I am very concerned that Saladelia is proliferating in Durham, reaping the benefits of business in Durham, but didn't return 10 phone calls/messages I left them last year on behalf of our school's PTA seeking a little help - Not even one return call. But let's try really hard not to exalt the contribution The Mad Hatter made to the food scene in Durham.Īs for Saladelia, I already have my favorite Mediterranean eateries, so I don't really see the need for another Saladelia. The fruits of the infusion of philanthropy the owners generously bestowed upon Durham will no doubt continue to be felt, and for that I am grateful. The cakes and pastries followed suit, looking impressive, but were ultimately disappointing to eat. Rather, when there, I experienced a restaurant with over-priced, mediocre food (the kind that sounded and looked better than it tasted), with terrible traffic flow, to boot. I never understood the love affair Durham had with The Mad Hatter, goodness knows I tried - Oh, how I tried! It would have been fabulous for me to share the love - they are within walking distance from my home. Tobacco in the old Starbucks space reports put the opening for the newĬafe and grab-and-go site as being "imminent." Ghanem's company is also expanding into American Thursday we'll give an update for the local cafe's plans for the space Saladelia owner Robert Ghanem could not be reached for comment late The years of excellence Nordhoff, Fried and Balius put into the local His years in the restaurant business.) Yet nothing should overshadow (Balius noted it was one of the more frustrating experiences in Outlets, only to have customers crowd seats for hours nursing a cup ofĬoffee. Noted the business had invested heavily in adding dozens of power Mad Hatter's took some lumps this year from listservs and blogĬomments, this site included, for restricting laptop use, though Balius "I hope we have exceeded expectations and have given back to the community," Balius said. (One-time co-owner and founder Jeff Fried passed away in Tenure in Durham, a run that for Nordhoff includes undergraduate daysĪt Duke (class of '82) and her ownership stake in the venture since theĮarly 1990s. Moving to Florida to pursue new ventures.īalius thanked the community for the support they'd had during their Nordhoff is relocating to her home in Seattle, while Balius is The transition isn't due to cafe business, but personal business "We wanted to keep it as kind of a community space," Balius said in a brief interview on Thursday, noting he wanted the business to continue to "support local artists, local growers." True to their community roots, though, Balius and Nordhoff decided to keep it a local affair. (It's not hard to imagine the spectre of a PaneraCosiAtlantaBreadBakeryShoppe taking over the stately old building.) They've announced the sale of Mad Hatter's to none other than the owner of Saladelia here in the Bull City.īalius noted on Thursday that there was interest from national chains and franchisees, due doubtlessly to the presence of nearby Duke and the prime location between downtown and Ninth Street. They've been active in less-obvious ways, too, as a meet-up point during bike-to-work events, a participant in countless fundraisers and non-profit events, and so much more.Īll good things come to an end, though, including Nordhoff and Jason Balius' ownership of the eatery. Diner space in 2001.Īnd its owners have had a big impact on the local community - most notably when co-owner Grace Nordhoff decided last year to donate $200,000 as an endowment for the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, the university's outreach program targeting community engagement and support. the one-time corner gas station was converted to a bakery-cafe and cake shop when the Hatter moved from Erwin Square into the old Owens Broad St. Mad Hatter's has been a Durham institution for years over at the corner of W.
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