343-345 West Main

35.996686, -78.903961

343-345
West Main Street
Durham
NC
Year built
1920S
Construction type
Masonry
Local historic district
Downtown Durham
National Register
Downtown Durham
Neighborhood
Downtown Central
Use
Restaurant
Shoe Store
Hair salon
Art Supply
Building Type
Commercial
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343-345WMain_1950s.jpg

343-345 West Main, 1950s (Courtesy Herald-Sun)

343-345 West Main is a well-decorated portion of a row of buildings along W. Main Street at Five Points, built during the 1920s. 


The earliest and best view I could find of the whole row is from the 1920s.

The best view I could find of the whole row is from the 1920s.

(Courtesy Duke Archives)

By 1937, 343 housed the White Way Lunch, with the American Beauty Shoppe upstairs. (Louis) Sher's Shoe Shop was at 345.

343-345WMain_S_1953_0.jpg

1953

(Courtesy Barry Norman)

343-345WMain_E_1953.jpg

 

1953

(Courtesy Barry Norman)

By 1959, White Way had closed, replaced by NC Finance Corp - Sher's Shoe Shop remained. 

This row of buildings is quite well preserved, with some beautiful facades.

2007 streetscape revitalization to undo the 1970s streetscape revitalization.

In late 2007 or early 2008, a new restaurant opened at 345 West Main - "Toast". The amazing effect on a feel of a place - in this case Five Points - with the infusion of a place that brings just the right energy - is amazing. The entire character of Five Points, which had felt dour and moribund seemingly forever, changed, and, as of 2011, remains changed, with new establishments opening or planned. 

343-345WMain_091011.jpg

343-345 West Main, 09.09.11

04.27.13

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Comments

Submitted by Andrew C. Oliver (not verified) on Wed, 12/18/2013 - 6:31pm

The last boarded up picture may give you the impression that things are sliding backwards. This was due to damage from a drunk driver who drove their SUV through the beauty shop damaging the stairway, hitting the gas line and causing some general damage to the building including the brick. This has since been repaired and the beauty shop reopened. The upstairs is a tech company (where I work) and an law office.

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