East of Texas Durham has officially opened its doors at American Tobacco Campus, bringing its signature combination of Texas-style BBQ and Tex-Mex to Durham. The new location marks the brand’s second North Carolina location following its debut in Winston-Salem and introduces North Carolina’s first Tex-Mex BBQ concept to the Bull City.

Located in the Reed Building by the Lucky Strike water tower, East of Texas brings together two beloved food traditions deeply rooted in Texas culture: Central Texas-style smoked meats and the bold, fresh flavors of Tex-Mex. The menu blends slow-smoked barbecue with scratch-made Tex-Mex favorites, from chicken enchiladas and fresh tortillas to salsa, guacamole and queso, creating a dining experience that celebrates the best of both traditions.

The concept was born from founder Claire Calvin’s own homesickness for the food she grew up with as a sixth-generation Texan from Houston. At the Durham location, that story extends beyond the menu. Designed as an easygoing, communal gathering place, East of Texas features indoor and outdoor seating to create space for families, friends, neighbors, and visitors to gather over a meal. The restaurant is intended to capture the relaxed hospitality associated with Texas while fitting naturally into Durham’s own culture of community, creativity, and independent food experiences.

“Since the first time I met the team from American Tobacco and had a chance to visit campus, I’ve been blown away by the energy and supportive community in Durham,” said Calvin, a James Beard Foundation Fellow. “We have loved getting to know our neighboring businesses, the Downtown Durham team, City leadership and now, finally, the community of guests who have come to visit us during the first few weeks of our soft opening. We love it here!”

The restaurant was created for a wide range of guests in mind, from families looking for a casual meal to food lovers eager to try a different take on BBQ, as well as fellow Texas transplants looking for a taste of home. East of Texas also offers kid-friendly options and complimentary cotton candy for children, reinforcing the restaurant’s goal of creating a place where the entire family can feel welcome.

“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Claire and the East of Texas team to American Tobacco Campus,” said Eli Bell, Director of Leasing at CBC Real Estate. “We’ve already gotten a taste of what they’ll bring to the downtown restaurant scene – not only delicious, authentic Texas flavors, but also a lively and casual atmosphere that will appeal to all ages and all types of groups.”

East of Texas celebrated its Durham opening with a four-day Grand Opening Labor Day Weekend, featuring food and drink specials, live music and plenty of family-friendly activities.

Lutra Cafe & Bakery has opened its first brick-and-mortar location at American Tobacco Campus after owner Chris McLaurin operated the business as a local pop-up since late 2023.

“I’m so excited to be opening,” McLaurin said. “We’ve worked to create a bright and inviting space where all feel welcome. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick pastry or to join us for a meal, we aim to bring you a bit of joy in every bun and bite!”

The 2,600-square-foot space is located in the Noell Building next door to Ment Beverage Co., just across from the railcar. It was designed by Kurt West of West Workshop, built by Gateway Building Co. and brokered by Elm Partners and the ATC leasing team. 

Lutra quickly gained a large following selling its popular sweet and savory buns at the Durham Farmers Market and later expanded its menu with a Sunday pop-up brunch at Cheeni. Along with its signature buns and other tasty baked goods, McLaurin and team will offer diners a variety of breakfast, brunch and lunch items, including its 100-layer hashbrowns, deli sandwiches and ice box sandwiches. The menu also will include coffee and espresso drinks, orange juice, lemonade, wine, beer and more.

Lutra’s opening is another example of ATC’s strategy of providing tenants, the community and visitors with a variety of dining and beverage options, both from locally owned businesses and beyond. 

“I’ve just been really impressed by the businesses and restaurants that they’ve been bringing to campus and their intentions on how to expand and really curate the selection in the coming years,” McLaurin told the Triangle Business Journal when the Lutra move was announced in May 2025. Other popular North Carolina-based eateries here include Boricua Soul (opened 2019), Parker and Otis (2020), Queenburger (2022) and Seraphine (2023), as well as East of Texas and Fullsteam, both expected to open later this summer.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Chris and the Lutra team to their new home,” said CBC Real Estate Director of Leasing Eli Bell. “It’s the result of a ton of hard work on his part and support from the community. Lutra is a great addition to the lineup of places here to eat, drink and hang out whenever and however people choose.”

Lutra Cafe & Bakery will be open seven days a week, with weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekend hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. An expanded weekend brunch menu will launch in July. More information can be found here.

Nine-week performance series brings music, dance, theatre, and storytelling to downtown Durham, January – March 2026

The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (COT) will launch a new interdisciplinary performance series, Live at Bay 7, beginning January 10, 2026, at the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. The nine-9 week series will feature live music, dance, theatre, and storytelling from some of the Triangle’s most dynamic artists and ensembles.

Running January through March 2026, Live at Bay 7 will include performances by The COT, RedBird Theater Company, The Monti Live Storytelling, Bulldog Ensemble Theater, and The Justice Theater Project. The series will also showcase work by choreographers Gerri Houlihan, Kristin Taylor Duncan, Kristin Clotfelter, and Anna Barker, along with a residency by internationally renowned performance artist Bill Shannon. Beginning in February, Live at Bay 7 will expand to include a series of concerts co-presented by That Station, including acclaimed rock and country/folk musicians.

“We are excited to explore how Durham and the larger Triangle arts community can bring this beautiful space to life,” says Niccoló Muti, Artistic Director and CEO of The COT. “Walking into Bay 7, you can simultaneously feel history in the walls and an untapped potential for creativity and exploration. It is pure magic.”

One of Durham’s most recognizable event venues, Bay 7 at American Tobacco Campus, offers 10,000 square feet of flexible space with a capacity of up to 400 people. During the nine-week takeover, Live at Bay 7 will activate the venue through a mainstage with tiered or floor seating, an upstairs gallery with a smaller performance space, and a bar and lounge.

“This series captures what we love about Durham’s creative community,” said Eli Bell, Director of Leasing at CBC Real Estate, American Tobacco Campus. “Live at Bay 7 brings people together through music, performance, and storytelling in a space that was made for shared experiences. We’re excited to support The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle in activating Bay 7 in such a meaningful way.”

In addition to ticketed performances, Live at Bay 7 will also host weekly free and “pay what you can” events. Tuesdays will feature Triangle-based artists leading sessions focused on movement, sound, and improvisation, while a house band led by drummer Jake Richter will play in the Gallery Bar and Lounge on select weekend nights. Fullsteam Brewery will provide local libations for all events.

To view the full calendar of events and purchase tickets online, visit www.liveatbay7.com.

7,000-square-foot second-floor space in Washington Building puts the Chamber at the center of Durham’s business ecosystem

CBC Real Estate today announced that the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce will relocate to the American Tobacco Campus (ATC), placing the county’s leading economic development organization in the center of one of Durham’s most dynamic business and cultural hubs. The Durham Chamber’s new 7,000-square-foot headquarters on the second floor of the historic Washington Building at 324 Blackwell Street will open this fall.

The move is a strategic step to integrate the Chamber more fully into Durham’s business ecosystem. By joining ATC’s diverse mix of corporate offices, small businesses, startups, and micro-enterprises, the Durham Chamber will be well positioned to connect with—and advocate for—the full spectrum of the county’s business community.

“Relocating to American Tobacco Campus brings us closer to the people and organizations we are here to serve,” said Geoff Durham, President & CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “For more than a century, we’ve been at the table for Durham’s biggest conversations. This move takes us from skyline views to street-level presence—making us more accessible to our members and ready to act on opportunities as they happen.”

Designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and built by Bridgepoint General Contracting, the Durham Chamber’s new office will serve as a hub for decision-makers, prospective businesses, and community leaders. A flexible 100-person event space–shared with ATC–anchors the design, alongside a 20–25 seat boardroom, private offices, open workstations, a break room with kitchenette, and reception area. Exposed brick, reclaimed flooring, and open ceilings preserve the site’s tobacco factory roots, while modern finishes and presentation technology create an elevated, welcoming environment adaptable to a wide range of uses.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce to ATC,” said Eli Bell, Director of Leasing & Asset Management for CBC Real Estate. “They will be right at home here—surrounded by long-standing anchors, growing companies, and new arrivals. They will bring great energy and momentum to this community as we shape ATC’s next chapter.”

The move comes on the heels of ATC’s 20th anniversary, a milestone that marked two decades of transformation from a former tobacco factory into a nationally recognized destination for work, culture, and community. “The Chambers’ new location is remarkable,” said Dom Cole-Johnson, Board Chair of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “It will provide our members with the opportunity to be at the heart of Durham and enhance new members’ perspectives on our amazing city.”

Marlene Spritzer with Lee & Associates represented the Durham Chamber in the lease negotiations, while Eli Bell and Isabel Rigsbee represented CBC Real Estate.

For more updates on the Durham Chamber’s move to the ATC, visit www.durhamchamber.org.

On Saturday, October 4^th, 2025, the American Tobacco Campus hosted a celebration of automotive design and engineering with the 11^th Luftgekühlt event. German for “air-cooled”, Luftgekühlt is an annual meetup of Porsche owners, drivers, and enthusiasts founded by legendary racer Patrick Long and creative director Howie Idelson. Luft showcases air-cooled cars from Porsche’s history, spanning a period from the company’s founding in 1948 through 1998.

Luft 11 featured approximately 400 cars and included a special 30^th anniversary celebration of the 993-generation Porsche 911 racer. Special guests included racing driver and motorsport executive Bobby Rahal and Motorsports Hall of Famer Tommy Kendall.

The historic American Tobacco Campus provided an ideal backdrop, with cars located throughout renovated tobacco factory, including inside the Fowler, Washington, and Power Plant buildings, along the Old Bull River, and under the iconic Lucky Strike smokestack and water tower.

Luftgekühlt 11 is the largest event ever hosted by the American Tobacco Campus and featured over 9,200 attendees during the seven-hour showcase. Luft 11 is the first Luftgekühlt held on the U.S. East Coast.

Bringing Luft to Durham has been a long time in the making. Luft 7 was originally planned to be held in Durham at the American Tobacco Campus in Fall 2020, but was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luft 7 later took place on September 10^th, 2021 at the Bottleworks District in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more on this iconic event, check out Porche’s newsroom article here: https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2025/scene-passion/porsche-luftgekuehlt-11-north-carolina-2025-40733.html

CBC Real Estate is excited to welcome Dollar Shave Club to the American Tobacco Campus. DSC has opened a 17,500-square-foot headquarters in the Crowe Building, designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and built by BridgePoint General Contracting. This collaborative workspace features a terrace and breakroom overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, flexible seating under a skylit top floor, and brand details like “barbershop” lobby seating and a custom mural on exposed brick.

A leading consumer brand, Dollar Shave Club joins a one-of-a-kind mix of tenants at ATC, including major corporations, growing companies, academic institutions, nonprofits, and cultural anchors, who together make the campus and downtown Durham a magnet for innovation and community. Prior to moving to Durham and ATC, Dollar Shave Club was headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

“Relocating to Durham is a sharp move in every sense,” said Larry Bodner, CEO of Dollar Shave Club. “We looked at Raleigh, Nashville, Austin — all the fast-growing hubs you’d expect — and what drew us to Durham is the people. There’s a strong sense of community here, and the American Tobacco Campus puts us right in the heart of the city, steps from the Bulls and surrounded by global brands. Our new space is a place people will want to come to every day. It’s bold, inviting, and unmistakably Dollar Shave Club. With space built for 80, this headquarters also gives us room to grow.”

Dollar Shave Club’s full announcement is available here.

CBC Real Estate Will Develop Site Adjacent to the American Tobacco Campus

The YMCA of the Triangle and CBC Real Estate announced plans to development a new, state-of-the-art
Downtown Durham YMCA at American Tobacco Campus (ATC). Located at the corners of Pettigrew and Blackwell,
the future 65,000-square-foot facility will expand vital services to the community and build on the longstanding
relationship between the YMCA and ATC. The new facility will feature an indoor pool, full basketball court, indoor
track, group fitness studios, and rooftop terraces with outdoor fitness opportunities.

CBC Real Estate, the real estate division of Capitol Broadcasting Company and owner of the American Tobacco
Campus, will develop the site on behalf of the YMCA. Construction is expected to begin in 2027.

Access the full press release here to learn more about this project.

 Celebrating 50 Years of Hayti Heritage Center

For the 2025 Duke Arts at American Tobacco series, Duke Arts is proud to partner with Hayti Heritage Center to present four free concerts under the Lucky Strike Water Tower at American Tobacco Campus. The 2025 artists are selected in celebration of the Center’s 50^th anniversary and their mission to preserve the heritage and embrace the experiences of Americans of African descent. This year’s lineup features Shana Tucker, Kenny Sharp, Dior Ashley  Brown, and Denitia.

The Duke Arts at American Tobacco series, now in its fifth year, features free live concerts every Wednesday in September at American Tobacco Campus in Downtown Durham.  

Learn More: https://arts.duke.edu/announcing-the-lineup-for-duke-arts-at-american-tobacco-celebrating-50-years-of-hayti-heritage-center/