Happenings in the Heart of the Bull City
January 2021
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- News
- Event Highlights
- Biz Tools: Traffic Report
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- Ambassador Stories
- Clean & Safe Stats
- Meetings, Trainings & Forums
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Happy New Year, Downtown Durham
I can’t remember a time when I was happier to welcome a new year. There’s no denying that 2020 was one of the most challenging years we have ever faced. We survived, but we didn’t make it through unscathed. Many of us lost friends or family, and some of us lost livelihoods.
At DDI, we made it our highest priority to help keep downtown the vibrant, cool place that we all love by helping small, local businesses in any way that we could. We aggregated information on new restrictions and available resources, and sent regular emails to keep our constituents in the loop. We ensured downtown businesses were first in line for funding opportunities by making sure they were notified of them immediately. I continue to send those emails whenever relevant information becomes available. (You can sign up to receive them here, or below.)
We also took steps to help our merchants specifically. As soon as the virus subsided enough for us to enter Phase 3, we launched The Streetery – opening streets to pedestrians and bringing in performers to attract foot traffic and increase business for our merchants.
Though COVID forced us to end it a couple weeks earlier than planned, we heard from restaurants and retailers that The Streetery helped them make it through the past few months. That was a huge win, but we know our small businesses aren’t out of the woods yet. The cold weather and the increase in COVID cases will create ongoing challenges.
So, over the next few weeks and into the spring, we’re going to continue do what we can to help drive customers to downtown merchants with a few initiatives:
• Spend your SpendaBull Campaign – Durhamites bought more than $10,000 in SpendaBull e-gift cards for the holidays. Redeeming those cards will help our retailers get through these next few months. We’ll be launching a social media campaign to encourage card recipients to use them now. See the article below for language you can share to help us spread the word. And if you’re a downtown merchant that doesn’t accept SpendaBull yet, now’s the time! Here’s the form to get started, and here's a list of businesses that currently accept SpendaBull.
• Supporting the #durhamtakeoutpledge – Over the next month, we’ll launch a social media campaign amplifying the #durhamtakeoutpledge, created by our own downtown restaurateur Seth Gross. We’ll do gift card drawings based on social media users who pledge to regularly carry-out or dine in at downtown restaurants, or make purchases from downtown retailers. Check @downtowndurham for posts you can share.
• More Streeteries – And of course, once weather permits and COVID cases drop, we’ll host more Streeteries. Look for one-day pop-ups throughout downtown. We’ll keep you posted on this.
Finally, to every business owner, resident or property owner who let us know our work is appreciated with their words, gifts or actions, we thank you. We love downtown, and we're happy to do everything we can to help our community through this challenging time. Hearing from you that we're making a difference means everything to us.
Here's to a happier, healthier, more equitable and more prosperous new year for all.
Nicole J. Thompson
President and CEO
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It's Time to Spend Your SpendaBull E-Gift Card!
Did you give or get a SpendaBull e-gift card this holiday season? If so, now is the time to use it!
SpendaBull cards are a great way to support downtown Durham businesses, but they only put money in our small business owners' hands when they're redeemed. So visit your favorite downtown merchant, spend your SpendaBull card and spread that holiday cheer into the new year.
#shopsmall
#shoplocal
#durhamtakeoutpledge
#spendyourspendabull
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ENGAGEDurham Wants Your Input
Durham residents and stakeholders are invited to visit the ENGAGEDurham website to share their feedback on Durham's new Comprehensive Plan. On the site, which is available in English and Spanish, you can learn about the process of writing the community objectives, read the draft objectives and provide feedback. You also have the opportunity to submit a photo, drawing, or quote using your five senses to imagine the Durham of the future you’d like to see. The site is open for feedback through February 19.
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COVID-19 Resources and Information
• Up-to-Date Information on Durham County COVID-19 Cases
The Durham County Coronavirus Data Hub is a great one stop shop that provides up-to-date counts of coronavirus cases in Durham County. This easy to use dashboard includes total confirmed cases by day, demographic information and weekly data analyses that indicate whether the rate of infection in the county is going up or down.
You can also watch weekly updates from the Department of Public Health Director
Rodney Jenkins on the department's YouTube channel.
• Resources and Merchant Status Updates
We continue to update the aggregated resources and information for businesses and residents on our site, as well as the lists of downtown restaurants and retailers that are open and offering outdoor seating, curbside or delivery service, online shopping or gift cards. In addition, our President and CEO sends regular emails to businesses and organizations to help them stay abreast of government policies, important webinars, and grant and loan opportunities.
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To check out the great things happening downtown, visit the
The Event Calendar is the place for downtown retailers, restaurants and residents
to promote events. Submit your upcoming events today.
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HISTORY EXHIBIT: "FACES OF DURHAM" • ONGOING |
This Museum of Durham History outdoor exhibit features a selection of familiar and lesser known faces from the Bull City’s past and present.
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DINE & VIBES AT THE PATIO
• FRIDAY & SATURDAY
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Head to the Unscripted Hotel every Friday and Saturday evening, and enjoy sips, bites and sounds by your favorite local DJs.
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INTRODUCTION TO WINE PT 1 – VIRTUAL CLASS • JANUARY 29 |
Love wine but want to know a little more about what's in your glass? Curious about how wine is made? Conflicted about which bottle to choose from the store? The Wine Feed's introductory course is for you!
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The following businesses have opened since our last newsletter. Welcome to downtown Durham! |
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Coffeehouse
123 Market St.
Contact: Lem Butler
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Retail
800 Taylor St.
Contact: Jared Burton
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We were very sorry to see the following businesses close in the past year. |
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B.Good
Bar Brunello
Bikram Hot Yoga
Criterion
Details
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Global Breath Studio
Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Little Shop of Horrors*
Lucky's Delicatessen
Morgan Imports
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Only Burger**
Piedmont Restaurant
Social Games and Brews
The Mothership
Trattoria Salve
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*Store is open online only
**Downtown location closed
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The Traffic Report lists events and happenings that may affect foot traffic and/or parking. It includes road closures and major events happening downtown.
Subscribe to the calendar or view the report online for the most up-to-date information.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR AMBASSADOR TEAM IN ACTION: JANUARY 2021 |
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Erik Nystrom, Clean and Safe Operations Manager |
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Greetings and Happy New Year from your Ambassador Team! We hope you stayed safe and healthy over the holidays. To say that we’re happy to see 2020 behind us would be a huge understatement. It was such a challenging year for everyone in the BID in so many ways, and we’re grateful to look ahead to what looks to be a promising year for us all to get back on track. The Ambassador Team and I want to reflect on and thank all of you for the continuous support and positive energy you shared with us. Even during the darkest times of 2020, and all the challenges with it, you helped cheer us on and supported us and often thanked us for doing what we do – and it meant a lot. We are extremely proud to be part of the downtown fabric, and we cherish the relationship we have with everyone who is part of it. We know that coming out of all the challenges will make us stronger on the other side.
As far as what’s been happening in the BID lately, we’ve noticed an uptick in graffiti activity, with most of it occurring in the Durham Central Park skate park area and locations inside the loop. The increase seems to have coincided with the election, and we’re hoping that the level decreases as we move forward into the new year. We’ve responded quite aggressively in getting this cleaned up as quickly as we find it. If you see graffiti pop up anywhere in the BID, please call me on the hotline at 919-682-BULL to report it, and we’ll get to it right away. In nearly every case, we are able to get graffiti cleaned and removed within just a few hours from the time it’s discovered or reported. I’ve included a couple of before and after pictures of graffiti we’ve removed to show you how effective our cleaning efforts are.
And once again, we all appreciate your cooperative efforts with social distancing and wearing masks when you engage us when we are out and about working. Keeping the virus in check requires everyone to do their part, and I’m encouraged to see more and more folks practicing the three W’s: WEAR, WAIT, WASH. We again wish you all a clean, safe, healthy and happy new year, and we look forward to even better days ahead.
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Downtown Durham's dedicated team of Ambassadors provides much needed clean and safe services. From sweeping and cleaning the streets, to providing directions for visitors, to jumpstarting car batteries, our Ambassadors are here to help. Have questions? Just stop one and ask. Need to submit a service request? Call 919-682-BULL (2855) or submit a request online.
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Clean and Safe Service
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Brickwork Laying (Square Feet)
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Trash Bags Collected
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Graffiti Removed - Paint
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Graffiti Removed - Stickers
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Customer Service (Directions, Battery Jumps, Etc.)
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Panhandlers/Outreach/Social Service Referral
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November 2020
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6280
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62
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117
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14
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49
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MEETINGS, TRAININGS & FORUMS |
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Durham County Government
Online
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Jan 19; Feb 1, 15
Jan 21; Feb 4, 18
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Regular Meetings: 1st & 3rd Mondays at 7 p.m.
Work Sessions: Two Thursdays prior to Council meetings
at 1 p.m.
Meetings may be held virtually while the Safer at Home Order is in effect
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Jan 13, 27; Feb 10, 24
Jan 6; Feb 3
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Regular Meetings: 2nd & 4th Mondays at 7 p.m.
Work Sessions: 1st Monday at 9 a.m.
Meetings may be held virtually while the Safer at Home Order is in effect
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Downtown Durham, Inc.
115 Market St. • #213
Durham, NC 27701
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This newsletter serves the businesses, residents and property owners
in the Downtown Durham Business Improvement District.
We're grateful for their support of DDI and downtown Durham.
We also thank the City of Durham for entrusting DDI to provide the BID services
that keep downtown Durham a clean, safe and vibrant place.
Want to know if an address is within the BID?
SHOP LOCAL!
Support downtown businesses with the SpendaBull gift card.
Your feedback on this newsletter is welcome.
Did someone forward this newsletter to you?
For up-to-the-minute information on happenings in the heart of the Bull City:
FOLLOW US
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