This popular downtown Durham fried chicken restaurant is moving again
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- Dame’s Chicken and Waffles plans relocation to East Durham this fall.
- New Driver Street site offers more parking and collaboration options.
- Added desserts and other dishes will be served at the new restaurant.
After 15 years in downtown Durham, a popular restaurant serving Southern-inspired comfort food classics is moving to a new home.
This is the second relocation for Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, which first opened on Main Street before moving to Foster Street in 2019, needing more space. But co-owner Damion Moore said he hopes the new location, at 455 South Driver St. in a changing, historically Black neighborhood in East Durham, will be the restaurant’s forever home.
“What’s happening in East Durham is amazing, and it’s going to continue to flourish,” Moore told The News and Observer in a phone interview.
Architect John Warasila is among those behind the redevelopment of the Driver Street neighborhood, which was built around an old textile factory, he told The News and Observer. The idea is to create a “maker neighborhood” where creative individuals and businesses — think bakeries, coffee roasters and ceramics centers — can grow roots.
Proximity Brewing, Congress Cocktail Bar, Garland Hall Event Space, Claymakers Studio and Happy Dirt Produce Wholesalers have already set up shop in the area. The arrival of Dame’s, with its experience and established fanbase and reputation, is a “real stamp of approval” for the neighborhood, Warasila said.
New location, same focus
The essence of the restaurant will remain at the Driver Street spot, formerly home to Mike D’s BBQ.
Dame’s, which was co-founded by Moore and his business partner Randy Wadsworth, will continue to lean into the jazz motif and serve a menu centered around fried chicken and waffles, complete with butter and flavored syrup.
But loyal customers may notice some changes, as Moore plans to add new desserts and small bites or appetizers.
Dame’s Chicken and Waffles parking
Parking limitations were among the challenges Dame’s had seen during its one-and-a-half decades downtown, most recently on the ground floor of the Liberty Warehouse apartment complex.
But that shouldn’t be a problem in East Durham, where patrons can park in a lot adjacent to the restaurant. Moore said he hopes it makes the restaurant more accessible to customers who previously struggled with parking or just didn’t want to venture downtown.
At just over 3,000 square feet, the footprint of the restaurant is a little smaller than the Foster Street location. Moore said he isn’t worried about space constraints and noted the variety of seating options, including an outdoor patio.
Dame’s will also share space with neighboring businesses and has already started talking about how to find opportunities to collaborate and serve each other, Moore said.
Opening date for new Dame’s
Dame’s hasn’t yet announced a set date for its East Durham debut, but it’s anticipating a late September opening.
The move from downtown may mean a business day or two lost, but Moore is shooting for a swift transition. Last time Dame’s moved, from Main to Foster, an expected three-month move ended up taking 15.
Besides the Durham restaurant, Dame’s also has a location in Greensboro. Its Cary location is temporarily closed.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM with the headline "This popular downtown Durham fried chicken restaurant is moving again."
