Hello Friday.
April 26 2024
When you’re grabbing dinner on your way home from work, do you stop by a fast food chain, or an independent restaurant? How easy is it to “eat local” in Raleigh?
We took a look at the Restaurant Chaininess Map (made by a lab in Georgia Tech’s Center for Spatial Analysis and Visualization) to see how many restaurants in Raleigh were considered chains.
Raleigh's chaininess map | Screenshot of the Restaurant Chaininess Map via Georgia Tech
The map scores places based on the number of other restaurants that share their name in the US — so if we opened a restaurant called RALtoday, we would have a score of 1, while McDonald’s has a chaininess score of over 10,000.
On the map, the darker red dots are chains + the yellow dots are independent restaurants.
When you search for Raleigh (by using the box in the bottom left), the map zooms to the greater Raleigh metro. It gives the total number of restaurants pictured in this area + their average chaininess score — 2,435 restaurants, with a chaininess score of 1,378.
So is that score high or low? Let’s compare. Raleigh’s NC neighbor, Charlotte, has a chaininess score of 1,186 out of 2,533 restaurants. Pretty similar. If you go up north to somewhere like Boston, the scores start getting smaller — 615 out of 7,737 restaurants.
We also looked at the numbers of a few fast food chains in Raleigh, and McDonald’s appears to have the most locations in the capital city, with nearly 30 restaurants.
Wendy’s was a close contender at 12, Bojangles had 10 locations, and Cookout had 5.
When looking at the map, chain restaurants in Raleigh tend to be clustered around areas like Hillsborough Street + Capital Boulevard, while Downtown appears to have more independent restaurants.
Use the buttons below to share this story with your BFFs, your neighbors, and anyone else
who loves learning about our city.
Do you want to see more independent restaurants in Raleigh?
We would love to hear your opinion on the topic.
- Yes, I love supporting local
- No, give me a Big Mac
Today
- Jazz in the Square | Thurs., Sept. 16 | 6–8 p.m. | Moore Square | Free | Local artist Al Strong is joining the stage with his unique jazz stylings. 🎷
- SAGE Thursday Morning Drop-In | Thurs., Sept. 16 | 10–11:30 a.m. | Virtual | Free | SAGE — an advocacy & service organization for the LGBT senior community — is hosting morning coffee with the LGBT Center of Raleigh. ☕️
Friday
- Bee Downtown Scavenger Hunt | Fri., Sept. 17 | 5–7 p.m. | NCMA | Free | The museum is partnering with Bee Downtown to host a scavenger hunt around the park. 🐝
- Peach Road Open House | Fri., Sept. 17 | 5:30–8 p.m. | Peach Road Park, 911 Ileagnes Rd. | Free | The community is invited to the opening of the park’s cultural center with plenty of games, music, food + activities.
- The Best of North Hills | Fri., Sept. 17 | 5–9 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, 4011 Cardinal at N. Hills St. | $10 | The Best of North Hills has returned with their comeback series filled with live music by The Breakfast Club, events + drinks. 🎶
Sunday
- Moore Square Market | Sun., Sept. 19 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Moore Square | Free | You can find farm-fresh produce, baked goods, art, live music + handmade items at the market every Sunday. 🛍️
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Photo provided by WiseBread
Have good credit and looking for better bonuses? Here are some of the easiest credit card bonuses we’ve seen — plus perks like high, ongoing cash back rates, like 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases, or up to 3% cash back on online shopping, home improvement, dining, or other categories. Plus no annual fee and 0% interest for 15 months. Ⓟ
Weather
- 86º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Coming Soon
- A new nightlife venue named Zenith Raleigh is set to open in the former Coglin's space at 226 Fayetteville St. The spot will open in early October + will feature an array of throwback tunes. 🎶 (Triangle Business Journal)
Civic
- The city of Raleigh is asking for feedback on the draft of the Greenway Master Plan. The new plan will be the first update to the greenway plan since 1989 + aims to improve existing greenway conditions. Review the draft plan and provide input by Mon., Sept. 27. 🌳
Development
- Charlotte-based developer White Point announced its plans to build a mixed-use development at Hub RTP (located near the intersection of NC 54 and Davis Dr.). The 125,000 sqft development, called Horseshoe at Hub RTP, will include office and retail space + is slated for completion in the second half of 2023. (The News & Observer)
Ranked
- NC State ranked No. 4 and WakeMed ranked No. 7 among the 100 NC businesses on Forbes’ new report. The report features 1,300+ companies and identifies the best employers in each state — as determined by an independent survey. 💻
Drink
- Carpenter Wine Cellar recently opened its doors at 3735 Davis Dr. in Morrisville. The spot offers a variety of wines and craft beer + is hosting a grand opening celebration — featuring local food trucks, live music, and wine and beer tastings — on Sept. 24-25. 🍻
Show
- Guess who’s heading down south to the land of the pines — Old Crow Medicine Show is coming to the Carolina Theatre in Downtown Durham. Fans can watch the band perform live at the theater on Thurs., Dec. 2 and Fri., Dec. 3. Tickets are on sale for $49+.
List
- Need to wine down? VisitRaleigh put together a list of the best bars and restaurants for a glass of wine in the Raleigh-area, including Vita Vite, Barcelona Wine Bar + Uninhibited Tapas. So, whether you can’t tell the difference between pinot grigio and pinot noir or are a self-proclaimed wine aficionado, cheers! 🍷
- Although it may be over 80 degrees out, fall is right around the corner — and we are preparing to make the most out of the spooky season. WRAL has compiled a list of ~60 ways to celebrate fall, including pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and more. Happy haunting. 🎃
Outdoors
- There’s a new trail to enjoy at Dorothea Dix Park. The .25-mile trail was built by the Youth Conservation Corps at Dix Park this summer. Find the trail by Flowers Field. Pro tip: Look for the wooden footbridge at the edge of the woods.
Today Is
- National Guacamole Day. You could whip up your own, but if you avo-ca-don’t have the time, you can snag a freshly made batch from Lowes Foods. 🥑 Ⓟ
Stat
- 55%. The discount that language learning app Babbel is offering for a limited time, so subscribers can discover new worlds through language in as little as 3 weeks. Learn more + snag the deal. 🌏 Ⓟ
Correction
- In yesterday’s newsletter, we stated that it was the first day of Yom Kippur — that was incorrect. Yom Kippur is 1 holy day that began at sunset yesterday, Sept. 15 and ends at sundown tonight. The candle that is lit is called a Yahrzeit candle, not a shabbat candle.
Got a sweet tooth? Vida Dulce serves up a variety of Mexican sweet treats + snacks — including this mouth-watering churro funnel cake sundae.
Located at 836 E. Chatham St in Cary and 1018-E Shoppes At Midway Dr. in Knightdale, Vida Dulce offers 28 ice cream flavors and 60+ popsicle flavors. Pro tip: They also have dairy-free options.
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Just use #RALtoday on social media.
RAL current: Carly is looking forward to the Raleigh Night Market tonight + Laura is ordering this drink from Sir Walter Coffee.
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
✏️️ Want to write an article for us? Find out how here.
👀 Want your business featured in our newsletter? Learn more about advertising opportunities here.
📖 Check out our Editorial Ethics Policy here.
Did a friend forward this to you?
It can be in your inbox tomorrow a.m.
|
