RALEIGH, N.C. — New business in North Carolina is bouncing back after a dip during the pandemic, according to the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office. So far this year, the state has added about 15,000 new businesses.
Chef Morgan Teanne and her three partners have opened the restaurant's second location, The Flavor Hills, in downtown Raleigh.
The Flavor Hills is one of about 40 Black-owned businesses downtown, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
“It was a big deal for us, but we didn't realize how big it was until we signed the lease,” Teanne said.
She said she loves the Fayetteville Street location as much as the original restaurant in Jacksonville. And she feels others feel the same way.
“People loved what we brought to the table and were looking forward to us opening,” Teanne said.
She said her father and late grandmother inspired her to sell and perfect Southern cuisine. However, she left her hometown of Washington DC to bring her own talents to North Carolina.
“I had ownership in running a private chef business, but I didn't have a team,” she said.
In North Carolina, she caters to all demographics.
“I'm really impressed that so many people are enjoying the food,” Teanne said.
She feels other Black-owned businesses should come to downtown Raleigh as well.
“I love supporting other Black businesses,” she said.
The Jacksonville store has been open for the past three years, the Raleigh store has been open since January, and Teanne said they hope to open another store by the end of the year and are considering a Charlotte store.
“We wanted everyone to come here and eat, laugh and drink,” she said.
This will add to the approximately 3,000 new business creation applications filed in Mecklenburg County so far this year.
