Discover what’s driving the buzz around Hillsborough’s newest restaurants, shops and wellness spaces
By Lauren Rouse | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Serratore’s Pasta & Pizza
Traditional Italian-American fare gets a fresh, skillful touch at downtown’s newest restaurant, Serratore’s, led by chef and owner Josh DeCarolis. Josh worked on the concept with his business partners, Pietro Costanza and Phil Bey, for a long time but hadn’t found a proper home. “When the former Radius space opened up, it was a no-brainer for us,” he says.
The menu highlights classics prepared with care, including a full slate of Neapolitan pizzas and a standout cutlet section featuring chicken or veal in several styles. “The ambient-fermented pizza dough is light and crispy with just the right amount of chew,” Josh says. All pastas – from spaghetti to rigatoni to gluten-free gnocchi – are made fresh in-house, drawing on Josh’s time at Durham’s Mothers & Sons Trattoria. Pietro curated the wine list from his 15 years of restaurant industry experience in Italy, while bar manager Megan Comeau crafted cocktails using locally sourced herbs and seasonal fruits. A rotating frozen spritz adds a playful touch.
The restaurant features family photos, a bustling bar and a quieter back room available for private events. “I want people to experience a genuinely warm and fulfilling experience – like going to grandma’s house for dinner,” Josh says.
Vesta – Home + Life + Clothing
Intentional and elegant, Vesta brings a California-meets-European sensibility to downtown’s retail scene. Francesca Morgan opened the boutique, after moving from the Monterey Bay area, because she wanted a place that offered thoughtful, elevated pieces all in one spot. “We believe in quality over quantity and being able to wear pieces multiple different ways,” she says, noting that the shop’s clothing, home goods and perfumes are curated with purpose.
Francesca rotates inventory every week or two, keeping the small space fresh with knits from The Endery, everyday basics from Crown Jewel and wardrobe staples like denim. Her background in art history, literature and design shapes the boutique’s timeless feel, where natural fibers, clay soaps and Gharyan Stoneware invite shoppers to slow down and engage their senses.
As its full name alludes, Vesta aspires to be more than retail, offering styling services, interior design and monthly in-shop events like skincare nights and trunk shows. Francesca even hosted a Venetian-themed affair at a local farm in November, bringing together musicians, dancers and a hidden forest lounge for a masked night of fun, with more events planned for the future. “We are here to be an active part of our community, and we have a wonderful team of people we collaborate with to do so,” Francesca says.
The Regulator
A years-long renovation and a deep respect for local history shape The Regulator, a new brewery and taproom that will open early this year inside one of Hillsborough’s most storied buildings at the corner of West King and South Churton streets. Owner D.L. Brown has lived in Orange County for nearly half a century and remembers the space through many phases before it was his turn. “What started out as a pandemic side project has become something I hope will turn into a lasting legacy for myself and my family in my hometown,” he says. Supply chain shortages delayed the project by nearly two years.
The Regulator – inspired by a traditional village pub – spans three floors: the basement brewhouse, the main taproom and the upstairs. The second story will have customer seating as well as a boardroom, available for meetings and events. D.L. designed and hand-built the backbar, tap systems, tables and cabinetry in his garage woodshop and sourced art with a North Carolina focus, including a painting of the long-extinct Carolina parakeet and a Mac Stone photograph of ancient Black River cypress trees. Draperies sewn by his mother and friends soften the interior, blending history with a warm, lived-in feel.
The brewery and taproom has opened its doors occasionally this fall to preview a few of its traditional British-style beers. At the grand opening, the menu will feature house ales, lagers and more exotic styles from guest brewers. “I want my friends, family and local community to walk in and feel like they are in a great pub that has been in the building since it was built in the late 1800s,” D.L. says.
Proven Curated Cookbooks & Culinary Essentials
Proven brings something rare to the local shopping scene – a store built entirely around the joy of cookbooks. Proprietor Tracy Porter says the idea grew from her own habit of reading them cover to cover but reaching for the same few again and again. “I began asking people in my circle, ‘What cookbooks do you use?’ and I discovered a world of people like me,” she says. “These are the cookbooks people have told me, ‘I use this one all of the time.’”
The selection is expansive and varied, with titles from North Carolina authors such as “Latinisimo” by Sandra A. Gutierrez, “Deep Run Roots” by Vivian Howard and “Mama Dip’s Family Cookbook” by the late Mildred Council. The store also stocks a small but thoughtful mix of cooking tools, baking items and harder-to-find spices like za’atar, fenugreek and sumac.
Tracy didn’t set out to fill a gap in Hillsborough so much as create a place for connection. “I thought, ‘How cool would it be to spend the day talking to people about a subject we all love – food and cooking,’” she says. “Come join the conversation.”
Bloom, A Space for Calm
Tucked away in the historic 1912 building on West Margaret Lane, with two cozy rooms anchored by soft rugs, floor pillows and a gentle color palette, Bloom offers a warm, calming space where adults can learn tools for relaxation. Owner Nancy Boughey drew inspiration from a career in nursing where she saw firsthand how stress can contribute to long-term health issues. Though the studio started as a place for children, it’s evolved into a space for adults to pause and unwind. “Bloom came together easily, as if it was meant to be,” Nancy says.
Clients can sign up online for a one-hour “Ground & Settle” session that combines grounding techniques with Reiki practice to support calm, balance and nervous system regulation.
“Bloom is a retreat from our busy schedules, unplugging from cell phones, emails and all the other interruptions we all encounter every day,” Nancy says. “My goal is to have a person leave the class feeling refreshed, grounded and ready for the next day.”
