1. The Clock Depot
City: Durham, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 402-8714
Address: 3750 Chapel Hill Blvd.
Description: A local family owns this shop, which specializes in nothing but stately timepieces for the home—grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, wall clocks, weather clocks, cuckoo clocks, atomic clocks. Designs range from antique standing grandfathers to funky wall clocks inspired by the aesthetic of Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s a nostalgic departure from big-box stores, where clocks are but one among thousands of items in the inventory.
2. The Regulator Bookshop
City: Durham, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 286-2700
Address: 720 Ninth St.
Description: The Regulator has been a staple on Ninth Street, beside Duke’s campus, since 1976. The independently owned shop has hosted the likes of former President Jimmy Carter, A Year in Provence author Peter Mayle, and Goosebumps scribe R. L. Stine. Its selection is wide and varied, and programming aims at a wide variety of readers. Events include “Peter’s Pajama Party,” which involves local songwriter Peter Holsapple singing songs and telling stories in his PJs.
3. Stone Brothers Durham
City: Durham, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 682-1311
Address: 700 Washington St.
Description: A small shop in downtown Durham near the Historic Durham Athletic Park has a great selection of plants and garden products, including some things you’re not likely to find elsewhere. Their selection of tomato and vegetable stakes alone is impressive, going far beyond the usual cages to offer more attractive alternatives. The store also offers classes and operates a great online catalog at its Web site.
4. Foster’S Market
City: Durham, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 489-3944
Address: 2694 Chapel Hill Blvd.
Description: A former caterer for and cookbook collaborator with Martha Stewart, Sarah Foster opened her market in Durham in 1990. The cozy shop is part cafe, part prepared foods counter, part gourmet provisioner. The prepared foods are made with seasonal ingredients, and the grocery items include locally roasted coffee, good wines, and rare confections. Foster opened her second market in Chapel Hill in 1998. The Durham market is a popular lunch spot, especially when weather permits sitting on the Adirondack chairs out front.
5. Parker And Otis
City: Durham, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (919) 683-3200
Address: 112 S. Duke St.
Description: In downtown Durham near Brightleaf Square, Parker and Otis is a coffee shop and sandwich counter surrounded by an interesting selection of wines, gourmet goods, greeting cards, and sweets. The store has a selection of specialty candies, shining like gems in old apothecary jars, used to fill the store’s custom-made gift baskets. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch and offers prepared foods as well as sandwiches.