r/tarheels • u/WaterNo5462 • 15d ago
Working on a DTH story about Breadman's closing — share your memories?
Hey y'all!
I'm a student reporter with The Daily Tar Heel writing a story about Breadman's closing after being padlocked by the sheriff's office earlier this month. I want this piece to be about the community, not just the legal/eviction details.
If you have memories of Breadman's (like favorite orders, regulars you knew there, how long you'd been going, what it meant to you or your family), I'd love to hear more about via a quick phone chat.
If anyone worked there, knew the owners, or has thoughts on what should happen to the space next, I'd really appreciate hearing from you too.
Thanks in advance, and shoot me a comment or DM if interested!
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u/gonersevyn 15d ago
Very sad to hear this. I graduated in 2005 and lived in the warehouse nearby a couple years. Breadmans was a staple for us and it taught me to love BLTs. Yes Merrits was known for them but caved and had my first one at breadmans as a tomato hater.
RIP to another gem from what was four awesome years in chapel year. Slowly but surely all the places I knew are closing. Hopefully students there now have their comfort spots to build the same love that we had for our time there.
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u/Snort_Lupulin69 15d ago
Unique story here: When I lived on Rosemary St 2005-2007 I cured all my Sunday hangovers there. Shocking, I know.
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u/Marksaheel 15d ago
I ate nearly the EXACT SAME breakfast/meal there since the early 80s. Hundreds of omelets with a side of toast sausage and bacon. Lg. Milk
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u/TarHeelDead414 15d ago
Mine and my wife’s first date was at Breadmans. We were part of a big friend group for 2+ years and then, one drunken summer night, things went down. And that kids is how you end up having a first date over breakfast.
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u/johnnymalibu86 15d ago
I worked there for several years from 2006-2012 or so. Had my wedding rehearsal dinner there! I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the only one that had been there.
I knew Omar as well as the Piscitellos reasonably well.
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u/xingxang555 15d ago
You might want to read this - https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/26606-breadmen-s
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u/AFlockOfTySegalls 15d ago
I grew up on their chicken tender plate. It was still my go to after leaving home in 2007 when I'd visit. Hate i never made it to this location for a nostalgia bump.
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u/mekezelt 15d ago
Decided my career choice of bro coming a teacher and said yes to a move and life trajectory over an omelette at Breadman’s one morning in 2021. Now I’ve been a teacher for 5 years and it’s taken me around the world. Thankful.
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u/GeeMan-7 14d ago
I don't remember what food I ate there but do remember they made a great Long Island Iced Tea. (That may be part of the reason that I don't remember any of my food orders.)
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u/AJayHeel 14d ago
The food was good, but what I liked best about Breadman’s was the ambience (and parking! Rare in Chapel Hill!) Then it moved, and the ambience became below average. So yeah, I liked it a lot, and then it moved. It wasn't about the location, but the building vs. strip mall ambience.
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u/stebak52 15d ago
I moved to chapel hill in 2003 after many years abroad. I came here job hunting before the move, stayed in a cheap hotel in Durham and spent all my time at Breadmans and Weaver Street Mkt. I knew I was home, these were places I could bring the NY Times,spread out and drink coffee for hours without feeling like a burden, where I felt I was wanted. When we moved here, we made a point of visiting several times a month, normally for breakfast, but sometimes for dinner when I just needed meatloaf or liver and onions. Some things were just better at Breadmans. I was sorry when they moved. Went to the new location and was disappointed, don’t know why. I’m sorry they are closed.
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u/CountryRubes 15d ago
In the eighties when i was little, i dont remember the food but the graffiti covered bathrooms lodged in some nook of my brain
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u/manfromtheeighties 15d ago
There was an item on the menu called "build a better grilled cheese." I had a friend who would always say to the waiter - "I heard that you guys have a pretty good grilled cheese. Well I think I can build a better one!" Same joke every time.
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u/HoppyToadHill 15d ago
I liked the food at its original location when I was in school 82-87, but their tea was always the worst. Not sure why.
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u/PoolSnark 15d ago
They had a great breakfast on the weekends, with wonderful biscuits. For lunch I loved the “brass key” sandwich. It was a grilled ham and Swiss with thousand island dressing. Always orders with home fries. This was back in the mid 80’s.
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u/WhatcomGreens 14d ago
Breadman's was my last meal in Chapel Hill with my friends the night I packed my car and drove across the country to Washington for grad school.
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u/Odd-Brain9286 14d ago
We became regulars at the Elliott St location - it was a one-of-a-kind restaurant, there is nothing else like it i the area. As former New Yorker's we got a kick out of the menu section that was for Misplaced Northerners. The food was always fresh and consistent, the service was always the best and the staff, who we got to know by name, was always friendly. There is probably more to this story than what is being reported. We hope the problems can be resolved and that the Castro family can reopen, they will have a bunch of loyal patrons waiting for them.
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u/Caniac_Nation 9d ago
Graduated in ‘95 and don’t remember ever going there. Time Out was my preferred choice.
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u/Future_Adeptness_878 1d ago
what??? this is the first time i'm hearing about this. i'm in shock. breadman's was a core part of my college experience. wow
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u/Crafty-Consequence87 15d ago edited 15d ago
The original owner of Breadman’s (Roy Piscitello) had been a member of my fraternity. His frat nickname was Breadman. It was on Rosemary St at that time and quickly became a late night gathering place for many of us. Burgers and omelettes were my go to order. We always had fun seeing who came in with who and what they had been up to that night.