Empire Properties has bought the Durham building that is home to Fullsteam Brewery and plans to open a second The Pit barbecue restaurant in the space next year.

Greg Hatem, head of Empire Properties as well as the restaurant group Empire Eats, confirmed the purchase on Thursday. Fullsteam, which is the only tenant in the building at the corner of Geer Street and Rigsbee Avenue, will remain. Hatem said there’s a possibility space could be carved out for a third tenant.

He says The Pit in Durham is likely to open in about 10 months. The Pit’s Raleigh restaurant opened in November 2007.

Empire owns three properties in Durham, including the building at 320 E. Chapel Hill St. where Shannon Healy, the longtime manager at Chapel Hill’s Crook’s Corner, hopes to open his own bar Alley Twenty Six next month.

The 1,300-square-foot bar will be down the street from Rue Cler restaurant and around the corner from Scratch bakery. Healy says they will offer a small curated wine list and quality cocktails using local ingredients. They will offer a small bar menu, including charcuterie, and focus on what food pairs best with what beverages.

“The Triangle has plenty of fine restaurants. It’s time for the bars to follow,” Healy says.

Healy, who spent the last decade as a general manager at Chapel Hill’s Southern food landmark, Crook’s Corner, says they hope to open the first week in September.

The hours will start out as 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays.

At Streets of Southpoint, the parade of new store announcements continues. The mall has plans to open 20 new stores this year. Next up is Vera Bradley. The store, which sells designer handbags, luggage and gifts, opens Aug. 17. That will be followed on Aug. 23 by home furnishings retailer West Elm. It’s the second North Carolina location for the New York retailer. It’s other store is in Charlotte. West Elm will give away a $2,000 shopping spree as part of its grand opening. In addition, the store will donate a portion of sales during its opening weekend to SEEDS, a Durham nonprofit that promotes sustainable agriculture.

Also coming this fall: Michael Kors and It’Sugar, a candy retailer, in September; and children’s clothing retailer Hanna Andersson and Brooks Brothers in October. Although no date has been announced, is Sur La Table, which got its start 40 years ago in Seattle’s Pike Place Farmers Marke, is also coming. It sells cooking supplies and housewares, and offers cooking classes. This is its first Triangle store.

The Parlor at North Ridge has opened at 6196-112 Falls of Neuse Road in the North Ridge Shopping Center. Stacie Patrone and Jenny Wicker are the hair salon owners. ... In Durham, LaTicia Beatty has moved her Luv Shop kiosk from Durham’s Streets at Southpoint mall to a full-size store at Northgate Mall. Beatty sells women’s fashion accessories including handbags, jewelry and scarves. ... Also in Durham, SwissYoga Clinique has opened a yoga studio at 8128 Renaissance Parkway, Suite 202, near Southpoint and Target. And in Goldsboro, a LongHorn Steakhouse has opened with room for 240 diners.

Staff writers Amy Rue, Mary Cornatzer, Andrea Weigl and David Bracken

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