Mattie Beason can’t help but to tinker. For the glitzy restaurant scene, downtown Durham was uncharted territory in the early 2000s when Beason marched in to plant a flag with Pop’s and Rue Cler. He pioneered late-night upscale dining when he brought his rotating menu of small bites to Six Plates off Erwin Road. Most recently, his Black Twig Cider House offers an extensive list of ciders, including Tzotz, which pours from a barrel down a long chute before the eyes (and gullets) of thirsty patrons.
So it comes as no surprise that he’d tweak the food truck experience by offering the Triangle’s very first food truck court. County Fare, to be built at 1920 Chapel Hill Road, will host one hundred and fifty guests inside a large steel barn, and an additional two hundred people outside. With that comes a rotating selection of three to seven food trucks in the circular drive.
“We’ll offer amenities not usually available to customers at food trucks,” says Beason. “There will be bathrooms, a full bar, and indoor seating.”
The concept fills many holes for Triangle diners. For one, it provides a space where either a family of four or a group of nearly thirty people can meet comfortably, while still accommodating a wide palate of tastes. It also allows someone with a hankering for Korean street tacos or grilled cheese sliders to pair those plates with a glass of fine wine from the bar.
“I’m always looking for a way to improve the dining experience,” Beason says. “I like to bring something new to the table.”
Keep meddling, Mattie!
This article appeared in print with the headline “County Fare, The Triangle’s First Food Court.”
