Rebuild Chapel Hill’s Hidden Treasures After Chantal

Help Local Small Businesses Rise After the Flood

When Tropical Depression Chantal swept through Chapel Hill, it left devastation in its wake - including at the shopping center building owned by Johnny and Catherine Mariakakis, beloved members of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham. Their building - home to a tight-knit community of locally-owned businesses - was flooded, leaving shops waterlogged, inventory destroyed, and livelihoods suddenly in jeopardy.

These aren’t just businesses. They’re Chapel Hill’s heartbeat. Each one serves the community in unique, irreplaceable ways. Today, they need our help to recover, rebuild, and reopen.

‍ Meet the Businesses You’ll Help Support

Mariakakis Fine Foods & Wines

Owned by Johnny and Catherine Mariakakis, this specialty market has served Mediterranean and Eastern European immigrants—and adventurous local food lovers—for decades. A place to find feta, taramasalata, olive oils, and imported wines, it’s more than a store. It’s a taste of home.

️ Studio Arnet

Founded by Army veteran Chris Arnet, this info hub and podcast studio uplifts voices and empowers creators throughout the Triangle. His mission? To connect, inspire, and inform - and now he needs a lifeline to stay on the air.

Yarns Etc.

Owned by fiber arts expert Mary Stowe, this cozy shop offers more than yarn and sewing machine repairs - it provides classes, connection, and community for knitters and crafters of all ages.

Signs Now & Occasions Engraving

Bert Johnson has helped generations celebrate milestones - from custom signage to trophies for kids’ swim meets and martial arts belts. This shop puts names on memories, and we want to make sure they’re not erased.

The Catering Company of Chapel Hill

Run by Luke Armitrage and J.W. Walton, this team feeds reunions, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and banquets at Duke and UNC. Their kitchen, once bustling, now sits soaked. Let’s help them serve again.

The Shoe Repair

Cinderella Riggsbee, 80 years young, is the last shoe and luggage repair expert in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. She's stitched soles and patched purses for decades. Let’s keep this irreplaceable local legend working.

Zartiques Rugs

Owned by Reza Zarea, this shop specializes in Persian carpets and unique decor. His collection is not just merchandise - it’s heritage and artistry that must be preserved.

Our Goal: $75,000

These businesses don’t have big corporate safety nets. They have each other - and now, hopefully, you.

Your donation will go directly toward:

Every dollar matters. Every share helps.

Whether you’re a longtime customer, a neighbor, or someone who just believes in the power of community, we invite you to stand with us. Let’s show what Chapel Hill and Durham can do when we come together.