Popular coastal NC coffee shop opens first Durham location soon
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Drift expands in Triangle, opens Durham cafe at Horseshoe at Hub RTP this week.
- Its menu offers espresso-based drinks alongside sandwiches, bowls and salads.
- The development will also welcome Cheeni, Di Fara Pizza, High Horse and Prime STQ.
The next several months are going to be big for the North Carolina coffee chain Drift.
Founded in Ocean Isle Beach in 2014, Drift opened its third Triangle location last week at Horseshoe at Hub RTP.
In 2026, Drift will begin roasting coffee beans at its own facility in Wilmington. Construction on the roastery began in the fall.
And next summer, Drift expects to open its second Raleigh cafe at The Weld, a mixed-use development near Dorothea Dix Park. Drift’s current Raleigh location is at Ridgewood Shopping Center on Wade Avenue.
“Our vision for DRIFT has always been about more than great coffee,” Michael Powell, Drift co-founder and owner, said in a news release. “We want to create spaces where people can slow down, connect and be inspired — whether they’re grabbing a morning flat white, getting lunch or stepping out of the office to reset for the afternoon. Horseshoe at Hub RTP captures that balance between progress and presence that we’ve been chasing since day one.”
Drift coffee shop opens at RTP
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The 1,927-square-foot coffee shop at RTP is Drift’s 12th location.
Founded by brothers Michael and Ben Powell, the coffee chain is known for its coffee, coastal vibes and made-from-scratch meals.
Drift offers some baked goods, but visitors can also order dishes such as the bodega breakfast sandwich ($9.80), made with scrambled eggs, bacon, sharp cheddar, caramelized onions and a special sauce on toasted brioche. After 11 a.m., guests can order from the lunch menu, which includes plates such as the chicken pesto bowl ($14), chopped salad ($13) or caprese sandwich ($13.30).
Both hot and cold beverages are available, including the coffee shop classics such as lattes ($5.10), mochas ($5.60) and regular brewed coffee ($3). Drift uses beans from Black & White Coffee Roasters.
Located at 3151 Elion Drive in Durham, the cafe joins the “boutique bodega” Nanny Goat at the Horseshoe at Hub RTP development.
It opened Wednesday, Nov. 12.
More restaurants coming to RTP
The acclaimed Knightdale barbecue joint Prime BBQ is expanding, with a twist. Instead of a duplicate concept, owner and chef Chris Prieto is bringing a steakhouse called Prime STQ to the development.
Both Prime STQ and another restaurant, High Horse, will take stand-alone spaces at Horseshoe. From the former “Top Chef” contestant Katsuji Tanabe, High Horse had a short run in downtown Raleigh. Tanabe is partnering with local restaurateur Anthony Rapillo of V Pizza on this Mexican-Japanese-American fusion restaurant, expected to open in 2026.
Cary’s Di Fara Pizza is also opening a second location at the development, serving large, thin-crust pies.
And the popular Indian restaurant Cheeni, currently located in downtown Durham, is growing to a second restaurant at RTP. Preeti Waas, the chef and owner of Cheeni, is also behind Nanny Goat, which opened at Horseshoe at Hub RTP in July.
This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 10:11 AM.
