CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Carolina Coffee Shop opened on Franklin Street in 1922 and is still a part of the Chapel Hill community today, making it the oldest original restaurant in North Carolina.
What You Need To Know
Carolina Coffee Shop in Chapel Hill is the oldest original restaurant in North Carolina
The spot opened in 1922 and marked its 100th anniversary this year
The restaurant’s current owners are all UNC alumni, and they try to honor the spot’s nostalgic feel
“You can never go wrong with absolutely anything on the menu. Everything is really, really good,” said Carrie Hutchison, a server at Carolina Coffee Shop. “I think it’s just been a popular meeting place for so many years. You go on a coffee date, and you remember the place. It’s always pretty nostalgic. We get a lot of alumni. Students love it. I just think it’s really cozy in here.”
The restaurant’s nostalgic feel is evident in the framed newspapers near the front door that feature old menu prices.
“At the time, you’ll see, lunch was 35 cents and the supper was 40 cents,” said Olivia Robertson, the front of house manager at Carolina Coffee Shop.
“From what I’ve heard, it started as a student post office, and then from there, it went to just a place to get coffee, and I guess back then espresso wasn’t really popular, so it was probably just drip coffee, decaf, whatever. Then from there it turned into more of a pastry-type place and then transitioned again into full brunch and then of course lunch, supper, all of that,” Robertson said.
Because of that long history, dating back to 1922, the Carolina Coffee Shop has a pretty special recognition.
“The oldest restaurant in North Carolina, the oldest original one. We’ve been here for 100 years this year. Going strong,” Robertson said.
Robertson says people don’t usually think this spot would have that kind of designation.
“It shocks a lot of people when we tell them that this is the one, because I think a lot of people expect it to be maybe in a more southern town or in a smaller town,” Robertson said.
Like most of the employees, Robertson started working here while she was a student at UNC-Chapel Hill and the group of current owners are all alumni as well.
“It’s nice to be able to see something that is so historic to Chapel Hill and North Carolina be kind of run by you in a way that you feel like you have a true impact on that, and its history and something that will be around for a long time. It’s been really rewarding to be working here,” Robertson said.
They try to keep that historic charm because that’s often what brings people in.
“We’ve actually had a lot of couples that are retired and are traveling the country going to the oldest restaurant in each state so they will come by and have us take some pictures. They usually have blogs that they will feature us in, and it’s really sweet,” Robertson said.
Over the years, some things like technology and menu prices have changed. Most recently they added a cafe on the side, appropriately named "1922."
“It’s more of a café, grab and go, pastries and coffee-type situation. That can allow us to invite more students in so if they needed a place to study but didn’t exactly want the dine-in experience they can come over here and grab a cup of coffee and hang out for a few hours and get some homework done,” Robertson said.
Whether you’re a student, Chapel Hill native or just passing through, the owners hope this place continues to bring people from all walks of life together.
“I think it’s really important, because it’s something that people can relate on. For example, our students that work here that are 20 years old and then alumni that come back and are 80 years old have something to talk about, and they realize they have more common ground than they actually thought,” Robertson said.
Carolina Coffee Shop is located at 138 East Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. It is open for dine in and takeout every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once the shop gets more staff on board, it hopes to offer dinner hours again, and it does not accept reservations on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, because it is so busy on the weekends.