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| Old West Durham —Image of The Common Market |
Old West Durham Walk: The Common Market, Parlour (Junior), and Local Finds on Hillsborough Road
On a 78-degree, overcast January day, I walked Old West Durham and finally stopped into a few Hillsborough Road spots I’ve driven past for years—proof that parking and walking change what you notice.
January 10 in Durham: the kind of “winter” day that makes you walk and explore.
Today had big “North Carolina winter refuses to commit” energy—warm, gray skies, and weirdly perfect for being out in the world.
It was also one of those days where work and life blended in the best way:
I met with past clients, and we had the kind of real conversation people have when listing starts to feel real: timing, prep, what matters, what doesn’t, and the emotional part nobody puts on the checklist.
I talked with a new first-time buyer, which always reminds me how brave it is to start—especially when you’re trying to make a smart decision in a market that doesn’t exactly hand you a user manual.
And then I got to do my favorite kind of reset: a walk-and-catch-up with a friend who lives nearby… and the funny part is, even though she lives close, we both realized we’ve been guilty of the same thing—driving past places for years and never walking in.
Walking fixes that.
Old West Durham, Durham, NC: history you can feel on a sidewalk
Old West Durham is one of Durham’s older neighborhoods and was once known as Pin Hook, a small settlement that existed before Durham became the railroad town we know today. For more details on the history, go to Old West Durham.
It’s the kind of area where you notice the details when you slow down: older streets, mature trees, front porches that look like they’ve hosted actual conversations, and houses that feel like they’ve been paying attention for a while. (If you’ve ever wondered why some neighborhoods feel instantly “lived-in,” it’s not magic. It’s sidewalks + porches + time.)
Where we stopped in Old West Durham (Hillsborough Road area)
The Common Market (finally!)
I have driven past The Common Market on more occasions than I’m comfortable admitting. Today I actually went in like a responsible adult who lives in Durham. It’s a deli + coffee bar + bar + market kind of place—built to feel like a neighborhood living room, not a quick errand. Loved the option for indoor and outdoor seating. I had green tea. The service was nice.
The Parlour Junior (local favorite, walk-up window) 
Tucked right at The Common Market is The Parlour Junior, a walk-up scoop window serving a smaller menu—scoops, shakes, toppings—and it’s absolutely one of those places that turns a “quick walk” into “we should get ice cream because it would be rude not to.”
Quickly Tea House (boba mission, activated) 
Another spot I’ve driven by forever: Quickly Tea House. It’s locally owned, and their site literally calls it “Durham’s Original Boba Tea Shop,” which made me feel both excited and slightly behind schedule. I'll be back.
Cocoa Cinnamon (always a crowd-pleaser)
I also have a soft spot for Cocoa Cinnamon, and it’s worth noting there are three Cocoa Cinnamon coffee shops in Durham—reliably good, reliably busy, and perfect when you want a meet-up location that won’t disappoint. I started my day with meetings at the Geer Street location.
Smitten Boutique (style + humor, in the best way) 
Adding Smitten Boutique to the list because it’s one of those places that keeps Hillsborough Rd feeling like Hillsborough Rd: women’s boutique, gifts, and an unmistakably local personality.
Tiny (because “I’m just looking” is a lie), I didn't capture a shot because I was so tempted to play.
And while we’re talking about local favorites: Tiny on Ninth Street is a classic—kids’ boutique, gifts, and the kind of place you pop into for “one thing” and leave with three things you didn’t know you needed.
Trent & Hill (plus my “what used to be here?” mystery) 
We passed Trent & Hill, too—an event venue right there on Hillsborough Rd. I cannot remember which restaurant used to be in that spot, but I remember it was good, which is both helpful and completely unhelpful. If you know what it was, tell me.
Coming soon in Old West Durham: Hops & Flower and Jean’s By the Sea
Two new openings I’m watching:
Hops & Flower
Hops & Flower is a modern neighborhood bodega concept planned for 2014 Hillsborough Road (next to Vin Rouge). The folks behind Luna are opening it, and, side note: if you have not tried the Peruvian chicken and spicy bacon collards at Luna, add them to your list. I need to try more of their menu, but I always go back to the same things.
Jean’s By the Sea 
Jean’s By the Sea (formerly the Wimpy's Grill space) is calling itself a neighborhood fish shack, opening in 2026 at 617 Hicks Street in Durham.
I fully plan to check it out when it opens—purely for professional neighborhood research, obviously.
The real point of the day: walking shows you what driving hides
Here’s what I keep learning (and re-learning): you notice more on foot than you ever will driving by.
Walking shows you:
how the neighborhood moves (quiet? social? dog-walk central?)
where people gather
the porch life, the sidewalk life, the “oh wow, I’ve never seen that before” life
Walking a neighborhood tells you what a drive-by never can—the pace, the porch life, and the everyday details you miss when you’re just passing through. It’s also why I always encourage buyers (and future sellers) to slow down and really feel an area before making big decisions.
And honestly, it makes me better at my job. Because a home isn’t just the house—it’s how you live around it.
Your turn
Quick question: What’s one Durham spot you’ve driven past forever but still haven’t tried? Where should I explore next in the city I love and call home?
