3 Birds Marketing finds nest on Rosemary Street

An online marketing company moving to a Rosemary Street location hopes to redeem a building with a troubled history.

Founded in California, 3 Birds Marketing plans to move into its newly renovated space at 321 W. Rosemary St. — the same building that housed Avalon Nightclub — within the next two weeks.

The company is the brainchild of Kristen and Layton Judd, who moved here from San Ramon, Calif., in May.

They couple said they hope their presence will improve the perception of the area.

The locale’s image was tarnished in 2006 when an Avalon club-goer was shot in Key Food Mart’s parking lot.

The incident earned the convenience store the nickname “Murder Mart.”

“We feel like we have the best of both worlds,” said Kristen Judd.

“We’re right around the corner from Franklin, we have great parking, we have a little bit of privacy but still so many great amenities right near by.”

Focusing on online marketing for car dealerships, 3 Birds serves clients around the country.

The Judds were attracted to Chapel Hill’s progressive business environment and proximity to Research Triangle Park and UNC, said Emily Farrar, social media manager for the company and a May graduate from UNC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“They really wanted to establish a strong relationship with the journalism school and the computer science department,” Farrar said.

The company has three interns from the journalism school who help with e-mail marketing, web design and social media.

The owners are transforming the space inside and out to make it conducive to creative collaboration, an important part of 3 Birds’ dynamic.

“It’s all very strategic,” Farrar said. “We’re trying to bring a hip, innovative feel to marketing.”

Renovations include a general face-lift and dividing the large space into two floors.

“There’s a certain stigma that goes with that area, but the office is going to look completely different,” Farrar said.

The Judds took the area’s reputation into consideration when looking for a space, Kristen Judd said.

But the couple determined that the nightclub’s presence, rather than the neighborhood, was the reason for the violence.

“We think it’s going to be safe and a good environment for our company to grow,” Kristen Judd added.

Roy Piscitello, owner of Breadmen’s across the street, said he is excited about the new business moving in and thinks people have forgotten about the building’s history.

Pat Evans, chairwoman of Friends of Downtown, said Chapel Hill needs more companies like 3 Birds.

She said the marketing company will add welcome variety to downtown, which is currently dominated by restaurants.

Avalon is long gone, and the Rosemary Street address is a great location, Evans said.

“Maybe the mini-mart doesn’t have a good reputation, but Rosemary Street is fine,” she said.

Staff writer Carson Bills

contributed reporting.

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at citydesk@unc.edu.