Over the years, our business has evolved into more than just a restaurant. It’s a place to build community, a comfortable gathering spot where friends and family can catch up over a great meal as well as celebrate birthdays, retirements, new motherhood, marriages and other life events. We appreciate the value of this community and are grateful for its continued support.
Farmers
The great farmers in our state are the foundational strength of our foodie community. We owe a huge chunk of our success to their hard work! They provide us with the freshest and tastiest ingredients, making us shine and our food unforgettable.
Some of the farms we work with:
- Open Door Farm, Orange County
- Latta’s Egg Ranch, Hillsborough
- Maple View Farm, Hillsborough
- Chapel Hill Creamery, Chapel Hill
- Holly Grove Farms, Mount Olive
- Ashe County Cheese, West Jefferson
- Sunset Farms, Snow Camp
- Lyon Farms, Creedmoor
- Peregrine Farm, Alamance County
- Zach’s Fresh Produce, Snow Camp
- Elysian Fields Farm, Cedar Grove
- McAdams Farm, Efland
- Sunny Slopes Farm, Asheboro
- Funny Girl Farm, Durham
- Bluebird Meadows, Bushy Fork
- Locals Seafood, Raleigh
Good Food and Good Deeds!
We believe they go together. That’s why we don’t just focus on the bottom line; we know it’s important to give back to our own community. Restaurant owners Sera Cuni and Susan White are especially interested in supporting groups that work to end hunger and those that advocate for equal rights and serve the LGBT community. However, The Root Cellar regularly contributes to and works with other local nonprofit organizations in the area. Currently, we are partnering with and supporting:
- TABLE in Carrboro, a nonprofit that provides weekly emergency food aid to hungry elementary school children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The Root Cellar serves as a drop-off location for canned food donations to TABLE and has prepared and donated food for organizational events. Some of our staff also regularly volunteer with the nonprofit.
- LGBT Senior Group of Chapel Hill. This group, which launched in 2012, serves older LGBT members in Orange, Durham, and Chatham counties and meets twice a month at the Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill. The group offers a safe place for senior LGBT residents to socialize and discuss any needs and challenges of aging in place. The Root Cellar donates food to the group’s bi-monthly meetings.
- The Arc of Orange County. The Root Cellar donates empty beer bottles to the Arc’s “Petals With a Purpose” environmental program, which aims to connect flowers to people and save the planet. Each week, Arc participants recycle Root Cellar bottles by turning them into vases for fresh flower arrangements. The vases are then donated back into the community, including the restaurant, with attached notes encouraging customers to take home and enjoy.
- arcBARKS® Dog Treat Company. You can find arcBARKS wholesome and natural dog treats sold at The Root Cellar. The Arc of Greensboro, Inc., launched the company, which provides transitional employment training to enthusiastic and talented young men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Purchase of these “barkin good treats” helps to promote independence and the chance for all citizens to enjoy a meaningful presence in our community.
- Extraordinary Ventures. The Root Cellar is a proud seller of EV gift candles, which are handmade by young adults with autism and developmental disabilities. EV Gifts markets 13 different premium candles, including special colors and scents for the holiday season. Each candle uses high-quality glass, wax and scents and is signed by the employee craftsperson.
- Local Artists. For nearly two years, we have invited local artists to showcase their talents and exhibit their work inside our dining room. The partnership not only gives our customers a chance to enjoy some colorful art but also helps to keep our walls fresh with a rotating series of work.
Gumballs for Charity
Every little bit helps… And while quarters from a gumball machine might not seem like the most effective way to raise money for charity, we figure it doesn’t hurt either. Every couple of months, we select a different nonprofit in the Triangle and donate all the proceeds from the machine to that organization. We’ve raised money for a variety of organizations, including: Dogs Off Chains in Chatham County, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, the Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill, Benevolence Farm in Graham, and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham.