Sutton's Drug Store

When I was a young child in Chapel Hill, NC, mom was an anthropology graduate student at the University of Chapel Hill (UNC). Across Franklin Street from UNC was Sutton's drug store, where we often ate breakfast. We were quite popular there and, as soon as we walked in, the waitress would begin pouring mom's coffee and my orangeade. The waitress would also make sure that I had more than enough straws (about ten seemed to do it--see the photograph).

I happen to know the name of the waitress. Her name was Margaret Evans Durham. I know this because she wrote a book about Sutton's and the people who ate there. The copy I have is autographed by the author and is annotated by my grandmother, Helen Oldham.

In her book, "Ye Olde Drugstore," Mrs. Durham describes the store thusly:

"In the heart of the old and loveable Hill, is a place where people come day after day. Why? Because it is a drugstore, called Sutton's. I came here a few years back to work as a waitress behind the fountain. People love to come here to relax and talk over their coffee. You can hear almost anything here, it is so close knit. We have three sections to the fountain, so named by our customers. They are Peyton Place, Menopause Manor, and Brady Bunch. We have our regulars each day.

"This place is filled with laughter, gossip, hunger, tears, and let's not forget love. This is my insight and foresight of everyday happenings. People of all walks of life gather here at Sutton's counterfrom early morning until four when we close. It is a good place to let your steam off, laughing all the way. I like people. They are sometimes sad, some are strong, some weak, some lucky, some not. Some of them are searching for something that they will never find."

Mrs. Durham then proceeds to describe quite a few of her customers. On page five she says:

"Another patron is Linda. She is the mother of Little Jake. She is a beautiful person in every way. You can really tell Linda has done a good job with little Jake. She whispers to him and it seems to soothe him so quickly, he gets so calm afterwards."

On page 14, Mrs. Durham published this photograph, which must have been taken at some time during 1975.



Sutton's still exists, and you may visit it at 159 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC.