Durham business news
Durham business news, newest first: openings and closings, new restaurants, jobs and the local economy.
Top story
Durham County visitors spent $1.17 billion in 2025
Visitors spent $1.17 billion in Durham County in 2025, up 0.9%, the state's tourism office says. That ranks eighth of 100 counties and supports 7,779 jobs.
Business guides
New businesses
New businesses in Durham: October 2026
City permits show Bull City Burger, Fogo de Chao, Pop Mart, Counter Culture Coffee and Arista Advanced Pet Care fitting out Durham spaces in 2026.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Durham 2027: events, dinners and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 falls on a Sunday. Durham restaurants and bars open that night, DPAC shows that week, and free date ideas, from each venue's own site.
Brunch
Brunch in Durham: 10 places with weekend brunch hours
Weekend brunch in Durham at 10 restaurants, with days, hours and addresses from each one's own site: downtown, Ninth Street, Brightleaf and Hillsborough Road.
American Tobacco Campus
A guide to the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham
The American Tobacco Campus: the old Lucky Strike factory beside DPAC and the Bulls ballpark, with parking rules, restaurants, free concerts and the trailhead.
Date night
Date night in Durham: restaurants, theaters, wine bars, late openings
Date night in Durham: dinner downtown, a rooftop bar, two historic theaters, natural wine bars and cocktails until 1 a.m., with hours from each venue's site.
Food and drink
Where to eat in Durham: lists by category
Every Durham where-to-eat list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, breakfast and coffee, burgers, sushi and Asian, desserts, bakeries, patios and brunch.
Wings
Where to get wings in Durham: Markham Avenue, Erwin Road and Southpoint
8 places to get wings inside Durham city limits, from Markham Avenue, Ninth Street and Erwin Road near Duke to West Main, South Driver Street and Southpoint.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Durham: downtown, Ninth Street and Erwin Road
8 pizza places inside Durham city limits, from downtown and Ninth Street to Erwin Road, East Durham, North Roxboro Street and Southpoint.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Durham
7 Mexican and Latin taco restaurants inside Durham city limits, from Brightleaf and Perry Street to East Geer Street, University Drive and NC 54.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Durham: downtown, Broad Street and south Durham
6 burger places, 7 locations, inside Durham city limits, from downtown and Broad Street to Guess Road, Shannon Road, NC 55 and NC 751.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Durham: downtown and near Duke
11 Durham locations whose own sites describe a patio, lawn, rooftop or outdoor seating, from downtown's Foster Street and Five Points to Lakewood and 15-501.
Latest stories
News
Durham unemployment hits 2.8%, lowest September since 2000
Durham's jobless rate fell to 2.8% in September from 3.4% a year earlier, the county's lowest September since 2000. But slightly fewer residents were working.
Food and drink
Ideal's wins Durham's Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2026
Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery on Angier Avenue earned a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Little Bull, Nanas, Nikos and Seraphine all stay in the guide.
City of Durham
Durham leaders to discuss slowing $25.09 living wage floor
Durham's pay floor for city workers and contractors hit $25.09 an hour in July and is set at $27.38 next year. City, county and school leaders discuss it Tuesday.