Durham joins Raleigh in dropping parking minimums for new construction

1 big thing: Durham drops parking minimums 

Illustration of a pencil eraser erasing the lines in a parking lot.

Under 40% of North Carolina college football players are from the state

2.  Chart du jour: Where our college football recruits come from

3. The Tea: News worth checking out

Illustration of a wolf, ram, and bull sitting at a table, having a tea party.

What games to watch this Thanksgiving holiday in North Carolina

4. Try not to argue too much with your uncle about sports 

🌧️ Weather: High near 62°, with a chance for thunderstorms in the early morning and showers throughout the day.

👋 Programming note: We're off tomorrow and Friday. We hope you have a great holiday!

🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Raleigh members Rick White and Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez!

Today's Smart Brevity™️ count is 835 words — a 3-minute read.

🦪 Zachery is picking up some pre-Thanksgiving oysters from Core Sounder.

😍 Lucille is loving hearing about the things you're grateful for and your best family recipes. Keep 'em coming!

This newsletter was edited by Jen Ashley and copy edited by Lucia Maher.

Raleigh

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Axios Raleigh

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Bal Harbour's luxury pop-up shops opens in Raleigh

1 big thing: A slice of luxury comes to Raleigh

2. People love malls with a Cheesecake Factory 

Illustration of a slice of cheesecake with an escalator leading to the top where tiny shoppers are walking around

3. The Tea: Catch up from the long weekend

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4.  Hillsborough Street will get even taller

5. What you're thankful for

Illustration of a sweet potato pie with a piece of heart shaped pastry on the top of the pie. 

It's Monday and we're back from Thanksgiving, though still making our way through some leftovers.

🌤️ Weather: Sunny with a high near 55°. Wind gusts could reach 20 mph.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Raleigh member Kara Broughton! And a belated happy birthday to member Ben Kittner.

Today's Smart Brevity™️ count is 896 words — a 3-minute read.

🫣 Zachery is hoping his Christmas tree survives the curiosity of his cat. 

🥧 Lucille preordered a chocolate chess pie from Two Roosters for Thanksgiving and it was to die for. 

The best coffee shops for remote work in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill

1 big thing: Our favorite coffee shops for remote work

Plan your future

Pompieri Pizza will close next month in downtown Durham

2.  Popular pizzeria set to close

3. The Tea: Headlines worth sharing

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4. UNC shooter declared unfit for trial

🥶 Greetings from a chilly Tuesday morning in the Triangle.

🌇 Weather: Sunny with a high near 49° and a low around 25°.

🤝 Consider contributing to our mission-driven journalism by becoming a member! You'll support our growth and in return get exclusive perks.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Raleigh members David Rhoades and Carol Gabor!

Today's Smart Brevity™️ count is 906 words — a 3.5-minute read.

📚 Zachery wants to know what books you loved reading this year.

☕️ Lucille wanted nothing more than to beeline to Black & White for a soft serve and latte after writing the coffee shop guide. 

1 big thing: Ashley Christensen is making a change

2. Scoop: Students for Trump founder charged with assault

3. The Tea: News worth sharing

Illustration of a squirrel dressed as a reporter with a notepad and press pass in his hat. 

Japanese home store Feature Flora opens in Raleigh

4. 🍵 Japanese home goods and matcha

Good morning. It's Wednesday and quite cold.

🌅 Weather: Sunny with a high of 46° and a low near 23°.

Today's Smart Brevity™️ count is 701 words — a 3-minute read.

🏀 Zachery is watching the Minnesota Timberwolves halftime performance on repeat.

🍵 Lucille is in need of more Feature Flora matcha, stat.

Why people in the Triangle are moving in with their parents

1 big thing: Why people are moving in with their parents

New jobs to check out

2.  Downtown Cary gets a vinyl shop and bar

3. The Tea: Catch up quick

4.  Our favorite songs of 2023

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☀️ Weather: Sunny with a high near 57° and a low of 36°.

Today's Smart Brevity™️ count is 784 words — a 3.5-minute read.

🥶 Zachery is still frozen solid from playing (and losing) in his kickball league's championship game.

😔 Lucille is missing Berkeley Cafe and can't wait for it to reopen

FetchError

There are certainly more people working from home these days.

But if you're like us and often find yourself in need of a change of location during your day, we put together a guide to some of the Triangle's best coffee shops for remote work.

In no particular order, here are a few of the spots where we — and many of our readers — spend most of our time.

One of Raleigh's most beloved coffee shops, The Optimist has taken off in recent months. It recently opened a cart at PNC Arena and will soon open a second location at The Exchange Raleigh, a billion-dollar development in North Hills.

It can be hard to find a seat inside, but if you're patient, The Optimist is a cozy spot to post up for a bit with a latte in hand (may we suggest The Stacey?) and a breakfast sandwich to snack on.

Iris is one of Raleigh's smaller shops, but it features a plethora of outlets and a small but mighty menu of tea, espresso and breakfast and lunch options.

Pro tip: The shop makes a delicious blue matcha latte (Lucille likes to drink it iced), a mean oat milk latte and, if you get there before 11am on weekdays, their breakfast sandwiches, made with New York bagels, are some of the best in town.

Black & White Coffee at Videri Chocolate Factory

Also one of Raleigh's smaller coffee spots, Black & White makes up for its size in reliably consistent espresso drinks and the smell of chocolate wafting under your nose.

While you're there, we fully support grabbing a soft service ice cream to enjoy with a whole milk latte, if that's your thing.

Black & White Coffee's location in the Videri Chocolate Factory includes a large outdoor patio. Photo: Lucille Sherman/

If you're more of a tea drinker and need as much natural light as you can get, Heirloom might be the spot for you.

The shop has plenty of outlets, a couple of cozy chairs and can be a great place for taking meetings with a (little bit) larger group. Plus, they recently started serving dinner, and we're itching to try it.

Pine State is a great spot for solo working, and also happens to be Zach's favorite shop in Raleigh.

The shop has high-top community tables inside, with even more seating outside on its patio. Plus, it shares a space with Runologie, so when you need a break, you can browse running shoes and on-sale gear.

A staple in the Raleigh coffee scene, Jubala has a sprawling menu with plenty of seasonal specials and made-in-house biscuits.

The shop is best for solo working, with plenty of bar seating and small booths with access to outlets, but it has a few tables for groups of 4.

Bonus: Benchwarmers Bagels in Transfer Food Hall serves excellent coffee, plus the best bagels in town, and Transfer has tons of space for remote work.

Boulted Bread is also a great place to work and sip on (really, really good) espresso drinks, but has a slim selection of outlets. But, bread.

Durham's swankiest hotel lobby is also one of the city's favorite places to take a meeting or get some work done thanks to its cozy booths and tables.

Pro tip: Order the hotel's signature coffee soda.

Working from the Durham Hotel's coffee bar. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios

It's only been open for a couple of months, but the Common Market is quickly becoming a magnet for people doing computer work or taking meetings thanks to its plentiful tables upstairs, downstairs and (when it's warm) outside.

It helps that you can quickly order a delicious sandwich, snacks, drinks or order a coffee from Mid Bloom while you work as well.

Of Cocoa Cinnamon's three popular coffee shops in Durham, the Chapel Hill Street location is its most spacious, with several long rows of tables ideal for coworking.

It's also the only location that makes in-house churros — the sweet remote work pairing you didn't know you needed.

The churros at Cocoa Cinnamon come in multiple flavors. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios 

One of Durham's oldest coffee shops, Bean Traders in South Durham has space and parking aplenty.

Bonus: Namu's cafe on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard has a beautiful outdoor space on warm days. The Oak House, while on the smaller side, is a popular meeting spot in downtown Durham.

An abundance of tables and outlets and WiFi as strong as its coffee, there's a reason Open Eye Cafe has been a favorite haunt for graduate students and townies alike for years.

Pro tip: Grab some food next door at Neal's Deli before or after you start working.

Location: 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro

You'll be competing with students for a table, but Epilogue's collection of books and Mexican breakfast options makes it worth it.

Location: 109 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

In addition to coffee and books, Epilogue sells Mexican breakfast dishes and chocolate. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios

Bonus: The small Caffe Driade mainly consists of outdoor seating but it's lovely to work essentially in a forest on a nice day.

Since it opened in 2018, The Fount has provided a welcome gathering spot for the area around Research Triangle Park, which had no shortage of workers but few places besides offices for them to work out of.

Pro tip: Lucille thinks The Fount has the best pumpkin spice latte in town.

Here are the best places to post up for remote work at a Triangle coffee shop.

The cafe counter at The Optimist. Photo: Lucille Sherman/Axios

There are certainly more people <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="working from home" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/33504481.7406/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3JhbGVpZ2gvMjAyMy8wOS8xOS9yZW1vdGUtd29yay1qb2JzLW5vcnRoLWNhcm9saW5hLXdmaC1zdGF0aXN0aWNzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfcmFsZWlnaCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5d8bef5ddabb3400443df688B4585491c" data-vars-content-id="0fe32b64-7fe1-4e8d-ad8e-2e5c7ca5ca70" data-vars-headline="The best coffee shops for remote work in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/33504481.7406/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3JhbGVpZ2gvMjAyMy8wOS8xOS9yZW1vdGUtd29yay1qb2JzLW5vcnRoLWNhcm9saW5hLXdmaC1zdGF0aXN0aWNzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfcmFsZWlnaCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/5d8bef5ddabb3400443df688B4585491c" target="_blank">working from home</a> these days.But if you&#x27;re like us and often find yourself in need of a change of location during your day, we put together a guide to some of the Triangle&#x27;s best coffee shops for remote work.In no particular order, here are a few of the spots where we — and many of our readers — spend most of our time.

Things to Do

Data: cfbstats; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

The era of hometown talent in college football may become a thing of the past, Axios' Simran Parwani writes.

State of play: An Axios analysis of recruiting data shows that, across the country, college football programs are increasingly recruiting from out of state.

Why it matters: The growing professionalization and commercialization of college athletics is reshaping the recruiting landscape. With the changing transfer portal system and the emergence of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, college football programs are pressured to recruit and retain the best players regardless of academic year and geography.

What they're saying: "Recruiting in state is really the ground level of starting a recruiting class and developing relationships with those important programs and players that you can get right down the road," Adam Gorney, national director of recruiting at Rivals, says.

In-state recruiting helps optimize a designated budget, he notes, and many players prefer staying close to home.

Yes, but: North Carolina colleges often find themselves competing against the national powerhouses for top talent.

The top-ranked recruit in the state, per 247 Sports, has left North Carolina three of the last five years.

By the numbers: 38% of North Carolina's college football players are from in-state.

That's a far lower percentage than places like Texas, where 78% of players are playing at home, Georgia (67%), Florida (65%) or California (60%).

The bottom line: In the wake of NIL deals, transfer portal changes and conference realignments, college football recruiting is experiencing its most turbulent era yet.

While it's too early to understand the long-term impact of these changes, what's clear is college football recruiting will never be the same.

Increasingly North Carolina's college football players are coming from out of state

Sports

The era of hometown talent in college football may become a thing of the past, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Simran Parwani writes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/college-football-games-players-recruiting" data-vars-content-id="199c850a-1de4-4dd1-bdf6-f87530e5fca1" data-vars-headline="Under 40% of North Carolina college football players are from the state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/college-football-games-players-recruiting" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Simran Parwani writes</a>.State of play: An Axios analysis of recruiting data shows that, across the country, college football programs are increasingly recruiting from out of state.

News

Feature Flora, a new home goods shop and botanical design studio, opened its doors in downtown Raleigh in October.

Driving the news: We stopped by on Small Business Saturday, when the shop was hosting an "Objects for the Home" market featuring pottery, fabrics, furniture and sweet treats.

Quick take: The best part about the business, in our humble opinion, is that owner Deana Nguyen serves up made-in-house matcha perfect for sipping while you're browsing the shop, which is full of kitchen utensils, gardening tools, books, tea, tea ware (think matcha whisks and tea pots) and much more.

Feature Flora's matcha bar. Photo: Lucille Sherman/Axios

📍 Stop by: Located at 612 W South St (next to Boulted Bread's old location), the shop is cozy as ever and a great place to shop for gifts, if you're in search of some unique items to give family and friends this holiday season.

Feature Flora's times vary monthly, so check their Instagram before going.

The best part: You can sip made-in-house matcha while you shop

Feature Flora, on Small Business Saturday. Photo: Lucille Sherman/Axios

Shopping

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Feature Flora" data-vars-click-url="https://www.featureflora.com/" data-vars-content-id="3090d317-cc85-456a-bcb7-fc4b213fa072" data-vars-headline="Japanese home store Feature Flora opens in Raleigh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.featureflora.com/" target="_blank">Feature Flora</a>, a new home goods shop and botanical design studio, opened its doors in downtown Raleigh in October.Driving the news: We stopped by on Small Business Saturday, when the shop was hosting an &quot;Objects for the Home&quot; market featuring pottery, fabrics, furniture and sweet treats.

National

The North Carolina-based Students for Trump cofounder Ryan Fournier is facing misdemeanor assault charges, law enforcement records obtained by Axios show.

Context: Fournier, who studied at Campbell University in Buies Creek, cofounded Students for Trump ahead of the 2016 election and now leads the group Radical Alert, which "exposes" radicals' hate that has "taken over American college campuses," according to its X bio.

Driving the news: According to the magistrate's order, Fournier, 27, was arrested in Johnston County last Tuesday and accused of assaulting the woman, identified as his girlfriend, "grabbing her right arm and striking her in the forehead" with a handgun.

He was charged with domestic assault on a female and assault with a deadly weapon.

He posted bond later that evening and waived his right to an assigned attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18. 

The victim suffered a minor injury, according to a police report.  

Flashback: A resident of Selma, North Carolina, Fournier also consulted for Republican Bo Hines' 2022 Congressional campaign, federal election records show. 

Fournier did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Campbell University is located in Buies Creek, not Raleigh.

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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Raleigh.

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Scoop: Students for Trump founder charged with assault

The North Carolina-based Students for Trump co-founder Ryan Fournier was charged with assault on a female and assault with a deadly weapon two days before Thanksgiving.

Donald Trump

The North Carolina-based Students for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="3b9d8ed4-fb0d-4a6c-bbce-96496cbd4650" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Students for Trump founder charged with assault" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> cofounder Ryan Fournier is facing misdemeanor assault charges, law enforcement records obtained by Axios show.Context: Fournier, who studied at Campbell University in Buies Creek, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cofounded Students for Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20161001084724/https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article104522526.html" data-vars-content-id="3b9d8ed4-fb0d-4a6c-bbce-96496cbd4650" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Students for Trump founder charged with assault" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161001084724/https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article104522526.html" target="_blank">cofounded Students for Trump</a> ahead of the 2016 election and now leads the group Radical Alert, which &quot;exposes&quot; radicals&#x27; hate that has &quot;taken over American college campuses,&quot; according to its X bio.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Data: Census Bureau; Map: Alice Feng/Axios

Multigenerational households — three or more generations under one roof — are on the rise across the U.S..

Driving the news: In Raleigh, an estimated 87% of Gen Z-ers live with family, which is one of the highest rates in the country, according to a new RentCafe study cited by CBS17.

Why it matters: Housing has grown increasingly unaffordable in the Triangle, and financial concerns are one of the major reasons people live with their parents (and parents' parents).

What they're saying: "We're tired. We just want to move up in the world. We want to have a house, we want to have a family, we want to eventually have those nice things that everyone else has had," Kennady Briscoe, a 23-year-old who lives with her mom told CBS17.

Between the lines: Americans living in multigenerational households were less likely to be poor, Pew Research found in an analysis of census data last year.

But beyond financial reasons, caregiving needs are another key reason people said they have chosen to live with relatives.

By the numbers: Some 6 million households in the U.S. were multigenerational as of 2020 — 7.2% — up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to census data.

The share of multigenerational households in Wake County is 5%, which is just slightly below the state average.

In Durham, that rate is slightly higher, at 6%.

Be smart: Though living with relatives can be stressful for some of us, research shows being close to family or friends can improve your health and happiness.

North Carolina

Multigenerational households — three or more generations under one roof — are on the rise across the U.S..Driving the news: In Raleigh, an estimated 87% of Gen Z-ers live with family, which is one of the highest rates in the country, according to a new RentCafe study cited by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CBS17" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/raleigh-sees-high-amount-of-generation-z-living-with-family-study-shows/?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow&amp;fbclid=IwAR0KjQcaHCW7n3PmpiTySCIcHX0P_sBdw-x5diaK48vD_ua78l1FVwo7ADM_aem_ATvte2L40MQnMc01LFaRxZ4GfhSE-HfiLpDX2rt47HAKnkbAZQllNEGTtLGaNDwYpOI" data-vars-content-id="7f067d7d-e5f2-46df-b87a-643a163f36b2" data-vars-headline="Why people in the Triangle are moving in with their parents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/raleigh-sees-high-amount-of-generation-z-living-with-family-study-shows/?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=facebook.com&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow&amp;fbclid=IwAR0KjQcaHCW7n3PmpiTySCIcHX0P_sBdw-x5diaK48vD_ua78l1FVwo7ADM_aem_ATvte2L40MQnMc01LFaRxZ4GfhSE-HfiLpDX2rt47HAKnkbAZQllNEGTtLGaNDwYpOI" target="_blank">CBS17</a>.Why it matters: Housing has grown increasingly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unaffordable" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/08/22/the-triangles-falling-affordability-housing-raleigh-durham" data-vars-content-id="7f067d7d-e5f2-46df-b87a-643a163f36b2" data-vars-headline="Why people in the Triangle are moving in with their parents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/08/22/the-triangles-falling-affordability-housing-raleigh-durham" target="_self">unaffordable</a> in the Triangle, and financial concerns are one of the major reasons people live with their parents (and parents&#x27; parents).

Lucille Sherman

Stories

Why people in the Triangle are moving in with their parents

Japanese home store Feature Flora opens in Raleigh

Scoop: Students for Trump founder charged with assault

The best coffee shops for remote work in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill

Under 40% of North Carolina college football players are from the state

Newsletter editions

🏡 Stuck in the nest

🍽 Christensen's next move

☕️ Best WFH cafes

💍 Luxury shopping incoming

🏗️ Shrinking parking lots