Merritt's Store & Grill

About

Merritt's Store & Grill is Chapel Hill's best known secret. Famous for its bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches and southern atmosphere, Merritt's has been a favorite since its inception in 1929. Starting from humble beginnings, Ruby and Eben Merritt started Merritt's at the start of the Great Depression. The store began as a gas station and car repair shop where people would come from all around to get their supplies.

In 1991, Robert and Robin Britt took over the lease. The couple ran the store as primarily a convenient store with a grill in the back. In 2008 business was struggling, so Robert and "Miss Robin" decided to emphasize the food rather than the convenience store. They replaced the convenience store fixtures with tables and chairs, changing the focus from supplies to a whole new food loving crowd. It now boasts 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews.

Inside, the store is decorated with local paintings, flower centerpieces and an array of old-time convenience store snacks. Outside, there is an open picnic area with several tables to choose from in the back as well as circular tables in front of the store. There are also hidden picnic tables concealed by the trees and bamboo approximately twenty yards from the open picnic area.

Merritt's Store & Grill, known for its Southern specialties, is located on South Columbia Street just outside of campus. Photo credit: Merritt's Facebook page.

The menu boasts several Southern classics such as the BLT, chicken salad, pimento cheese, sweet tea, sodas in glass bottles and Blenheim ginger ale. On Saturday, Merritt's can sell between 500 and 1,000 BLTs in one day with lines reaching out of the door and around the corner. Merritt's has also been known to offer bluegrass music on Saturdays commonly referred to as "Banjos and BLTs." The old-time string music contributes to making it more than just a country store. A full menu can be found on the store's website.

Famous patrons of Merritt's:

The Travelocity gnome stopped by Merritt's for a BLT and Pepsi-Cola. Photo credit Merritt's Facebook page.

Tar Heel's football coach Larry Fedora
Former's Tar Heel's men's basketball coach Dean Smith
Former radio announcer Woody Durham
Former Tar Heel soccer player Mia Hamm
Actor Morgan Freeman while filming the movie "Kiss the Girls"
Musician James Taylor used to play at the store when he was a teenager
Travelocity gnome
Chef Rachael Ray reviewed Merritt's for her magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray

Store Details

Store and Grill Hours

Monday - Friday: 6 AM - 6PM

Saturday: 8 AM - 6 PM

Sunday: 10 AM - 3 PM (Breakfast all day)

Addresses:

1009 S. Columbia St.

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(919) 942-4897

Merritt's has a private gravel parking lot around the store. Customers can also park in the lot across the street or use the Chapel Hill Transit bus lines.