Good afternoon, Raleigh. Why is it so cheap to throw a party at a haunted house?

Because the ghosts bring all the boos. 👻

In today’s Raleigh Rundown:

Let’s get to it. 🏃‍♂️

UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University may raise tuition for in-state undergraduates for the first time in almost ten years. Each university’s board of trustees will review proposals this week to increase tuition starting with students enrolling in fall 2026. The potential hikes come after years of frozen rates as universities face inflation, federal funding cuts, and uncertainty in the state budget.

The UNC System Board of Governors recently approved allowing up to a 3 percent increase for resident undergraduates to help maintain quality and meet growing costs. At UNC-Chapel Hill, that would raise tuition by about $211 per year, while N.C. State’s proposal would generate roughly $7.8 million to support academic and mental health resources.

Charleston favorite Lewis Barbecue is expanding to Raleigh, opening next year at Grubb Ventures’ Salvage Yard near Raleigh Iron Works on Atlantic Avenue. The restaurant, led by founder and pitmaster John Lewis, was recently recognized in the Michelin Guide’s inaugural American South edition, joining local spots Sam Jones BBQ and Prime Barbecue as Bib Gourmand recipients.

The new 8,000-square-foot space will include a dedicated smokehouse and serve classics like brisket, pork ribs, and housemade sausage with sides such as cowboy beans and green chile corn pudding. Lewis, who helped open Franklin Barbecue in Austin, says the Salvage Yard location reflects his passion for craftsmanship and community.

A trio of fast-food chains with humble beginnings and big plans are staking out spots in Midtown Raleigh. Guthrie’s, a chicken-fingers restaurant founded in 1965 in Alabama, is opening at the site of a former car wash, while a new Whataburger is under construction across the street where an Applebee’s once stood.

Around the corner, Andy’s Frozen Custard has opened a new shop on Six Forks Road, replacing a former Burger King. The surge of national brands highlights the growing appeal of the corridor between North Hills and Midtown East. Decades ago, that same stretch hosted one of Raleigh’s first Hardee’s locations, selling 15-cent hamburgers where a car wash now stands.

A new cultural hub is opening soon on Fayetteville Street. The Newsagent’s, created by Neetzan Zimmerman and his wife Yulia Shamis, will soft-open this month in the Mahler Building downtown. The 3,200-square-foot shop will combine a coffee bar with books, magazines, vinyl records, and collectibles.

Zimmerman, a former Gawker editor, hopes the store’s curated selection and community feel will draw more creative businesses to the city’s core. Along with retail and coffee, The Newsagent’s plans to host events such as author talks and film screenings to foster connection in an increasingly digital world.

The beginnings of Cameron Village (present-day Village District), 1948.

Friday

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Saturday

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Sunday

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P.S. I believe in you, little plate

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