Chicken Hut

The Chicken Hut, originally The Chicken Box, was founded in 1958 by Claiborne Tapp Jr. and his sister Julia Tapp. The restaurant was first located on Apex Highway, serving out of a concession stand. Julia was inspired by the shape of the stand and coined the name "The Chicken Box." The Tapps then relocated to 410 S Roxoboro Street in 1961 where the business took off. 

(The Chicken Box, S Roxboro Location, Courtesy of the Durham County Library)

The final iteration of the Chicken Hut came in 1966, with the last remaining structure associated with the business at 3019 Fayetteville. The Tapps were forced to relocate due to the Durham urban renewal program that started in the 1960s to construct NC-147. The Chicken Hut's location on S Roxboro was cited to be demolished to create the Roxboro overpass. Before demolition, Claiborne bought new land and had the current location built in 1966. This site was designed by local modernist architect, Kenneth McCoy Scott, one of the first graduates from North Carolina State University's new design program. 

The Chicken Hut is the oldest continually run Black-owned business in Durham. In the over 60 years that the business has been around, the Tapps, which came to include Peggy Tapp, Claiborne's wife who started working with The Chicken Hut at the original location, became community legends, who have made their stamp with continuous support and donations to the local community. The Chicken Hut has acted as a communal gathering space, notably in the late 1960s-1990s, for Black activists and community groups to meet.  The Chicken Hut also has a strong relationship with North Carolina Central University, where both Claiborne and Peggy attended for a time. The Chicken Hut was the location for NCCU Football Press Conferences for a period lasting until around the start of the 2010s. They also partnered with local organizations to sell tickets for popular events, including NCCU football games and shows held at the Durham Civic Center, including performers like Otis Redding and Earth, Wind, and Fire. 

(Mural of 410 Roxboro location in 3019 Fayetteville Chicken Hut, Courtesy of Julianne Patterson)

At one point the Tapps had five different locations open around the Durham/Chapel Hill area, but after Claiborne suffered a stroke in the 1990s, they closed down all other locations other than the one at 3019 Fayetteville Street. The business is now run by Claiborne and Peggy's son Claiborne "Tre" Tapp and his wife Khya. They have continued to uphold Tre's parent's legacy, providing free meals and aid to the community, including donating hundreds of meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Front Facade of 3019 Fayetteville Location, Courtesy of Julia Lasure)

Preservation Durham recently nominated this site for Local Landmark status, with the help of the community to pay the fees for this nomination. We will continue to update the community as the local landmark nomination approval process continues!

(Chicken Hut Sign- 3019 Fayetteville Location, Courtesy of Julianne Patterson)