Hundreds of homes will be built in Chapel Hill & NC-based popcorn store lands in Raleigh

A new store is popping into Raleigh’s North Hills .

Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn opens soon in Makers Alley, part of the North Hills Innovation District that hosts a variety of local artisans and small businesses.

The company began as a brick-and-mortar retailer in Asheville a decade ago and has since evolved into a wholesaler, with its products available nationwide.

“After closing our original retail store during the pandemic due to the demands of our wholesale business, we never had the opportunity to reopen. Now, as we celebrate our 10-year milestone, it’s incredibly rewarding to return to our retail roots with not just one, but three new shops,” Poppy founder Ginger Frank said in a news release.

In addition to the Raleigh shop, expected to open Oct. 18 , Poppy is expanding in Asheville and Charlotte.

“We are especially excited to open in Makers Alley, a space that embodies the community spirit we value so much,” Frank said. “The beautiful design and the opportunity to work alongside other small businesses is truly inspiring.”

Here’s some more retail news you might have missed.

Durham wine bar transitions to full-service restaurant

The Wine Feed , located at 307 S. Roxboro St. in downtown Durham, is rolling out a new menu .

Since the establishment opened several years ago, it was primarily a wine bar and retailer with a handful of food offerings.

But owner Philip Rubin told The News & Observer that the business is working to adapt to changes in consumers’ preferences. Customers are looking for an opportunity to try new wines alongside a meal, he said, and this transition to a full-service restaurant felt “natural.”

A few menu highlights include hand-cut pasta, steaks, locally sourced seafood, and vegetarian and vegan offerings including beet Wellington, a meatless take on beef Wellington.

The Wine Feed began serving the dishes in August as a soft launch, and the restaurant is now making it official.

Brunch service is also on the way, Rubin said.

Construction on $500 million Chapel Hill development begins soon

A new, $500 million project will bring homes and commercial space to Chapel Hill .

The project, South Creek , is situated on 43 acres just off U.S. 15-501, The N&O previously reported . Construction crews will kick off the project with work on apartments with 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

When it’s completed, South Creek will include 92 apartments, 606 condominiums and 100 townhomes. While the majority of the residences will be priced at market rate, 15% of the condos and townhomes and 10% of the apartments will be priced below market rates.

The business district of the development will have 21,000-52,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, with room for a 6,000-square-foot restaurant overlooking Wilson Creek and a park.

There are also plans for an 80-acre natural preserve.

New Apex development brings retail, restaurants & a grocer

Tenants have been announced for a new mixed-use development in Apex, and a few businesses are expected to open soon.

Located off Richardson Road near Highway 64, Sweetwater Town Center will host residences, retail stores, doctor’s offices, restaurants, salons, fitness studios and a Harris Teeter .

All businesses are expected to open by the second quarter of 2025. The first to open will be Fratelli’s Delicatessen , Sweetwater Dental and Duke Health , leasing agent Preston Waldo of Retail Strategies of N.C. told The N&O.

Downtown Chapel Hill florist finds new location

University Florist , which has been serving the community for 78 years, is moving to a new spot.

Charles House, who owns the business with his father, Henry House, told The N&O that the store will remain at 124 E. Franklin St. in downtown Chapel Hill until a larger shop is built at 107 N. Roberson St.

A two-story house that sat on the Roberson Street property is being demolished to make way for University Florist’s new building.

House said he expects the new store to open next year.

ICYMI: Free breakfast & flooring retailer closes

• Chick-fil-A is giving out free hash browns this week at Triangle locations. Here’s how to get them.
• LL Flooring , formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, is shutting down its stores.

Staff writer Tammy Grubb contributed to this report.

Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team

Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

• If you have a question about the Charlotte area , send The Charlotte Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form .
• If you have a question about Raleigh or a Triangle area community, send The News & Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form .

New businesses are joining this Triangle shopping center & Raleigh gets a Japanese store

Five Guys, Italian street food coming to Triangle town’s Wegmans-anchored development