The scoop on local businesses

Ackland store flooded

When water suddenly started pouring in from sinks and drinking fountains in the Ackland Art Museum Store last week, store manager Alice Southwick and other employees jumped into action.

“We were able to be proactive and get everything before the water got to it. It took a real team effort,” said Southwick.

About three-fourths of the store flooded with an inch of water, damaging walls and carpeting. The cost of repairs is currently unknown, Southwick said.

The museum and museum store are housed in separate buildings. Southwick said none of the museum’s art was damaged.

The owner of the building, Riddle Commercial Properties, is still investigating the cause of the flooding.

Southwick anticipates the store will re-open as soon as mid-July.

New tire center in Durham

Today Chapel Hill Tire Care Center is hosting an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at its new Durham store located in the Woodcroft Shopping Center.

The Durham location, which opened in 2011, is the fourth Chapel Hill Tire Care Center in the area.
Last fall, the company became the first certified independent hybrid repair facility in the Triangle.

This certification is awarded by Green Plus, a nonprofit organization that partners with small businesses to promote sustainability.

The company offers oil changes using environmentally friendly oil, or a type of recycled motor oil with no new crude oil added. With each EFO oil change, the center purchases $2.00 in carbon offsets.

So far Chapel Hill Tire Care Center has purchased offsets totaling the equivalent of planting 56,353 trees.

Pons said the highlight of the new Durham center is the section of the green roof, which is planted with local vegetation. The roof reduces water runoff and improves building insulation.

Tobacco Road expands

Coming in September, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe plans to open a new Chapel Hill location in the East 54 district.

With current locations in Raleigh and Durham, Tobacco Road’s family-owned restaurants attract both students and families.

“We are a sports-spirited restaurant. We’re a place to go watch the game without people cursing in your ear,” said Brian Amra, a co-owner of the restaurant.

The new location will include a nearly 3,000 foot patio at the back of the restaurant, Amra said.

“We feel we’ll be close enough to Franklin Street to attract the students, but also in the city where we’ll attract the Chapel Hill residents and families,” he said.

With many enthusiastic fans around the corner, Amra said he’s confident the restaurant will attract people coming out to support UNC’s athletic teams.

“Chapel Hill is a great sports town. It helps being next to a school that stays competitive. It keeps their fans out there and it keeps them cheering,” he said.

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.