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The District

The area around Durham Central Park is experiencing a rebirth as a center for recreational activities, art studios, and small businesses. Here are some of the establishments that give the district its unique character. Some of the establishments included on this page are technically outside the boundaries of our district, but we have included them because they are geographically close by and are within easy walking distance of the park. Keep an eye on this page -- we'll be adding other places and faces!

Special Thanks

Sean Colmen, a rising Junior at Durham School of the Arts for the 2003-2004 school year, compiled information for this page as an internship project for the Summer Institute at Durham Academy.

Click a thumbnail below to view the full-size photo.
Establishments on Washington/Morris:

Accent Hardwood Flooring Measurement Inc. Historic Durham Athletic Park

City Place Burke Little & Associates Stone Bros. & Byrd

Establishments on Foster Street, south of Corporation Street:

Business: The Clay Studio
Director: Susan Grossman, Clay and Sculpture Studios Artist Coordinator
Service: A division of the Durham Arts Council, the Clay Studio offers pottery classes for kids as well as adults. Durham Arts Council, Inc., promotes excellence and access in the creation, experience and active support of the arts for all the people of our community.
Location: 546 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 560-2716 –or- www.durhamarts.org
Extra Information: Though the Clay Studio is in a different location from the Durham Arts Council building on Morris Street, it is still part of the same organization. The Durham Arts Council is providing local administration of Durham County’s project to create a Cultural Master Plan for the community.

Business: Serenex
Owner/Head: Privately held company backed by venture capital
Service: Serenex began operations in mid-2001 to improve the quality and efficiency of drug discovery and development.
Location: 323 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 281-6002 –or- www.serenex.com
Extra Information: Serenex was incorporated in December of 2002 and became operational in July of 2001. The company moved to its current location in the Triangle Biotechnology Center during January of 2002.

Business: Downtown Durham YMCA
Owner/Head: YMCA of the Triangle
Services: The YMCA emphasizes the development of the whole person -- spirit, mind and body. The YMCA offers: youth and adult sports; wellness services; membership; aquatics; and group fitness.
Location: 215 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 667-9622 –or- www.ymcatriangle.org
Extra Information: This branch of the YMCA was opened in 1998.

Business: The Scrap Exchange
Director: Faye Miller
Service(s): The Scrap Exchange is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that collects clean, reusable industrial discards for creative reuse. The mission of The Scrap Exchange is to promote artistic creativity and strengthen community and environmental awareness by providing opportunities for children of all ages (2 to 100 years old) to produce art and other useful things from discarded materials that have been salvaged and transformed. They offer a wide variety of workshops and activities, both at the store and at other locations.
Location: 548 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 688-6960 –or- www.scrapexchange.org
Extra Information: Regular Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 11-5, Thursday 11-6, Saturday 10-5, closed Sunday -- but can be booked for birthday parties and workshops 7 days per week!

Business: ARP Design Studio
Owner/Head: Andrew Preiss
Service: Custom metalwork for the public.
Location: 540 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 682-7307
Extra Information: Andrew Preiss started this business after graduating from Duke University with an art degree in 1991. Today, he is capable of doing any custom job that the mind can conjure up. Andrew makes sculpture, garden gates and interior architectural and functional pieces, such as lamps and chairs, all in metals.
ALSO: Jim Alexander, another metalsmith, works in the same location. Having worked all of his life in the profession, his vast skill allows him to complete even the most complicated of jobs; "People come to me when no one else will do it." He does general work like handrails but also does a variety of other custom work. Jim’s number is (919) 302-1401.

Business: Fuller Resume and Typing
Owner/Head(s): Anne M. and Helen A. Fuller
Services: The Fullers construct resumes from scratch for students as well as other businesses; any other general typing. They also write newsletters for civics groups and assist with sorting and labeling of mass mailings.
Location: 593 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to call: (919) 530-8320
Extra Information: The Fullers were employed as writers at Duke for a few years until they decided to start their own business.

Business: The Axent/C.N. Clark Company
Director: E.L. (Denny) Clark
Location: 539 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 956-5331

Women-in-Action photo coming soon...
Business: Women-in-Action
Director: Grace Marsh
Services: They offer support groups for women as well as training and conflict management (including mediation). "It is the mission of Women-in-Action to become a community leader that improves human relations and the quality of life by providing and encouraging programs that help break the cycles of violence and poverty, increase self-sufficiency, and promote cultural diversity and competency."
Location: 539 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 682-1431 -or- wiaa@earthlink.net
Extra Information: Women-in-Action is also a clearinghouse that provides information about community resources such as shelters, food banks, etc. Elna B. Spaulding founded this organization in 1968.

Establishments on Foster Street, north of Geer Street:

Business: Claymakers
Owner/Head: Leonora Coleman
Service: They offer clay, clay supplies and tools, equipment, classes for young and old, and studio rentals. They also have a retail gallery featuring locally-made pottery.
Location: 705 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 530-8355 –or- www.claymakers.com
Extra Information: Leonora Coleman started this business in 2000 after working with clay for many years. Starting this business had always been a dream of hers. "Come see us!" – Leonora Coleman.

Business: The Central Park School for Children
School Director: Carolyn Kirkland
Services: The Central Park School for Children is a free public charter school that is committed to nurturing and guiding the natural eagerness of each child to explore, grow, and relate to others. It is unique among public elementary schools in Durham because of its child-centered educational philosophy.
Location: 724 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 682-1200 –or- www.centralparkschoolforchildren.org
Extra Information: The school first opened on July 14, 2003. It follows the year-round calendar used by some of the schools in the Durham Public School system.

Business: King’s Sandwich Shop
Services: They sell hamburgers, hotdogs, lemonade, salmon biscuits, and other tasty treats.
Location: 701 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 682-0071
Extra Information: Their hours of operation are 7 am to 5:30 pm M-F and 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.

Business: Manbites Dog Theater
Managing Director: Edward Hunt
Service: Produces new and challenge theatrical events and also supports developing artists, directors, actors, and playwrights.
Location: 703 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 220-6779 -or- www.manbitesdogtheater.org
Extra Information: They’re a non-profit organization. They opened in 1998 to the public as a permanent business. In the last 17 seasons, they have based more than 50 productions.

Establishments along Foster Street, north of Corporation Street:

Business: Acme Plumbing & Heating Co./Switzerland Air
Owner/Head(s): Larry and Lee Ann Tilley
Service(s): Plumbing contracting, both residential and commercial. This is also the home of Switzerland Air, which only serves residential customers.
Location: 636 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 688-1348 –or- www.acmeplumbing.com
Extra Information: ACME Plumbing is a family-owned business that started in 1947 as a one-man shop. Their guarantee states that "My Plumber Will Smell Good And Show Up On Time Or I'll Pay You!"™.

Business: Nu-Tread Tire
Owner/Head: Michael Ray
Service(s): Tires, AC service, general auto maintenance. The business specializes in truck repair and maintenance.
Location: 601 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 682-5795
Extra Information: The business was started in 1937 and was bought by a member of the Ray family in the early 1940s. The business has been run by the Ray family ever since.

Business: Ellen Cassilly Architect
Owner/Head: Ellen Cassilly
Services: Ellen and her colleagues (Sasha Berhausen, Joe Paradis, and Anna Wirth) focus on creating projects that contribute to vibrant urban neighborhoods that minimize sprawl, preserve natural open spaces and attract lifelong residents. Their design work includes renovation, new construction, adaptive reuse (upfitting older buildings for new uses), and urban infill (new building design that compliments surrounding architecture).
Location: 600 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 530-1149 -or- www.ellencassillyarchitect.com
Extra Information: Ellen converted the old Coman's Lumber building at Foster and Corporation Streets into her own studio and rents spaces to others as well.

Establishments on Hunt Street:

Business: Vega Metals/Cricket Forge
Owner/Head: Francis and Cindy Vega
Services: Vega Metals is a collaborative team of metal designers and artist blacksmiths. They design, produce and install private and commercial projects in forged steel, broze, copper, stainless steel and aluminum. A second company, Cricket Forge, produces Butterfly Benches and other home and garden ornamentation.
Location: 218 Hunt Street, Durham, NC 27701
Number to Call: (919) 680-3513 -or- www.cricketforge.com

Click a thumbnail below to view the full-size photo. Establishments on Washington/Morris:

Accent Hardwood Flooring	Measurement Inc.	Historic Durham Athletic Park

City Place	Burke Little & Associates	Stone Bros. & Byrd

Establishments on Foster Street, south of Corporation Street:
	Business: The Clay Studio Director: Susan Grossman, Clay and Sculpture Studios Artist Coordinator Service: A division of the Durham Arts Council, the Clay Studio offers pottery classes for kids as well as adults. Durham Arts Council, Inc., promotes excellence and access in the creation, experience and active support of the arts for all the people of our community. Location: 546 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 560-2716 –or- www.durhamarts.org Extra Information: Though the Clay Studio is in a different location from the Durham Arts Council building on Morris Street, it is still part of the same organization. The Durham Arts Council is providing local administration of Durham County’s project to create a Cultural Master Plan for the community.
	Business: Serenex Owner/Head: Privately held company backed by venture capital Service: Serenex began operations in mid-2001 to improve the quality and efficiency of drug discovery and development. Location: 323 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 281-6002 –or- www.serenex.com Extra Information: Serenex was incorporated in December of 2002 and became operational in July of 2001. The company moved to its current location in the Triangle Biotechnology Center during January of 2002.
	Business: Downtown Durham YMCA Owner/Head: YMCA of the Triangle Services: The YMCA emphasizes the development of the whole person -- spirit, mind and body. The YMCA offers: youth and adult sports; wellness services; membership; aquatics; and group fitness. Location: 215 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 667-9622 –or- www.ymcatriangle.org Extra Information: This branch of the YMCA was opened in 1998.
	Business: The Scrap Exchange Director: Faye Miller Service(s): The Scrap Exchange is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that collects clean, reusable industrial discards for creative reuse. The mission of The Scrap Exchange is to promote artistic creativity and strengthen community and environmental awareness by providing opportunities for children of all ages (2 to 100 years old) to produce art and other useful things from discarded materials that have been salvaged and transformed. They offer a wide variety of workshops and activities, both at the store and at other locations. Location: 548 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 688-6960 –or- www.scrapexchange.org Extra Information: Regular Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 11-5, Thursday 11-6, Saturday 10-5, closed Sunday -- but can be booked for birthday parties and workshops 7 days per week!
	Business: ARP Design Studio Owner/Head: Andrew Preiss Service: Custom metalwork for the public. Location: 540 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 682-7307 Extra Information: Andrew Preiss started this business after graduating from Duke University with an art degree in 1991. Today, he is capable of doing any custom job that the mind can conjure up. Andrew makes sculpture, garden gates and interior architectural and functional pieces, such as lamps and chairs, all in metals. ALSO: Jim Alexander, another metalsmith, works in the same location. Having worked all of his life in the profession, his vast skill allows him to complete even the most complicated of jobs; "People come to me when no one else will do it." He does general work like handrails but also does a variety of other custom work. Jim’s number is (919) 302-1401.
	Business: Fuller Resume and Typing Owner/Head(s): Anne M. and Helen A. Fuller Services: The Fullers construct resumes from scratch for students as well as other businesses; any other general typing. They also write newsletters for civics groups and assist with sorting and labeling of mass mailings. Location: 593 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to call: (919) 530-8320 Extra Information: The Fullers were employed as writers at Duke for a few years until they decided to start their own business.
	Business: The Axent/C.N. Clark Company Director: E.L. (Denny) Clark Location: 539 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 956-5331
Women-in-Action photo coming soon...	Business: Women-in-Action Director: Grace Marsh Services: They offer support groups for women as well as training and conflict management (including mediation). "It is the mission of Women-in-Action to become a community leader that improves human relations and the quality of life by providing and encouraging programs that help break the cycles of violence and poverty, increase self-sufficiency, and promote cultural diversity and competency." Location: 539 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 682-1431 -or- wiaa@earthlink.net Extra Information: Women-in-Action is also a clearinghouse that provides information about community resources such as shelters, food banks, etc. Elna B. Spaulding founded this organization in 1968.

Establishments on Foster Street, north of Geer Street:
	Business: Claymakers Owner/Head: Leonora Coleman Service: They offer clay, clay supplies and tools, equipment, classes for young and old, and studio rentals. They also have a retail gallery featuring locally-made pottery. Location: 705 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 530-8355 –or- www.claymakers.com Extra Information: Leonora Coleman started this business in 2000 after working with clay for many years. Starting this business had always been a dream of hers. "Come see us!" – Leonora Coleman.
	Business: The Central Park School for Children School Director: Carolyn Kirkland Services: The Central Park School for Children is a free public charter school that is committed to nurturing and guiding the natural eagerness of each child to explore, grow, and relate to others. It is unique among public elementary schools in Durham because of its child-centered educational philosophy. Location: 724 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 682-1200 –or- www.centralparkschoolforchildren.org Extra Information: The school first opened on July 14, 2003. It follows the year-round calendar used by some of the schools in the Durham Public School system.
	Business: King’s Sandwich Shop Services: They sell hamburgers, hotdogs, lemonade, salmon biscuits, and other tasty treats. Location: 701 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 682-0071 Extra Information: Their hours of operation are 7 am to 5:30 pm M-F and 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.
	Business: Manbites Dog Theater Managing Director: Edward Hunt Service: Produces new and challenge theatrical events and also supports developing artists, directors, actors, and playwrights. Location: 703 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 220-6779 -or- www.manbitesdogtheater.org Extra Information: They’re a non-profit organization. They opened in 1998 to the public as a permanent business. In the last 17 seasons, they have based more than 50 productions.

Establishments along Foster Street, north of Corporation Street:
	Business: Acme Plumbing & Heating Co./Switzerland Air Owner/Head(s): Larry and Lee Ann Tilley Service(s): Plumbing contracting, both residential and commercial. This is also the home of Switzerland Air, which only serves residential customers. Location: 636 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 688-1348 –or- www.acmeplumbing.com Extra Information: ACME Plumbing is a family-owned business that started in 1947 as a one-man shop. Their guarantee states that "My Plumber Will Smell Good And Show Up On Time Or I'll Pay You!"™.
	Business: Nu-Tread Tire Owner/Head: Michael Ray Service(s): Tires, AC service, general auto maintenance. The business specializes in truck repair and maintenance. Location: 601 Foster St., Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 682-5795 Extra Information: The business was started in 1937 and was bought by a member of the Ray family in the early 1940s. The business has been run by the Ray family ever since.
	Business: Ellen Cassilly Architect Owner/Head: Ellen Cassilly Services: Ellen and her colleagues (Sasha Berhausen, Joe Paradis, and Anna Wirth) focus on creating projects that contribute to vibrant urban neighborhoods that minimize sprawl, preserve natural open spaces and attract lifelong residents. Their design work includes renovation, new construction, adaptive reuse (upfitting older buildings for new uses), and urban infill (new building design that compliments surrounding architecture). Location: 600 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701 Number to Call: (919) 530-1149 -or- www.ellencassillyarchitect.com Extra Information: Ellen converted the old Coman's Lumber building at Foster and Corporation Streets into her own studio and rents spaces to others as well.