This has been a difficult year for businesses in North Carolina and beyond. Small and local businesses were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many shuttering their doors or needing emergency assistance.
Despite the challenges faced, Alamance County saw a number of new businesses open throughout the year. From restaurants to florists to bars and coffee shops, the Times-News has covered several new business openings this year.
Next time you’re out supporting your favorite local businesses, check out these newcomers:
Whit's Custard, Graham
Whit’s Custard joined downtown Graham’s business lineup back in June, offering freshly-made custard treats on Court Square.
Owners Kathy and Barry Hupp own Whit’s locations in Graham and Hillsborough. The custard shop offers a variety of custard cups, cones, shakes, floats and specialty sundaes for take-out only from noon to 9 p.m. daily.
Sip In Shop, Gibsonville
Carrie Rollinson and Scott Hazzard opened the Sip In Shop in downtown Gibsonville in July. The store sells beer and wine, but also offers a tasting room experience for on-site consumption. Many of the alcohols sold are sourced from North Carolina or Virginia.
Located at 107 Lewis Street, Sip In Shop is open 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 2 to 9 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Daisy May Cafe, Gibsonville
Daisy May Café was a dream come true for owner Chelsea Sutton when the coffee shop opened in September. The shop, named for her great grandmother, offers coffees, teas, slushies, sparklers, sodas and more, ranging in price from about $2 to $6.
The coffee shop is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 205 E. Main Street, Gibsonville.
The Workshop, Graham
The Workshop opened at 313 Providence Road in Graham in October. Owner Nathan Griffin said The Workshop offers a range of creative classes like button making, sketching, painting and more. Open studio time for kids is also available.
Class times are listed at https://www.theworkshopnc.com/.
Passion Fusion Grille, Graham
Passion Fusion Grille, located at 20 SW Court Square in Graham, also opened in October. The restaurant is known for its hibachi and sushi as well as a range of Japanese and Asian food offerings.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Linda Floral, Graham
Graham welcomed Linda Floral, a flower shop, to its lineup back in September, Fresh floral arrangements are available from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday or special orders can be placed.
The shop is located at 106 E. Pine Street.
The Mini Dingo, Burlington
Ted Gross opened The Mini Dingo on East Front Street in Burlington in early December after months of planning and preparation. The bar and bottle shop hybrid is located at 111 E. Front St. and offers beers on tap or in bottles and cans, wines, ciders, sodas and some snacks
The Mini Dingo is open Monday through Thursday, 2-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
Things Above, Graham
Things Above, a Christian bookstore, opened in June at 15 SE Court Square in Graham. The store sells new and used books, gifts and greeting cards. There is a full coffee bar inside with treats from Blondie Bakery also available.
Things Above is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Rockin' Nutrition, Graham
Rockin’ Nutrition opened in November at 921-A S. Main St. in Graham. The nutrition shop serves up protein smoothies in 31 flavors as well as energy drinks.
Rockin’ Nutrition is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Doggystyle, Burlington
Doggystyle: Premium Wieners, Burgers + Melts is changing the restaurant game in Burlington by operating as a ghost kitchen inside It’s All Good: Southern Kitchen, both owned by Kyle Bundy. The takeout only restaurant, which opened in September, serves a variety of hot dogs, burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as desserts, sides and beverages. Party packs and catering services are also available to serve a crowd.
Located at 2306 South Church Street, Doggystyle accepts orders 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The Toasty Kettlyst, Gibsonville
Gibsonville welcomed another beer-based business in November as Praveen Karandikar launched The Toasty Kettlyst. The non-brewery and taproom is located at 106 W. Main St.
Eight beer styles ranging from IPAs, wheat beers and porters to British strong ales to Dunkelweizen are available Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
Earth Harvest Health Foods, Burlington
Earth Harvest Health Foods & Supplements opened inside Holly Hill Mall in December.
The store, offering health foods, locally-produced supplements and personal care products, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beetle + Bee
Twin City Hive featuring Beetle + Bee opened in downtown Gibsonville in July. The coffee shop, located at 111 E. Main Street, is owned by Terry Miller who relocated his business to Gibsonville from Winston-Salem.
The shop offered a wide variety of coffee, tea, espresso and bottled beverages ranging from $2 to $5 each. A range of locally produced snack foods, drinks, honey and housewares were also available in the shop’s retail section. Due to strains from the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller announced the shop would close on Dec. 19. A closing sale of the remaining retail and furniture pieces will be held, though the date has not yet been announced.
This article originally appeared on Times-News: More than a dozen new business launched in Alamance County in 2020 – Here's the list
