The American Tobacco Campus was established in 1890 as an industrial center. When the tobacco industry left, the campus had to change. The Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the Durham Center for Performing Arts brought new life to the campus. The Old Bull Building is where Lucky Strike was made. Tobacco was a large employer in Durham so when it shut down in 1987 the property started to fall apart and people moved away. Capitol Broadcasting decided in 2004 to purchase the campus and turn these historic buildings into something unique and special. The ATC has offices, apartments, shops and restaurants. There is a courtyard, water features, outside seating and even a train car. It is an easy place to visit with three parking garages nearby and street parking. Then it is fun to walk around and see the remnants of what used to be there. read more

See all

The limited number of shops and restaurants might not be a bad thing considering how commercial and generic many of them felt. Rather than showcasing Durham's unique personality, much of the campus seemed geared toward being a polished mixed-use development that could exist almost anywhere. The bright spots were the nearby home of the Durham Bulls and the iconic Lucky Strike smokestack and water tower, both of which provide a strong sense of place and serve as reminders of the site's history. They were far more memorable than anything I found inside the campus itself. Overall, I found the American Tobacco Campus more interesting as a piece of architecture and historic preservation than as a destination. It's worth a brief stroll to admire the buildings and snap a few photos, but I wouldn't go out of my way to spend much time here. read more

Old tobacco factory (from 1870's, that was one of the largest manufacturers of cigarettes) that was renovated into an area comprised of restaurants and bars, office buildings, shopping store, gyms, a courtyard and waterway, and a performing arts center and baseball stadium nearby. Really beautifully landscaped, with an extremely clean campus, there is something for everyone. Really nice to walk around, plenty of shade and benches (and tables) to relax at! read more

This place is a former Tobacco factory and is interesting to check out and walk around, especially the iconic Lucky Strike smokestack. It's also interesting to see the cabin where the Burt's Bees founder lived but you can't go inside just look through the windows. That being said, most of the buildings are office or event spaces so you can't go inside and there are few decent restaurants and stores but nothing that's a must see. I'm glad I checked this place out since it's interesting but not too much to do here unless you're gonna eat or have a few drinks. read more

As a born and raised Durham girl this place has a special place in my heart! From great bars and restaurants, outdoor seating, the historic buildings, and outdoor concerts and events -- this place has always been a staple! read more

American Tobacco Campus - Smoke tower - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

This campus is pretty cool. It reminds me of a college campus. There are various areas with water, tables, grass, and different levels here and there. Walking around is interesting because it's not flat and boring. There are multiple buildings. Some house multiple businesses, and some only a single business. At night the place is nicely lit, especially the areas with water. In addition to coming here for the many places to eat, we come here with our granddaughter just to walk around and let her place a little. During the day we've never experienced it to be crowded at all. Parking is convenient as there are parking garages on site. Come check out this place with your significant other, even if just to walk around. It's pretty sizable so don't be surprised if you need to come back! read more

American Tobacco Campus - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I was in town for a work trip and decided to take the weekend and explore around Durham. I found this gem near downtown Durham and it was an absolute blast! It's a great place to bring your pets out or even hang out with friends and family. There are plenty of places to eat nearby and a few exhibits to see some of the Lucky Strike cigarettes factory memorabilia. read more

See all

Beautifully renovated Tobacco Factory and grounds. Water features, grassy area for lounging and plenty of restaurants, libations and shops. Next door to Durham Bulls Ballfield. Enjoy! read more

See all

I thought this was going to be like an old tobacco manufacturing site so I was not expecting the Campus to be a refurbished warehouse space but I'm honestly so glad I had decided to come. Do not be turned off by the word "tobacco" in the title because it has nothing to do with tobacco at all but rather as a new and revitalized space that includes restaurants, office buildings, trails, etc. Here are some of my favorite parts about the campus: - I really appreciate how much water there is throughout the entire space. I think some of the best areas and environments have flowing water and there is this entire section on the campus dedicated to having this waterfall-like effect which I really enjoyed. - I appreciate how large this campus is so it seems like there are a lot of places to explore. - Even if you don't get any food here, it's just a nice place to walk around after dinner because there are a lot of lights and places for some serenity and reflection. This is a nice break from the busyness of downtown. - I appreciate how many chairs there are for you to just sit down, relax, and enjoy the vibes. Overall, I really appreciated this place and would definitely recommend coming. Would be a great place to just to walk around and wind down from the busy day. read more

American Tobacco Campus - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

By far, the best place to hang out downtown Durham. Park, walk, eat and be entertained. Get you a haircut. They have it all. And concert on the lawn is the best. So if you are going to DPAC or a Durham Bulls game, stop here first. Check out the river. read more

I love coming out here to study when the weather is nice. Theres free WiFi and plenty of chairs, couches and tables to sit. I appreciate that there is free 2 hour parking by the Durham Bulls stadium so I can come no matter the time of day. read more

Historic and interesting, this is such a cool place to work. Businesses are continuing to open up Since the pandemic. All good things. read more

The American Tobacco Campus is such a cute area! I didn't spend a ton of time there, as I was on crutches and exhausted from my day, but I made a point to try and walk through the whole place. This place always seems to be on everyone's list of things to-do in Durham, but the actual campus was not nearly as populated as I had expected it to be. Very little to go in and look at. It's a very picturesque spot, but all the water fountains were turned off for my visit. It's a cute walk through, and hopefully you can find lunch somewhere nearby, but the actual campus definitely has more potential that it has not yet reached. More stores, bars, restaurants are needed here! read more

See all

The American Tobacco Campus is a pretty cool place to work and dine. My company has a location here that I come to on occasion. I love being able to walk out of the doors of our building and be greeted by the awesome water feature on campus. It is relaxing and helps me get reinvigorated on my lunch hour. There are quite a few businesses on the campus, including some good dining choices for lunch and happy hour. They are all just a short walk from most places on the campus which makes them easy to enjoy. The last time I was here, there was an event going on at the local entertainment venue, and employees were posted through the campus to give people directions on how to get to the event. I thought that was a nice touch. This is a nice space to take a walk ad enjoy the beautiful October Durham weather! read more

See all

At night, the lights and fountains make this area a very romantic and trendy place to hang out. On cold nights, it still looks like a romantic and trendy place, but no one's there because the place has so many wind tunnels. Parking: I'd recommend the South parking deck right next to Tyler's. It's free at night, unless you're going to a DPAC show, in which case it's $5. read more

American Tobacco Campus - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

What could possibly make me love this place even more? How about a Tree of Bikes?! Yes, no ordinary tree for this Campus...make it a tree sporting 120 bikes that will make 120 kids in Durham happy this Christmas! Yes, something wonderful and unique is always happening at this gorgeous place. The waterfall never ceases to make me go wow. Whether it's attending a private event at Bay 7, a concert on the lawn, a meal at one of the restaurants, or just walking through to get to DPAC or DBAP, it just keeps getting better and better! read more

American Tobacco Campus - How cool is this?! - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

In the Durham area on business and had an opportunity to visit the American Tobacco campus. What a delightful area of renovation, refurbishing, natural resources and recreating of buildings and landscape. Looks as though an area that was once very inculcated by and housed the state's infamous resource of tobacco, has been modernized and has a more progressive and sophisticated feel of other small cities that are culturally diverse in their re-gentrification efforts . Restaurants, office bays, art facilities and condos frame this revitalized area. An there is a YMCA in the midst of this area that is contemporary and houses various workout equipment and offers low and high energy workout programs. Art structures made out of steel, wood, metals, etc serve as a backdrop to the man made canal with streaming and flowing water. Natural elements to include shrubs, flowers, trees add color and ambiance to the already scenic environment. Didn't get a chance to partake in any of the cultural dining in the area or shops.. Definitely during my next visit.. read more

See all

Came here during the day and had some beer at a new spot that had just opened up that day. It is such a fun replacing spot. But they definitely could use more restaurants and bars in that area. read more

American Tobacco Campus - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

The American Tobacco campus is a part of downtown Durham's entertainment district and houses a few restaurants and start-ups. I stopped by here for a quick walk-through on my way to dinner one evening. It's has a little Industrialized feel, as evidenced by part of the Campus that houses a train display (like the ones that brought tobacco to the plants) and the Lucky Strike Factory Chimney in the background. A Power Plant and the Performing Arts Center also call this area home. There is running water fall-like displays around with benches for sitting and relaxing. Great for a romantic stroll. The water is lit up and I was told at Christmas time there are lovely Christmas lights adorning the walkways. The Burt's Bees company is headquartered here! Ever heard of Bull Durham? Well the Durham Bulls stadium is right across the street. I would love to come back during the day and explore this area some more. read more

See all

As a great reclamation project, I'd give this place five stars. However, over the years many restaurants have left, leaving only a few left and making it less of a destination. Pre-pandemic, they also hosted outdoor concerts here in the summer that were always fun. Kids might enjoy the water feature and (carefully) jumping around the concrete blocks. Every winter they also light up the iconic Durham water tower, and this year they included extra holiday lighting around the campus. I hope they are able to attract more restaurants and shops here when the pandemic is over. Same with bringing back ice skating and basketball games in "The Cage." Damn you, COVID. read more

A nice area to visit with many restaurants and tons of outdoor seating-Some with rocking chairs! It won't take very long to walk around the area and has the iconic Lucky Strike water tank and chimney. The brick buildings take you back in time with warehouse structures. Value 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 4/5 Quality 4/5 17/20 read more

Excellent place to visit for the sites, not the food. American Tobacco Campus is, in my mind, what set the change of Durham into motion. Google {I've been corrected, it wasn't Google as I always thought, it was Capitol Broadcasting} dumped a brunch of money into the industrial area (an old cigarette factory) and transformed it into a icon of Durham: maintaining the beautiful brick buildings and industrial smoke tower and water tower, while bringing in a site for entrepreneur and start-ups. If you're passing through Durham or live in Chapel Hill or Raleigh and have never been to ATC, you really must visit. Whether it's for their summer "on the lawn" series, for the winter iceskating rink or just to pass through when you're across the street for a Durham Bulls baseball game or a show at the DPAC. My personal favorite time of year at the ATC is during the Christmas holidays when they light up the campus, absolutely beautiful. This also makes for a very romantic spot, anytime of year. ATC has a beautiful stream that runs through the campus, sculptures, the Full Frame Theater (with Boiler Room event space and the Power Plant Art Gallery) with it's bold, old-timey sign, and don't forget the rocking chairs, hammocks, picnic tables, life-sized chess set and outdoor fires. The large quad area is perfect for the kiddo's to run around on or to set up a picnic. Plus, ATC houses business like Burts Bees (corporate offices), a great YMCA location and even the Arts Institute. The only downside of ATC is their lack of good restaurants. Tyler's has you covered with beer, but skip it for food. Other options include Mellow Mushroom and Cuban Revolution. It you have to get something to eat, I wouldn't even recommend going directly across the street to the ballpark area, it's just as quick to walk downtown and the options are so much better (Bar Virgile is a great option!) Overall, definitely stop by American Tobacco Campus for the view but go elsewhere for food. read more

See all

The old tobacco industry heritage. You create a tobacco empire, a product that quite literally causes people to die and you get a hospital named after you, well that makes a lot of sense. Cool space for strolling around. My favorite part of Durham. Little waterfalls trickling through this downtown space. There is a train in the middle just like that. Some signs about the history of the area would have made sense. There is some green space for lounging around. There is an event space called the Cage, where they were playing something called Moog, not sure if it was some futuristic electronic music or just a guy tuning his equipment. read more

See all

Really mixed feeling about this place. 5/5 for just how cool this place is with the train, the water features, the tower, the brick building, train station, tiny cabin, etc. It is truly a beautiful outdoor public space that invites all to come out and enjoy. Great space for events, concerts, movie, festival, and community gathering...but 1/5 for 'why is this place not populated by restaurants, cafe, gift shops, ice cream places, cocktail bars, wine bars, wine shops, galleries, and shops? This place has so much potential to really draw crowds here and make it an no. 1 destination on weekends, for dates, for business meetings, or a true nightlife destination till 2 pm...this could really become the epicenter that turns Durham into a 'city' and boost the economy...really hope changes are coming to make most of the spaces in the campus being food/drink/commercial...and not just boring offices that don't bring people to downtown Durham and spend $ in Durham read more

Love the free music concerts on the law in the summer. What a perfect place to relax on Friday or Sunday evenings, side on the grass for a picnic or bring your favorite camp chair and relax on the sidelines. Perfect lazy evening porch sitting. Plenty of parking at the garage next door and lots of little food and restaurant choices in the surrounding. The businesses open up their offices for public bathrooms, the cool flowing water fountains add to the ambiance. They even do film nights. read more

See all

What a beautiful space! Lauren R. captured the physical details of the American Tobacco Campus in her review; brick is abundant and gives a historical flair to the area. With several dining options, shops, DPAC and major bus terminals nearby, it still surprises me that American Tobacco Campus can be such a quiet place in the middle of Durham. Granted, there are not that many shops that I am interested in personally, and a lot of the spaces are dedicated to office space. However, the water features, interactive art, hammocks, and water tower are good for at least an afternoon of exploring. Also, sometimes there are concerts and special events (receptions, full frame documentary festival showings) that take place here. Worth checking out! read more

See all

Incredible must see location in Durham. Great for walking around, kicking back to catch a show or people watch, eat or drink at one of the joints there. The only thing I can't figure out is why there are no shops on the campus. read more

See all

What a fun area of Durham! Restaurants and businesses comingle, right across the street from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park! Parking is free and usually easy (except on game night), and the selection of restaurants is fun. Outdoor seating (some for restaurants and some for general seating) is plentiful, and the landscaping is nice. (I especially like the water flowing through.) read more

American Tobacco Campus - American Tobacco Campus - Local Flavor Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

What a cool place! Water features, renovated old tobacco factory buildings, a few restaurants...great holiday decorations! Only con? Not sure that it's been utilized in the best way. Incorporating more restaurants and shops would make it more of a destination than businesses. But it's worth a quick look just due to the cool architectural features! read more

See all

I loved that my office (Ai) was at this venue when I first moved to Durham from New York City. I was apprehensive about the move, but the beautiful environment where I worked certainly helped things. From the Lucky Strike tower to the man-made river to the easy accessibility to downtown Durham, my experience here was good. The restaurants here are *okay*, but as some other reviewers mentioned, you really have to venture a bit further, over to Main Street and beyond to find the volume of Durham's fantastic food culture. ATC came a long way from old abandoned factories to where it is now. I loved Bay 7- what an exquisite venue for events! I hosted several large events there, while I worked at Ai. I haven't been over here for awhile, so maybe it's time for a trip down memory lane fairly soon. read more

I started working at ATC last December and love it! Plenty of restaurants to choose from and walking distance to Main Street. Also they have a lot of events going on on the campus that you never get bored during and after work. e.g Pop-up popcorn day, Durham Bulls Opening Tenant Day, Full Frame Festival, numerous Broadway shows playing at the DPAC, and Bluegrass music on select Thursday nights during the summer. Also I love SweetWater Ice comes by weekly to provide an incentive for me to take a break from work. Another bonus is that my commute time was cut by 10-15 minutes. read more

The Tobacco Campus, to me, is what Brightleaf Square aspires to be. This mixed-use shopping center has done amazing renovations to Durham's factory buildings in the Tobacco District (this is the area that Southpoint mall is modeled after). Brilliantly located adjacent to the Durham Bulls stadium, it's the perfect place for a pre-game pint or meal at Tyler's. Music on the Lawn events take place spring through fall, and the region hosts other exhibits throughout the year. Pretty soon the new, highly anticipated Durham Arts Center will open within, making this a prime spot in the Triangle for entertainment of every kind (and, I predict, positioning Durham to finally become more of a major player on the scene). read more

A great find of old and new! Tale your time strolling through this downtown area~recommend! Looking for something to see, do and eat....this is the place! Enjoy...the pics say everything!! read more

See all

Bravo to Durham for doing an amazing job with a downtown revitalization! Taking a tobacco industrial area and turning it into a mix use area for restaurants, bars, ballpark, and occasional concerts! It's such a cool and intriguing place to come and hangout to get away from it all! From the random benches, manmade river running throughout, or hammocks to relax in, its a destination within downtown to get away from it all with a cool vibe! read more

See all

June 6, 2013 Down Town Durham - Find Your Cool (under the wrong heading...) A Chapel Hill Outsider report - So I've made it to four of the last five shows, only missing D-Day. Was thinking why I've enjoyed the shows. For me it's been a pleasant change for Thursday nights- not so far to travel, easy parking, able to sit outside in the square ( gave a minor flash back of Vicenza's central plaza ) while Watching the setting sun's shadow on the buildings. And it's over by 8:30pm. Perhaps it's a work life balance -- I like local music, local micro brew and access to gourmet ice cream, which I have resisted. And the show is free.You can even bring a picnic. If you like to people observe, there is diversity every bit as interesting as an afternoon outside the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. But with a decidedly Durham Hipster tilt. It's family friendly, children dance to the music and even wear funny costume heads. Dog's eat gourmet ice cream and check the Bull out. For those in nearby counties for whom Durham is a curious place, the cafe's with outdoor seating and the very local shops are curious and inviting on Main Street. Just like Franklin Street used to be. Writing from the next county over, it seems Down Town Durham, has Found It's Cool. It's rain or shine, every Thursday night from 7:00-8:30pm. thru August 8th. Rain dates are at the Pinhook. Schedule: http://downtowndurham.com/assets/whatsup/CoolPoster.pdf The music has been good, perhaps because ex Art Center Tess Mangum Ocana is booking and setting up the shows. Grab the family, bring the dog, and enjoy a very pleasant Thursday evening before the summer is over. http://www.mortgagechoice.com/down-town-durham.html read more

I both love this area and am slightly disappointed, as I think they could have done a lot more to share the history of the tobacco trade in Durham here. However, without a doubt this area has been revitalized by the city, next to the Bull's ballpark. There is a river flowing through the area, and is lined with restaurants and shops up and down the area. Fun place to wander, and a great concert series on the lawn area under the water tower during the summer months. read more

I haven't been here in a couple years. Much better than before. The sliders were delicious and you can mix and match between BBQ , burger, or buffalo chicken!! Yum! Service was fast even though it was during a busy basketball game. Mojito was delicious but other rum drink I ordered was tinnnnnny! Oh I should add that I went into labor here in 2014....less eventful dinner this time around! :) read more

I discovered Durham's biggest "secret" during the Best of the Triangle Party last Saturday. SUCH a gorgeous area -- the scenery and landscaping of the grounds were breath-taking! Loved the sounds of rushing water and the vibrancy! I honestly felt like I was in the middle of an amusement park, expecting to stumble upon a ride attraction to be around the corner... The large stretch of lawn was a perfect spot for couples and families to stretch out while they feasted on the free food and listen to the live band. I absolutely LOVED the stringed lights overhead by the restaurants. I wish I had spent more time exploring the nooks and crannies of the campus, but I will DEFINITELY be back! read more

The Campus is a great place to spend an hour walking around. If you appreciate old buildings, architecture and style, you will enjoy this gem. Look at the brick work and imagine how they constructed it a century ago without the technology and equipment we have today. Amazing! From reading other reviews, it appears much of the former retail establishments have closed. But the sound of the rushing water will cool one on a hot day. Much like Camden Yards in Baltimore, grand old buildings have been restored and repurposed. It is refreshing to see someone had the foresight to turn this into an attraction rather than a demolition job. The Bulls stadium is also across the street. As an added benefit, parking in the nearby garage is free for 2 hours. Also, don't miss Burt's Bees cabin! read more

I love the concept of this campus. There are restaurants, walking paths, a parking garage, and more. The Durham Bulls play next door so the parking lot can be slow going on a game night. Other than that, the campus is beautiful and I would love to work at this location. The feel of the building is something we just don't get with the standard office cubicles with three walls and no window. There are benches outdoors encouraging you to come out for fresh air and sunshine (remember that?). I enjoy every trip to the campus. Today's visit was for a a special event held in Bay 7. It was a nice, open space for special occasions (great for wedding receptions). read more