Parker & Otis to have soft-opening on Friday

Good news, downtown foodies. Parker & Otis, the anticipated new store in the old Fowler's space, is opening its doors to the public this Friday, June 15.

P&O won't hold its official grand opening for a few weeks, but will be using the interim period as a soft-opening phase to get feedback from customers as to what's right and what's needed in the new store. The store will be open 7:30am to 7:00pm, though no word as to whether that's weekdays only or includes weekends. Some highlights of what's planned:

• Breakfast and lunch with a 20-item menu
• "Everyday" grocery staples items plus delicious candies
• Fine wines and beer
• A full-service coffee bar

Suggestion cards will be available throughout the store and feedback and likes/dislikes are encouraged.

Here's hoping for a big success for Jennings Brody and crew.

Comments

[Jill]

I really hope this reincarnation can survive. I've missed sitting on that porch with a few friends, some beers, cheeses and Zapps chips. We're going to try and swing by on Sunday to check it out. The suggestion cards are a great idea! Maybe Alivia's should have done that so it wouldn't be so snarky now.

[Chris]

I had lunch there on Tuesday and it was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. Also, the beer and wine selection will be so much better than what Fowlers ever had. I took a look at the beer and it was a awesome variety.

[mike]

So I just went by this place on my way home (i live downtown). I maybe should have had the sandwich that Chris said is good, but I didn't even have the stomach after walking around. I went in there mainly to buy a few grocercy basics, which is one of the things they advertised, like, milk, oj, eggs, fruits, veggies, yadayada and they had none. Now, this is understandable since they have just opened not to have these things. So then I went to look at some other grocery 'basics'. I saw some pasta sauce and realized that I needed this 'basic' thing and I cringed when I saw the cheapest one for a very small bottle is $8.50!! This place makes shopping at Whole Foods seem like buying stuff from Food Lion with food stamps. I of course left a note, but I do not have much hope for people who were wishing for something that while not a full service grocery, at least offered some basics at affordable prices.

[JDC]

Ahh, at last. I'm thrilled to have another coffee place closer to my place than Mad Hatter's (and a place to pick up some beers that isn't the Food Mart at Trinity and Washington). I'm about to head out and get a cup - full report when I return.

[Claire]

Had a wonderful mozz & tomato sandwich at Parker & Otis today. Thought this place had a great vibe - look forward to many more lunches.Staff was very enthusiastic as well. The porch is still awesome.
BTW - I also noticed the $8 pasta sauce in what seemed to be the gourmet food section. I walked the aisles of the other pantry items back by the wine and that seemed to be very affordable - even had some less expensive pasta sauces. There were 2 seperate dry good areas so perhaps 1 section is more gourmet items and the other geared toward everyday. Maybe a sign would be a good idea.

[mike]

thanks Claire! I hope it was I who was mistaken, and that they do have more affordable stuff. I will check it out again.

[JDC]

The grocery area is certainly an upgrade over Fowlers. Lots of pasta, preserves, rice, beans, and a great BBQ sauce selection - I even noticed they've got Durham Bulls BBQ sauce (which, upon further review has the same recipe as Jim's Homemade sauce). Still, the prices are a bit higher than what you'd find at Whole Foods, but I suppose that's the price you pay for convenience. If you ever go in there with a hankerin' for anything besides coffee, I recommend the Boylan grape soda. A+.

[Chris]

I also noticed the beer selection was cheaper than most places in town. Other than Sam's, its the only place you can build your own 6-packs!

[Jill]

We had lunch here yesterday for Father's Day & thought it was really good. The shrimp BLT and turkey club w/avocado were delicious. The beer selection was pretty good, but they may want to get a cooler/chiller thing since they've only got one block of refrigerators. The space itself looks a lot better without so much stuff crammed in there.

[Chris]

Jill,
I bought a bottle of wine on Saturday and they had a bottle chiller that chilled it within minutes. What a cool invention!!!

[Jill]

Ahhh, ok. That must have been in the spot we didn't investigate. Thanks for the info!

[Carol]

Re: Build your own 6-pack. You can do this at World Market also. I recently discovered this web site. I love it.

[Tam]

From everyone's comments so far, it sounds like Parker & Otis is a lot like Fowler's was before the last set of owners. Glad to hear that it's back in this new incarnation.

[Sarah Bish]

Hey Everyone!

I've never posted to this blog before, but I too am always glad to hear about new businesses (esp. food related) opening in Durham... as a resident, local business supporter, and Durham-enthusiast!!

*AND* strictly as a fellow Durham-inhabitant, I wanted to also mention that Joe Van Gogh just opened on Broad St and ya'll should check it out! Joe Van Gogh is the same company as Cup a Joe in Chapel Hill/Hillsborough... (and yes, I admittedly work there-- I hope it's okay that I'm posting). We're excited to be among many other great locally-owned businesses here.

Also... I am a huge supporter (and happen to be a Board member, yes) of the one and only Durham Food Co-op, so while we're chattin' about the local biz's ... just thought I'd mention that I highly recommend visiting the co-op for some really great produce and local dairy products, too!!!!!!! :) yay!

Cheers,
Sarah

[J. Boi]

Saturday morning I enjoyed a lovely brunch outdoors. Where else can one do this in Durham! A couple friends had bragged on this nice morning spot downtown. I had an equally wonderful experience, and, highly recommend you visit...as you can read below in much detail (as it seems I am practicing to be some kind of restaurant reviewer), OR skip ahead to other, shorter yet interesting comments by many previous customers!).

Thank you Parker & Otis! Especially for the shade!!!

First I ordered Special #5 at the counter. The staff person took my nickname, I perused part of the store, and the food was ready and on its way to be delivered before I had even found my seat (less than 10-minutes)! That is a miracle given some breakfast spots in the Triangle!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my scrambled eggs mixed with tasty cheese and asparagus (not dried out & not soupy, just perfectly moist). The meal included a side of perfectly toasted sourdough, and, fresh fruit that was actually edible and tasted delicious (not just a garnish, but, fresh grapes, strawberry sliced, and an orange section).

This breakfast & re-fillable coffee put me at $9.06 total. Not bad, and, I think there were some lesser priced meals, but, I like my cheese for some protein.

THE PANCAKES LOOKED OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! wow!!!!! Totally fresh, with toppings. The presentation was picturesque! Definitely going back for a pile of those!!!

Ideally I would enjoy having 1-2 options that totaled $6 w/drink (eg, a hearty protein meal such as hash/2-eggs/toast, or, breakfast grilled cheese w/small bean soup). But, not sure if that is possible as I am not in the restaurant business (if so, I could eat there every weekend!).

The staff were VERY warm, kind, chilled out & offered quality customer service. The owner seemed particularly open to meeting folks who were milling about while simultaneously working AT LEAST as hard as the rest of the team; and, I appreciated the effort to get to know me as a potential REPEAT customer.

To note, as I had explored this old formerly fowler's stomping ground, I found a few new sites. For instance, I had noticed a Fabulous Photo of Otis in his dress whites! And, believe you will get a terrific chuckle when you check this out for yourself!

The specialty store area (duke street side) reminded me of Fowler's in that it carried many international foods, condiments, sauces, snacks that are high-end in price (and rarely found for less elsewhere), but, I did notice an excellent fresh candy value in the middle of establishment that were affordable (as you can build your own bag).

Be aware, CANDY IS LESS PRICEY THAN IT SEEMS (as long as you just get some to eat there). It runs $7.99/lb (or 6.99, cant recall), but, I selected enough to nibble on for a lovely snack and it ONLY COST ME ABOUT $1.40 for some gummi-candies, licorice, and old fashioned sweets (all the same price so you can easily put into one scoop-your-own bag). And, for those in a hurry, they have nice SMALL theater-sized bags of pre-scooped candy to pick up (that are certainly less than a full pound).

But getting back to the specialty store items ... the owner seemed open to suggestions about new items, and, the staff on that side were equally friendly and curious about my experience of the food and service. I appreciated the attention and have high hopes for this neighborhood establishment.

There are a couple refrigerated sections. One with antipasta type items and another with fresh eggs, milk, and real ice cream with numerous & unique flavors are stocked from a family farm that does not use antibiotics or hormones. So, looking forward to trying those (saves me a trip to the grocer for these basics). They even had brochures of this farm business that seemed supportive of north carolina businesses.

Those stopping simply for a cold drink (with or without spirits) can find lots of chips and little bags of snacks all over the store. The inside and outside area felt spacious (not too crowded or cluttered). For those who need or want to stay cool, there are plenty of indoor tables on the Duke Street side, and, they even serve a glass of wine for $4.50.

Speaking of spirits, the store's wine and beer selection was vast; and, apparently, you can build your own-6pak. That would be great for taste-testing unusual brands with a group of friends!

On my way out I also picked up a bar of international chocolate that i would have had to pay more for elsewhere. They had lots of the quality kind the People's Pharmacy suggests (for flavenoids that assist in lowering blood pressure; see www.peoplespharmacy.org)

And, speaking of lowering blood pressure...all the staff I had met seemed down to earth and not arrogant. The brown tee-shirts they wear keep things simple (and have 1-2 words on them which almost makes me feel like life is simpler: local, eggs, beer, coffee, deviled eggs, et al).

Several times I noticed employees helped one another in kind ways even while moving quickly to help customers. THAT is ALWAYS a great sign!!! How staff treat one another seems indicative of how they might also be treated, trained, and supported in doing their job!!!

Both staff and customers seemed racially/ethnically diverse, and, those are the places I prefer to frequent since I am white and half my friends identify as Black from various countries, African American, Latino/a y Hispano/a, and of Asian descent. It really does matter that everyone feels welcome, respected, and can relax.

In terms of coffee, I try to keep up on what is communally/globally supportive versus exploitive and noticed they carry their own brand plus the counter culture coffee (you can purchase packs to take home). Generally I am not a coffee drinker, but, did notice the staff this morning were particularly adept at those fancy coffee machines!

Well, I am looking forward to next time meeting up with friends for a nice, pleasant and relaxing weekend time in either my shorts/jeans & tee, or some night after work in my own dress whites! Either way I will fit in and certainly have a good time!

Best to you Parker & Otis!!!