THE CHAPEL HILL INSIDER
FROM THE INSIDE…
Inside This Issue: This week in Chapel Hill feels like a study in resilience and intention. Eastgate Crossing continues its steady comeback, with three more reopenings on the horizon and familiar gathering places returning to our daily rhythms. We’re also spotlighting a powerful example of love turned into action through the Monet Richardson Community Foundation as they celebrate five years of impact. As we observe MLK Day, this issue explores what it means when a community chooses care, perseverance, and forward motion — even in the face of loss, disruption, and change.
LET’S STEP INSIDE →
Feature Story
Eastgate’s New Year Comeback
Three More Reopenings on the Horizon
Six months after Tropical Storm Chantal devastated Eastgate Crossing, the new year is bringing a fresh wave of reopenings that will make the shopping center feel almost whole again.
General Manager Scott Novak, was seen yesterday outside of The Loop
The Loop is finally coming back. Dedicated general manager Scott Novak confirmed the goal is to open by January 26, pending final inspections. For fans of Chapel Hill’s beloved pizza-and-beer spot, it’s been a long wait. The Loop was one of the hardest-hit businesses, and watching the rebuild has been a masterclass in patience. The end is finally in sight. We love the food. We will keep you posted.
CorePower Yoga – Eastgate members can mark their calendars for Monday, January 19. After being completely gutted post-flood (all drywall, insulation, and carpet removed), the studio is ready to welcome yogis back with a fully updated space. Follow CorePower Yoga on Instagram for official confirmation of the reopening.
Snooze A.M. Eatery – Chapel Hill has a sign up simply saying February. The brunch spot was still relatively new when Chantal hit, but it had already become a weekend favorite. Get ready for those pancake flights again.
Still waiting:
• ALDI – Eastgate (still targeting January)
• Kipos Greek Taverna (working through permits)
• Twisted Noodles (spring 2026)
• Petco (spring 2026)
• Restore Hyper Wellness (spring 2026)
We’ll keep you posted as more businesses announce their returns.
Community Spotlight
Five Years of Turning Grief Into Good
On May 16, 2021, Pat Richardson received a phone call that changed everything. Her daughter, Kristian “Krissy” Monet Richardson, just 23 years old, had been killed in a car accident.
What came next wasn’t retreat. It was resolve.
Within months, Pat founded the Monet Richardson Community Foundation to continue the work her daughter had already started. While still in college, Krissy partnered with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA in 2018 to create a backpack program for underserved students. Five years later, that program has distributed over 1,400 backpacks and awarded $14,000 in scholarships.
Now the foundation is celebrating its biggest milestone yet with the Rosé & Roses Soirée: The Power of Five—Celebrating Community, Growth & Giving!, happening Sunday, March 8, at the Graduate by Hilton Chapel Hill.
You can party with a purpose at this gala-themed party, which will be a signature event honoring five years of service, growth, and community transformation. The Soirée will be an elegant evening of connection, celebration, and commitment, bringing together 150+ business leaders, nonprofit partners, and community supporters. Branded lounges, interactive photo booths, themed activity stations, pop-up food/drink, or even local artists/performers are just the beginning of an experience guests will enjoy that are dedicated to highlighting the foundation’s unwavering commitment to education, children, and community programs—while also looking boldly toward the future. Sponsorship opportunities will directly fuel the foundation’s work to uplift children and families and support education across local communities. Let’s celebrate together!
Event details:
• Date & Time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM
• Location: 311 W. Franklin Street
• Tickets: $50 (one), $85 (two)
• Dress code: Cocktail attire — wear what makes you feel good
This isn’t your typical nonprofit gala. The evening includes cocktails, live music, dancing, live and silent auctions, and unique experiential stations — including a rose-design nail art bar (a tribute to Krissy’s nail business, Rich Sets) and a makeup touch-up station.
🎟️ Tickets are limited:
👉 https://secure.qgiv.com/event/mrcfa
“Tickets are limited, but impact isn’t.”
🏆 TRIVIA WINNERS: Claim Your Prize!
A few of our Chapel Hill Trivia Quiz winners still haven’t picked up their signed Ed King Chapel Hill Cartoon Map posters!
If you won and haven’t received yours yet, please reach out to me directly at [email protected] to arrange personal delivery. These beautiful 24"x36" posters are hand-signed by Ed himself — don’t miss out on yours!
Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, JAN 15
The Ballad of Johnny Whitmore | The ArtsCenter, 400 Roberson St., Carrboro | $25–$30 | Runs through Jan 25 | artscenterlive.org
FRIDAY, JAN 16
Lioner, Rabbit Fighter, Late Model | Local 506 | local506.com
SATURDAY, JAN 17
Journey Into Asia: Moonfest! | Memorial Hall | 6–8:45 PM | UNC AASA's annual cultural showcase celebrating Asian heritage | tickets.carolinaperformingarts.org
MLK Youth Celebration | Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. | 1–3 PM | FREE | Hosted by Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council & Carrboro Youth Council
Magic City Hippies | Cat's Cradle | 9 PM | catscradle.com
SUNDAY, JAN 18 School of Rock Chapel Hill: BLAST OFF | Local 506, 506 W. Franklin St. | Doors 12:30 PM, Show 1 PM | FREE | local506.com
Sundays with Omar & Friends: Lyle de Vitry | The ArtsCenter | artscenterlive.org
MONDAY, JAN 19 – MLK DAY
MLK Day Rally & Service | Gather at Peace & Justice Plaza (179 E. Franklin St.) at 9:45 AM, march to First Baptist Church for service | Hosted by Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP | chapelboro.com
CorePower Yoga Reopening | Eastgate Crossing | corepoweryoga.com
TUESDAY, JAN 20
54 Ultra | Cat's Cradle | 8 PM | catscradle.com
THURSDAY, JAN 22
Torso Man, Matty Frank, Marble Berry Seeds, Mossbody | Local 506 | local506.com
FRIDAY, JAN 23
20th Annual Carrboro Film Festival Opens | Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St. | 44 Southern indie films, 22 from NC | $8/screening or $45 festival pass | Runs Jan 23–25 | carrborofilm.org
Renée Fleming: Music and Mind | Memorial Hall | 6 PM | A conversation with UNC neuroscientists exploring arts, health & brain science | Tickets from $29 | carolinaperformingarts.org
Suffering Jukebox: A Celebration of David Berman | Local 506 | local506.com
Congress The Band | Cat's Cradle | 8 PM | catscradle.com
Jon Spencer | Cat's Cradle Back Room | 8 PM | catscradle.com
SATURDAY, JAN 24
Carrboro Film Festival Day 2 | Drakeford Library Complex | carrborofilm.org
Renée Fleming in Recital: Voice of Nature – the Anthropocene | Memorial Hall | 8 PM | Classical music & film exploring nature's beauty and fragility | Tickets from $29 | carolinaperformingarts.org
Hellfest & Overcome Fest | Local 506 | Path of Resistance, Moral Law, Fading Signal & more | local506.com
Greg Freeman | Cat's Cradle Back Room | 8 PM | catscradle.com
SUNDAY, JAN 25
Carrboro Film Festival Day 3 | Drakeford Library Complex | carrborofilm.org
Sundays with Omar & Friends: Joe Westerlund | The ArtsCenter | artscenterlive.org
TARGET: JAN 26
The Loop Grand Reopening | Eastgate Crossing | thelooprestaurant.com
TUESDAY, JAN 27
The Floozies + Too Many Zooz ("Too Many Flooz Tour") | Cat's Cradle | 8 PM | catscradle.com
WEDNESDAY, JAN 28
Bluegrass in the Backroom: Larry & Joe, Carolina Cutups | Cat's Cradle Back Room | 8 PM | catscradle.com
Left to Suffer | Local 506 | w/ The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Your Spirit Dies, Fr3ak | local506.com
FRIDAY, JAN 30
Chapel Hill Alt-Country Show | Cat's Cradle Back Room | Davie Circle, The Jackson Slater Band, Bill Moore & His Secret Admirers, Yakamashii | 8 PM | catscradle.com
FEBRUARY (DATE TBA)
Snooze Reopening | Eastgate Crossing | snoozeeatery.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
Rose & Roses Soiree: The Power of Five | Graduate by Hilton, 311 W. Franklin St. | 5–8 PM | $50/one, $85/two | Cocktail attire | Benefiting Monet Richardson Community Foundation | secure.qgiv.com/event/mrcfa
Community Update
FROM AROUND TOWN
Chapel Hill Skate Park Is Back | After a $500,000 rebuild funded largely by the American Rescue Plan Act, Homestead Skate Park (or as regulars call it, 'sacred concrete') has reopened. The 25-year-old park was redesigned by Fifth Pocket Skateparks, including builders who learned to skate there as kids. 'Spaces like this matter,' one local said.
Food Banks Need Your Help | Following cuts to SNAP, local food banks are seeing unprecedented demand. CORA Executive Director Melissa Driver Beard said the daily crowd at their Pittsboro and Siler City locations more than doubled overnight. PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro is also stretched thin. Both organizations are looking for community support to fill the gap. Donations welcome at porchcommunities.org and corafoodpantry.org.
Sinkhole? What Sinkhole? | If you were wondering about the traffic backup on East Franklin Street Monday morning, there was an 18-inch sinkhole in front of Pickard Lane. Town crews had it repaired by mid-afternoon. The Daily Tar Heel ran a satirical piece imagining apocalyptic destruction. (It was fine. Everyone's fine.)
Traffic & Construction
East Franklin Street is back to normal after Monday's sinkhole repair. No ongoing closures.
Rosemary Street Redevelopment continues downtown. The new parking deck and office space are still in progress. Expect continued activity in the area.
Estes Drive Connectivity Project is ongoing. The multi-use path and bike lane along the north side (Caswell to Somerset) are complete. Crews are now working on storm drains and the south side improvements.
Chapel Hill Insider is your weekly guide to the people, places, and stories that make our community special. Know someone we should feature? Have a story tip? Reply to this email.
INsight from the INSIDER
A Final Note
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chapel Hill Cartoon Map
Big news: Ed King's beloved hand-drawn Chapel Hill Cartoon Map is now available digitally! In partnership with the original artist, we've brought this charming map—capturing every quirky corner and beloved business in our town—into the digital age.
Click to view the map online!
Until next time,
Be in the know!