The Carolina Coffee Shop, located at 138 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, opened in 1922 and is the oldest restaurant still operating in North Carolina, according to The Daily Tar Heel. The restaurant is known for its brunch and as a Chapel Hill staple to many UNC Chapel Hill students and alumni.
Before its existence as the Carolina Coffee Shop, the building served as the UNC student post office and a soda shop called Carolina Confectionary, which then turned into the current restaurant. The restaurant’s interior showcases the restaurant’s long history.
Carolina Coffee Shop is open seven days a week. The menu offers a variety of options, including pancakes, omelettes, chicken and waffles, salads, sandwiches and cocktails.
Sunday-Weds: 8am - 9pm
Thurs-Sun: 8am - Midnight
Recent Changes:
In the summer of 2017, a group of UNC graduates took ownership of Carolina Coffee Shop. The new investors had been long time friends and took over the restaurant after hearing that it was at risk of closing, according to The Daily Tar Heel.
The group of investors includes Heather O’Reilly, a former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team player who won three Olympic gold medals and a FIFA Women’s World Cup title.
The investors made a lot of aesthetic changes to the restaurant to create a more welcoming environment.
The name, Carolina Coffee Shop, was kept to preserve the history of the establishment.
The restaurant is set to celebrate its 100th year in business in 2022, and the owners have said there will be a celebration for that event, according to The Daily Tar Heel.
The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted businesses across the nation, and because of regulations of dining in services, Carolina Coffee Shop has closed until further notice, according to their Instagram.
