality.

Food Lion

Common grocery stores in North Carolina, there are several in Chapel Hill and surrounding area. More affordable than Harris Teeter, but lower in quality.

Lowes Food

Similar to Kroger and Food Lion in price and quality.  Can be found in Pittsboro on 15/501 South.

Kroger

Can be found off of 15/501 across from the New Hope Commons.  Another Kroger can be found in the Woodcroft area (near the Streets of Southpoint) on NC-54. Quality comparable to Harris Teeter, but less expensive.

Sam’s Club

Located at the same shopping plaza as the Super Target (see below) off of 15/501, 3 miles north of I-40.

Target

Super Target store in Durham off of 15/501, 3 miles north of I-40.

A second Super Target is located behind the Streets of Southpoint (see below), just off of NC-751 in Durham.

Trader Joe’s

Quality organic items at a more affordable price.  Selection is sometimes hit or miss (don’t count on certain items being in stock each time you visit).  New to the Chapel Hill area.  Located in the Eastgate shopping center just outside of town on 15/501 or at the end of Franklin Street.

Walmart

One Walmart store in New Hope Commons (see below), and one Super Walmart in Hillsborough, ca. 10 miles north of Chapel Hill on NC-86.  The Walmart in Durham has very few grocery items (not a Super Walmart).  The Hillsborough Walmart is far superior to the one in Durham in regard to cleanliness and selection if you are willing to drive the extra distance.

Weaver Street Market

Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro, Southern Village in Chapel Hill, and in downtown Hillsborough

Comments: Quite unique to Chapel Hill area. Good place for groceries, especially high-quality imports, bakery goods, and organic produce. Great breakfast and lunch buffets. Large indoor and outdoor seating areas are a great place to hang out, nice people. You can also enjoy live music outdoors on Thursday nights and Sunday early afternoons.

Whole Foods Market

Several in the Chapel Hill and Carborro area. Large selection of high quality foods, best selection of specialty, organic, and imported food items. Quite expensive. 

Local Farmers Markets

Farmers markets can be found in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough most of the year, excluding the winter months.  The markets are usually open on Saturday morning 8 am – noon, and occasionally open on Wednesday evenings.  They are a great place to find quality, local-grown produce, flowers, herbs, jams and jellies, and even meat from locally raised animals.  The Chapel Hill market is found in the parking lot of the University Mall (see below).  The Carrboro market is found next to the Town Hall on Main Street.  The Hillsborough market is found in the parking lot of the Home Depot/Walmart shopping plaza on NC-86.

Malls/Shopping Centers

Carr Mill

200 N. Greensboro Street, Carrboro, 919-942-8669

Comments: Houses the local Harris Teeter as well as the Weaver Street Market (see below) for your groceries. You can also enjoy one of the best milk shakes at Elmo’s Diner or Italian ice and custard at the newly opened Rita’s. The Carr Mill also has gift and jewelry shops.

City Market

303/200 Blake Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-1800, 919-828-4555

Comments: The historic City Market is home to five art galleries, nine restaurants, jewelry, and pottery and home accessories shops. It also has a travel agency, health club and a comedy club.

Crabtree Valley Mall

Located at US 70 West (Glenwood Avenue) and the Raleigh Beltline (I-440), in Raleigh.

Stores:  Macy’s, Belk, Sears, and all other specialty shops one could imagine with numerous restaurants.  Somewhat of a far drive from Chapel Hill; hence, the Streets of Southpoint is generally preferred over this mall (see below).

Eastgate Shopping Center

Located on 15/501 just outside of Chapel Hill (or at the end of Franklin Street heading toward Durham).

Stores:  Hallmark, Rack Room Shoes, Talbots, gift shops and several decent restaurants.

New Hope Commons

15/501 and I-40, Durham.

Stores: Best Buy, WalMart, Barnes & Noble, Office Max, Old Navy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Party City, Shoe Dept., etc.

Notes:  On the opposite side of 15/501 from New Hope Commons is another shopping plaza containing Kohl’s, Designer Shoe Warehouse, Total Wine and Beer, etc.

Northgate Mall

1058 West Club Boulevard • I-85 and Gregson Street in Durham.

Stores:  Macy’s, Sears, Office Depot, and a few specialty shops.

The Streets at Southpoint (and Main Street)

6910 Fayetteville Road. Exit 274 off I-40.

Comments: The best (prettiest and largest) mall in the area, several great restaurants and a movie theater.  There is also a series of shops located outside of the mall in the ‘Main Street’ portion, including an Apple Computer store and Urban Outfitters.

Stores:  Macy’s, Nordstrom, Belk, Sears, JCPenny, and every clothing or specialty store imaginable.

Restaurants:  California Pizza Kitchen, Champps Americana, Cheesecake Factory, Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill, Maggianos Little Italy, Panera, and a food court inside the mall.

Note:  On the opposite side of Fayetteville Road from the mall is another shopping center that contains REI, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and other various stores and restaurants.

Triangle Factory Shops

1001 Airport Blvd., Morrisville 27560

Comments: This outlet has stores including Geoffrey Beene, Off 5th, and Nine West. 

University Mall

201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill.

Comments: Small mall, several art and specialty stores, not many clothing/department stores.  A Southern Season (see below) can be found in this mall.

Looking for more shopping outlets?

The closest large-scale shopping outlet center to the Chapel Hill area is located in Smithfield, NC, about 75 minutes south, off of I-95 (Carolina Premium Outlets). 

Bookstores

Barnes and Noble

New Hope Commons, Durham, 15/501 and I-40.

A second store can be found at the Streets of Southpoint in Durham.

Borders

Chapel Hill, off of 15/501, 1 miles south of I-40, next to Lowe’s.

Gifts/ Art

The Print Shop

201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill 27514, 919-942-7306

Comments: Has the best selection of mats and frames in the area. Look out for unique cards, Disney prints, photo frames, boxed note cards and T-shirts.

Cameron’s

University Mall, Chapel Hill. 919-942-5554

Comments: Good gift store. Jewelry, picture frames, cards, etc.

Whims

122 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, 919-942-2516

Comments: This is the place to go if you are looking to buy funky T-shirts and stuff. It also has the largest collection of posters in town. A great place to buy gifts for your loved ones and not so loved ones too!

Furniture Stores

Ashley Furniture Home Store

Located off of Business 15/501 in Durham, about 3 miles north of I-40 (next door to Super Target and Sam’s Club mentioned previously).

Comments:  Good quality, affordable furniture for all rooms of the home.

Room Store

Located off of 15/501 in Durham, about 2 miles north of I-40.

Rooms to Go

Located off of Business 15/501 in Durham, about 3 miles north of I-40 (across the highway from Super Target and Sam’s). 
Note:  Many more furniture options can be found along Glenwood Ave. (NC-70) in Raleigh if you are willing to drive the distance.
 

Other Specialty Stores

A Southern Season

University Mall, Chapel Hill, 919-929-7133

Comments: A unique mix of quaint village charm and urban sophistication.  This place has a great selection of North Carolina specialty products (coffee, cheese, wine, candy, dinner ware, chocolate, snacks).  Perfect for the chocolate lover! A great place to purchase Carolina-made items or a gourmet gift basket for your family.  The store has an awesome ambience around the holidays.  Don’t forget to sample free coffee on your way inside the store!

SRI Shoe Warehouse

6700 Old Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, 919-954-0051

Comments: Reputed to be the largest shoe outlet of its kind. It is open to public only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but it’s worth checking out their discounts.
 

International Grocery

Chinese

The Chinatown Market

4212 Garrett Rd, Durham, 919-490-6380

Comments: You can get fresh vegetables and seafood at an affordable price.

Grand Asia Market

Buck Jones Road, Cary.

Comments: It's the biggest Chinese store in the Triangle area.

The Silver Wok

Eastgate Shopping Center, Chapel Hill.

Comments: Fairly small, but close to campus

Indian

Patel Brothers

4434 Creedmoor Road #5, Raleigh, 919-510-0085

Triangle Indian Market

750 E Chatham Street, Cary, 919-380-0350