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My husband and I are considering moving to NC and looking at the Triangle area. We love mom & pop restaurants to dine at (we don't really eat at chains) and want to ensure we'll find what we're looking for in the Triangle area. We also love to shop and want the proximity to malls, outlets, as well as individual boutiques etc. What is your opinion on the mom & pop options in the area?
The shop local movement is alive and well in The Triangle. Here is a link to Shop Local Raleigh: Shop Local Raleigh - Find local businesses and promote yours This is a good place to start for local businesses. Don't get me wrong there are alot of chain restaurants in the area but also many local independent ones as well.
As far as malls and outlet centers there are 3 malls in the Triangle, Streets at Southpoint in Durham, Crabtree Valley in Raleigh and Triangle Town center in Raleigh. There is also shopping at Cameron Village, North Hills, and Brier Creek in Raleigh. 2 outlet malls within 30-60 minutes of the Triangle depedning on where your coming from- Tanger outlets in Mebane and Carolina Outlets in Smithfield.
The shop local movement is alive and well in The Triangle. Here is a link to Shop Local Raleigh: Shop Local Raleigh - Find local businesses and promote yours This is a good place to start for local businesses. Don't get me wrong there are alot of chain restaurants in the area but also many local independent ones as well.
As far as malls and outlet centers there are 3 malls in the Triangle, Streets at Southpoint in Durham, Crabtree Valley in Raleigh and Triangle Town center in Raleigh. There is also shopping at Cameron Village, North Hills, and Brier Creek in Raleigh. 2 outlet malls within 30-60 minutes of the Triangle depedning on where your coming from- Tanger outlets in Mebane and Carolina Outlets in Smithfield.
All correct, but there are major outdoor malls here every few miles. Where I live (Cary), I am less than five miles from Cary Crossroads, Waverly Place, Park Town Center and whatever that new one at 55/Carpenter is. If anything this place is way oversaturated with shopping options, but for me, it means convenience when I need it, and I like that.
As for the mom and pops, my GF and I have gone out at least once a week, sometimes more, for nearly the last two years. We typically avoid chains, and we rarely repeat places. Our list of places to go keeps growing. Everything from little divey sandwich shops (the drugstore counter in Cary, Watkins Grill, Anvils), to nice, local sourced goodies (Federal, Haw River Gen Store, Rockford), to good meals (BidaManda, Sitti, Lucky 32) to farm to table places (Little Hen, Chef's Palate, etc.) To local restaurant groups (Pooles, Tribecca, Deans) to old time BBQ (Allen and Sons, Clyde Coopers*, Old Time) to Asian (Pho Vietnam, Superwok, Tangerine) to....
Yes, there are TON'S of local restaurants (and likely even more chains), some are stereotypical "mom and pop places", others are unique and run the full range of genre.
Lot's to know about here, but you are covered on both points.... (I could type forever, but you get the point)
There are endless numbers of independently owned restaurants, shops, boutiques, and general stores in all areas of the Triangle. You will of course find chains (we are, of course, a big city now) but the independents are all over the place so you will have no problems.
If you decide to move here, welcome to our lovely area and very helpful and lively forum.
The shop local movement is alive and well in The Triangle. Here is a link to Shop Local Raleigh: Shop Local Raleigh - Find local businesses and promote yours This is a good place to start for local businesses. Don't get me wrong there are alot of chain restaurants in the area but also many local independent ones as well.
Also, lots of food trucks. Just search on the area of interest (Raleigh, Durham, etc). There are often rodeos in the warmer months.
There are endless numbers of independently owned restaurants, shops, boutiques, and general stores in all areas of the Triangle. You will of course find chains (we are, of course, a big city now) but the independents are all over the place so you will have no problems.
^This. Anybody who indicates otherwise is not being honest with you. The independent dining scene in the triangle is alive and well and offers a lot of great options.
^This. Anybody who indicates otherwise is not being honest with you. The independent dining scene in the triangle is alive and well and offers a lot of great options.
Thanks everyone! This is very helpful. We're from CT (mid-state) and have tons of chains and some local restaurants close to us, but we'd like more! It's hard not to see a Dunkin Donuts every few miles...ugh! Do you find that the major cities or suburbs have more of the the local flair? Are any towns better than others in terms of options?
Thanks everyone! This is very helpful. We're from CT (mid-state) and have tons of chains and some local restaurants close to us, but we'd like more! It's hard not to see a Dunkin Donuts every few miles...ugh! Do you find that the major cities or suburbs have more of the the local flair? Are any towns better than others in terms of options?
Durham and Asheville probably have the best local food scenes in NC, followed closely by (in no real order) Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Charlotte. Lots of other options scattered across the state. Here's a nice list of 100 Foods You Must Eat Across NC:
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