Internet business Southern Things expands

In 2005, Reta Johnson and her parents started the Internet business Southern Things.

Creating and selling dry mixes for Southern-style biscuits, pancakes and cobblers, the company found a niche and soon struck deals with other Southern food companies to sell their wares online as well.

Johnson and her family decided to open their first retail shop when they outgrew their small home operation.

The store is in Raleigh's Newton Square at 240 Newton Road. It sells Southern Things' line of food items, named Julia's Pantry after Johnson's grandmother. It also sells other Southern-made products, including local favorites such as Bone Suckin' Sauce and Peanut Roaster peanuts.

In February, Food Lion confirmed it would build a Bloom store at Strickland and Ray roads in North Raleigh, the first Triangle location for the grocery chain Food Lion started in 2004 to attract tech-savvy shoppers.

Ground hasn't been broken on that store yet, but plans are now under way for two more: in Morrisville's Bethany Village at Morrisville-Carpenter Road and Davis Drive, and Wake Forest's Quail Crossing at N.C. 98 and Jones Dairy Road. Work on all three begins this fall.

In downtown Apex, Grandma's Princess is open at 115 Hunter St. and has everything little girls would need to have a really stellar tea party. There are dress-up clothes, a princess chair for the guest of honor and a red carpet for modeling. A $300 party includes tea (pink lemonade), food and favors for up to 12 children, plus coffee and food for adults. ... Also in Apex, a specialty wine shop called Apex Beverage Company is open at 800 W. Williams St.

In Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Comics is moving down the street to a larger location at 316 W. Franklin St. The shop at 412 W. Franklin St. will close at 9 p.m. next Saturday, and the new store will open at 10 a.m. Aug. 27.

Zorba's Grill, which used to operate in Chapel Hill off Elliott Road, reopened in Durham at 4716 N.C. 55. It's serving lunch only until Sept. 1, when it will start serving dinner. ... Also in Durham, Broad Street Cafe reopened at 1116 Broad St. after a big renovation that added a wood-fired pizza oven and a full bar. ... And Shade Tree Coffee at 2816 Erwin Road closed.

OTHER ITEMS: In Clayton, wig and accessories boutique Wings of Beauty is open at 106 S. Ellington St. ... In Pittsboro, The City Tap bar is open at U.S. 15-501 and Salisbury Street. ... Bojangles' in Raleigh at 3808 Western Blvd. has reopened following a fire. ... In Raleigh, Passage Consignment Shoppe is open at 1924 Wake Forest Road, selling housewares, clothing and furnishings. ... In North Raleigh, McDonald's is open at 7301 Six Forks Road. ... And also in Raleigh, Carver's Creek at 2711 Capital Blvd. is closed. ... In Garner, the new Tom Jones Drug is open at Timber Drive and Vandora Springs Road. ... In Youngsville, eBay auction store ShipOnSite is open at 225 Weathers St. ... In Knightdale, Black Belt World is open near U.S. 64 Business and Smithfield Road. ... In Cary, Greek Fiesta will open in Stone Creek Village at High House Road and Davis Drive later this year.