Convenience Store

The Blue Light / Sam's Quik Shop

One of the classic "drive-ins" of the 1950s, Sam's catered to high school and college students; by the 90s-00s, it had transformed multiple times, becoming primarily known in the 00s-10s as a source for an incredibly diverse beer selection.

Lakewood Filling Station / Lakewood Grocery

Lakewood Filling Station, 1930s (Courtesy Durham County Library) First appearing in the 1923 city directory, this roadside stop was first operated by T. R. Pendergraft. In subsequent years it changed hand several times, and was run in various periods by members of the Hobbie (c.1940s), Carroll (c.1950s), and Pickett (c.1960s) families. Lakewood...

1001 Glendale

1956 A few years ago, Bob Blake was kind enough to let me scan a bunch of the photos he took, primarily in the 1950s, which he used for his paintings. He said that he thought this store was located on Glendale Ave., but I can't find footprints resembling this on a Sanborn map. Any ideas?

201-205 Morgan St.

Several attractive storefronts lined the south side of Morgan St. between Holland St. on the west side and Rigsbee Ave. on the east. The Piedmont Furniture Co. was located on the southeast corner of Holland and Morgan (at 219-223 Morgan St.) The businesses in the 200 block of Morgan St. directly faced the Big 4 warehouse and the Star Brick...

1003 Morehead Avenue

Between the 1940s and the 1960s, this was home to Tapp's Grocery and Market.

403 W. Trinity Ave. / Trinity Mart

1981 10.1.13 - Best beer second in town, maybe second to Sam's Quik Shop. No longer a gas station, all tanks were removed a couple years ago. Photo by Andrius Benokraitis

5520 Old Chapel Hill Rd.

I wasn't sure whether this great little building was in Chapel Hill or in Durham. The answer is yes. Durham County, Town of Chapel Hill.

'procter' St. Grocery

5830 Guess Road

"Turner's Store, 8 miles out Guess Road."

502 East Main St.

One of Durham's most influential citizens, Julian Shakespeare Carr, a member of a successful Chapel Hill mercantile family built his estate on the southeast corner of East Main St. and South Dillard Street in 1870. He called it 'Waverly Honor'. (Courtesy Durham County Library) J.S. Carr would become involved in almost every venture that made Durham...