Ninth Street Bakery

A true anchor of the Durham food scene, **Ninth Street Bakery** has been serving the North Carolina Triangle region since 1981. This establishment transcends the typical definition of a local **bakery**, operating simultaneously as a bustling **Cafe**, a retail **Pastry shop**, a casual **Restaurant** for lunch, and a comprehensive **Wholesale bakery** whose products are distributed across the state.

Founded by bakers fresh from a stint at the Tassajara Zen Center, Ninth Street Bakery was built on a commitment to **whole-grain goodness** and a strong mind for doing good works in the Durham community. While the original location was on Ninth Street, the bakery’s success and growing demand necessitated a move to its current downtown Durham location on East Chapel Hill Street, where it became a food pioneer long before the area’s revitalization.

The core philosophy remains centered on **scratch-made goods** using high-quality ingredients, including organic wheat flour from local NC mills like Lindley Mills. This dedication results in their signature crusty artisan breads—renowned for their natural levain and slow-rise perfection—as well as beloved sliced pan loaves, like the famous **7-Grain loaf** mentioned by loyal customers.

Visitors to the downtown location can expect a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, complete with amenities like Wi-Fi, making it an excellent spot for a quick bite, a relaxed lunch, or simply enjoying a coffee and pastry. Its dual focus on a vibrant retail cafe and a robust wholesale program—supplying bread to markets and restaurants throughout the Triangle—solidifies its status as a foundational pillar of North Carolina’s culinary landscape.

Ninth Street Bakery is conveniently located in a bustling, central area of Durham, an ideal spot for locals and visitors exploring the downtown core.

**Address:**

136 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701, USA

The cafe is situated to offer multiple transportation and access options for all North Carolina patrons:

**Parking Options:**

• **Free parking lot:** A valuable asset for a downtown location, making short visits easy.
• **Free street parking:** Available in the surrounding area, though subject to local parking regulations and availability.

**Accessibility:**

The bakery is committed to ensuring a comfortable visit for everyone in the community.

• **Wheelchair accessible entrance**
• **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**
• **Wheelchair accessible restroom**

This location's accessibility and a commitment to maintaining affordable price points make it a genuinely inclusive gathering spot in a rapidly developing city center.

As a multifaceted food business, Ninth Street Bakery offers a wide range of services to meet the needs of its retail and wholesale customers across North Carolina.

• **Dine-in and Cafe Service:** Enjoy a meal or coffee in the casual, friendly setting.
• **Takeout, Curbside Pickup, and In-store Pickup:** Convenient options for quick service.
• **Delivery:** Bringing baked goods and meals directly to customers.
• **Wholesale Baking:** Supplying a diverse range of breads and baked goods to local grocery stores, co-ops (like Whole Foods in Raleigh and South Durham Farmers Market), and restaurants throughout the Triangle region.
• **Custom Cakes:** Offering special-order cakes, such as the **Banana Chocolate Chunk Cake** and **Sweet Potato Pecan Cake**, with a **72-hour advance ordering requirement**. Sizes range from 6" (serves 6) to a full sheet (serves 80) for large events.
• **Catering Services:** Providing food for parties and events, including **Continental Breakfast (Party)** and **Rustic Pastries (Party)** packages.
• **Onsite Services / Events:** The space is known to host community events, pop-up dinners, and sliding-scale baking classes, reinforcing its role as a community hub.

Ninth Street Bakery stands out in the competitive Durham market due to its long history, quality ingredients, and strong community focus.

• **Durham Food Pioneer:** Operating since 1981, it is one of the anchor businesses that helped define the city's modern food culture and downtown revitalization.
• **Commitment to Whole-Grain Quality:** Specializing in nutritious, rustic, and artisan breads, including the highly popular **7-Grain loaf**, **sourdough french**, and **sunflower bread**, often using organic whole-grain flour.
• **Wholesale Distribution Across the Triangle:** Its products are widely available at local farmers markets and major grocery chains like Whole Foods, demonstrating a broad reach beyond the Durham storefront.
• **Inclusive and Community-Minded:** Known to be an **LGBTQ+ friendly** space and actively involved in philanthropy, including micro-donations and food donations to various community groups, driven by a philosophy of accessibility and social good.
• **Diverse Menu for All Diets:** The cafe menu offers a strong variety of savory lunch items, often including vegan and gluten-free choices such as **Black Bean Chili**, **Thai Curry Bowl**, and a **Savory Vegan Hand Pie**, alongside their standard sandwich offerings.
• **Gourmet Sandwiches on House-Baked Bread:** Serving exceptional lunch items like the praised **The Italian Specialty Sandwich** and the unique **Curried Chicken Salad Specialty Sandwich**, all served on a choice of fresh house-made breads (white, wheat, or seven-grain).
• **Classic and Seasonal Pastries:** Offering a rotating selection of delightful baked goods, from their renowned **muffins** (like the classic **blueberry muffin** or the customer favorite **carrot muffin**) and a flakey **butter croissant**, to their unique cakes and cookies.
• **Full Cafe Amenities:** Providing a comfortable place to work or relax with free **Wi-Fi** and indoor seating, with a vibe that is distinctly local, friendly, and homey.

The essential contact details for North Carolina customers seeking to visit or place an order with Ninth Street Bakery:

**Address:**

136 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701, USA

**Phone:**

(919) 688-5606 or +1 919-688-5606

When you choose **Ninth Street Bakery**, you are supporting a decades-old Durham institution that prioritizes quality, community, and whole-grain goodness. The bakery’s enduring success across North Carolina is built on the strength of its fundamental offering: **exceptional bread**.

For everyday use at home, the **7-Grain loaf** is their most iconic, high-quality product, often picked up by locals at Whole Foods in Raleigh or the South Durham Farmers Market. For those seeking true artisan excellence, the crusty, slow-risen **sourdough french** bread is a revelation, perfect for savoring the flavors of natural levain.

If you are visiting the cafe for a meal, a sandwich is a must, as the star is the bread it's served on. The **Curried Chicken Salad Specialty Sandwich** offers a unique and flavorful twist, but for a classic favorite, try the **Roasted Turkey Sandwich** on their house-baked **seven-grain bread**. A customer favorite is the savory options, with one reviewer raving about the **hot roast beef sandwich**, praising the "perfect balance of meat peppers, cheese and siracha mayo" and the "excellent" roll.

Do not leave without a sweet treat. Their **muffins** and rustic pastries, such as the **Morning Bun** (a flaky croissant pastry with cinnamon sugar), or one of their comforting cakes like the **Sweet Potato Pecan Cake**, are perfect companions to a cup of their fresh **Coffee**.

Ultimately, Ninth Street Bakery is worth choosing because it’s a dependable source of delicious, scratch-made food that upholds a strong social mission in the heart of North Carolina. It’s a place where you can grab a wholesome, affordable meal, feel welcomed, and take home one of the best loaves of bread the Triangle has to offer.

Ninth Street Bakery

136 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701, USA