downtown
sip & stroll
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It’s all good vibes while you imbibe in downtown’s social district B Y LEAH B ERRY PHOTOG RAPHY B Y J OHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
he Bullpen launched nearly two years ago in December 2022,
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establishing a vibrant, walkable downtown zone that’s abuzz with bevvies and social activity. “The initial vision of The Bullpen was to give downtown’s small business owners an economic boost coming out of the pandemic,” Downtown Durham Inc. Director of Business Engagement Tiffany Bashore says. “The goal was to encourage folks to come … and enjoy a beverage as they walked from place to place, or just to sit outside and enjoy the weather and community.” In an early 2024 survey, 60% of downtown businesses reported a boost in sales since the program launched, she says. The Bullpen operates daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with participating businesses marked by signature window clings, making it easy for visitors to know where they can grab a drink to-go. Tiffany hopes the district continues to enhance the downtown experience as more community members utilize it to connect and enjoy exploring the city at a relaxed pace. We visited five of the nearly 90 Bullpen business owners to check in and, naturally, grab a drink:
district is , which opened in mid-August on 1 New to the– itssocial . The spot serves as a laid-back alternative to and sister establishments across the street – offering up draft and West Main Street Bar Virgile
High Dive
Annexe
bottled beer, mini beer buckets, cheese nachos, popcorn and more, plus a touch of nostalgia with its jukebox and retro games like pinball, foosball and darts. All three businesses participate in The Bullpen, and co-owner Nellie Vail says, “it’s proven to be an especially nice connector for patrons who want to eat and imbibe at Durham’s quality establishments and carry their beverages to their entertainment destinations, like Durham Performing Arts Center, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the Carolina Theatre.”
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Weldon Mills Distillery, with its back-door entrance tucked away on the South Roxboro Street side of the East Main Street business, brought its
speakeasy vibes to the Bull City in 2023 after first opening in its namesake North Carolina town in 2019. The bar crafts its own spirits and offers a mix of tempting bites, live music, bourbon tastings and inventive cocktails. General Manager Darryl Russell is a fan of the district’s ability to draw more patrons, 32
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