Carrboro gets a deli

Husband-and-wife team Matt and Sheila Neal are opening Neal's Deli in the old Open Eye Cafe space at 100-C East Main St.

The establishment will be an "urban-style" deli, says Sheila Neal, former manager of the Carrboro farmer's market. She and her husband (son of legendary Crook's Corner founder Bill Neal) will make their own corned beef and pastrami for sandwiches, served with homemade pickles, sauerkraut, potato salad, Italian crumble cake and more.

Construction is well under way and the three-table deli is expected to open later this winter.

Cajun cookin'

Crawdaddy's Cajun Cafe has opened in the old Bandido's space at 302 E. Main St. in downtown Carrboro. Owner Tony Sustaita will serve up bayou standards like gumbo and jambalaya in a Mardi Gras-themed dining room complete with green, gold and purple beads strung from the chandeliers.

Nomadic Carpets flying off to Cary?

Nomadic Carpet Imports, which had recently taken over the old Riggsbee-Hinson Furniture Co. store at 311 E. Main St. in Carrboro, has up and moved. The space is empty and a sign on the window says the store has moved to 309 Academy St. in downtown Cary. A number on the sign led to a voicemail for Nomadic Carpet Imports.

Johnny's, v2.0

Longtime Carrboro bait-and-tackle shop Johnny's Sporting Goods at 901 W. Main St. has had a facelift. New owner Brian Plaster has turned the back room into a quirky convenience store/coffee shop, serving quick drip coffee, pastries and sundries, including local Farmer's Daughter-brand homemade preserves and sauerkraut, Chapel Hill Creamery cheeses and, like any convenience store worth its salt, Coca-Cola and Heinz ketchup. The store retains a retro vibe, with worn wooden floorboards and vintage Sunbeam bread signs. Plaster has had a "very soft" opening during the past several weeks, more items should be on the shelves soon.

Buy a Tiger band, help fight slavery

Local businesses are helping Chapel Hill High School students fight modern-day slavery.

To recognize Black History Month, the CHHS chapter of the National Honor Society is selling Tiger-patterned wristbands to raise money for the International Justice Mission, an organization that seeks justice for victims of modern-day slavery. The goal is to sell 1,000 IJM Tiger Bands and raise $1,000.

The idea was presented at the last meeting of the honor society by senior Chelsea James. With several students agreeing to help out, she began to put ideas into action.

During Christmas another group at the school sells paper strips to make links of a chain. Chelsea first thought that this would be a good idea; the chain could represent the chains of slavery. But she wanted to encourage students to buy the IJM Tiger Bands, so she bought wristbands with numbers to use as raffle tickets. Next she and her mother asked local businesses for donations.

On March 3, there will be a random drawing for prizes.