Carolina Alumni Review - November/December 2011

AROUND TOWN

Hector’s Returns —
Again

Come for the music; stay for the meal. The Thrill, a new nightclub that opened in September, has brought back Hector’s, the late-night eatery that first opened in 1969. Kyle Heath, who owns The Library and Jack Sprat Cafe on Franklin Street, and business partner Scott Campbell ’08 acted on the suggestion of brothers John and James Paliouras ’ 61, who own the Hector’s franchise, and made the legendary student hangout part of the club. The Paliourases own the building where The Thrill opened in September, below Bub O’Malley’s on Rosemary Street.

Hector’s first opened at the corner of East Franklin and Henderson streets. A fire closed Hector’s in 1991, but the resilient restaurant reopened one flight up in 1995, closed again some years later, reopened in 2006 at 108 Henderson St. and closed again the next year.

Hector’s has added chicken wings to its traditional menu of double cheeseburger pitas, tater tots, Greek grilled cheese sandwiches and chili dogs, prepared by Juan Bautista, chef of previous iterations of Hector’s.

The nightclub turns into a sports bar on Sundays, showing several NFL games on seven 55-inch TVs.

The Thrill at Hector’s, 157 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, (919) 960-5145

1973 YACKET Y YACK Limelight, and launched a green cleaning business, Conscious Cleaning.

But when the new owner of Limelight closed last spring, Fisher took over the space again and got back into retail fashion, without closing her housekeeping service.

Hector’s opened at East Franklin and Henderson streets in 1969. A fire closed it in 1991. It reopened one flight up in 1995, closed a few years later and reopened nearby in 2006. It closed again the next year and now has been resurrected on Rosemary Street as The Thrill at Hector’s.

The Dress Shop dresses sell for about $50 to $70, with cocktail dresses slightly more. She gears her designs to college women for daytime wear and sorority formals, and she carries some lines for their mothers to try on while their daughters shop.

She announces new arrivals on Facebook.

Fisher said she wants to give women a reason to shop locally instead of driving to regional malls, and with all dresses priced under $100, shoppers can have a boutique experience without overspending.

The Dress Shop, 402 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, (919) 960-5005

Tedesco’s offers free delivery of anything on its menu and handles catering for small and large groups off-site.

Tedesco’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, 1404 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill (919) 960-5055

Italian Restaurant Opens in
Former Mexican Space

Los Potrillos locked its little blue house near the corner of East Franklin Street and Estes Drive in July. Two months later, restaurateurs from South Florida unlocked it, opening Tedesco’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria. Albert Tedesco, who runs the bistro with his wife, Julie, said the kitchen “specializes in everything” — pizza and pasta, chicken and veal, steak and seafood, cannolis and tiramisu — and has a full bar.

The menu features northern and southern Italian cuisine. The sauces, soups and Italian dressing are homemade. For about $15, a diner can feast and still bring home leftovers.

Bread & Butter Bakery Sets Up
Shop Next to Greenbridge

Bread & Butter Bakery opened in September in what used to be an Asian market next to Greenbridge, selling fresh-baked bread, cookies and muffins, along with Counter Culture coffee drinks and specialty teas, and beer and wine.

The baked goods menu changes daily. The owner has reserved some parking spaces solely for customers. The cafe has free Wi-Fi.

Bread & Butter Bakery, 503 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, (919) 967-8818

Dress Shop Owner
Makes a Comeback

Hillary Fisher ’ 93 has returned to Franklin Street, this time with The Dress Shop. Some years back, Fisher sold her West Franklin Street clothing boutique,

One Indian Restaurant Closes,
Another Opens in Its Place

India Palace, a West Franklin Street tradition for 20 years, closed in August. After renovating to make the space more appealing to a younger crowd, Guru India opened in October, with tile floors, a refreshing green color scheme, a full bar and free Wi-Fi.

Chef-owner Narinder Singh closed both his restaurants in Greensboro before bringing his northern Indian recipes to Chapel Hill. He will offer different specials every week to encourage diners to try new dishes. UNC students receive a 15 percent discount.