A Durham Tradition Since 1942
701 Foster Street Durham, NC 27701
Our menu features both new and classic foods that have been served at King’s Sandwich Shop since the 1940s.
Menu
We’re open Monday-Saturday and closed on Sunday. Check out our Contact Us page for specific restaurant hours.
Hours
One of the unique aspects about King’s is that is has been around since the 1940s. Learn more about our unique history.
Read More
Home | Employment Opportunities | Photography by Chase Olivieri | Paintings by Will Fernandez
King’s sandwich shop, located in historic downtown Durham, North Carolina, has been serving up some of the best hot dogs, burgers, fries and shakes since 1942.
King’s is an all-American, family-run business that remains an icon in the Durham community, symbolizing the traditional simplicity of days gone by. King’s takes one back to a time when hardworking men and women would reward themselves and their families with a Durham Bull’s game, good times with family and friends and an honest-to-goodness burger or hot dog–pure satisfaction to the soul.
The McDermott family is honored to continue this tradition. King’s has been fully updated to today’s restaurant codes, while at the same time preserving the original, rich, historic character that makes King’s Sandwich Shop the best little hot dog stand and gathering place in Durham!
Whether you stop by for a hot dog before the game at the old ball park or swing by on your lunch break for a juicy burger….we know you’ll love the fresh, delicious food and fast, friendly service!
Home | Employment Opportunities | Photography by Chase Olivieri | Paintings by Will Fernandez
Originally Established in 1942
The King’s Sandwich Shop brand was originally born in 1937 and started as a small hot dog stand that was just across the street from their current building. Harry Stephanopoulos, originally from Greece and commonly known and George Stevens was well known for his savory hot dogs and people referred to him as ‘the king of hot dog’s in Durham’.
Then five years later in 1942, Maynard Peace, a new investor came along and decided to rent a piece of land from the High family that owned Carolina Nursery. King’s Sandwich Shop was born and had a new home that would be well known amongst all of the many that worked in downtown Durham for the next sixty years. After Mr. Peace decided to leave the business, Sherrill High took over and operated the sandwich shop up until the early 1990s.
Back then, King’s was surrounded by gas stations and across the street there was a Texaco service station, a Gulf station and an Exxon station where gas sold for 16 cents a gallon. There was also a Cadillac car sales dealership and a bank. Just up the hill there were several tobacco warehouses and you could smell the tobacco all the time. People dressed up, ladies would wear hats and gloves and shopping was a huge part of life. Silver’s Department store and Woolworth’s were two of the largest that contributed to the booming downtown area.
In the 1990s, ownership of King’s was transferred to Bobby Suggs, a Durham dentist and longtime King’s aficionado. King’s fed the entire town until it eventually closed in 2007 as it came into disrepair.
In late 2008, T.J. McDermott, a former City of Durham construction project manager, decided he wanted to buy the establishment and reopen King’s. T.J. drove past the abandoned King’s building everyday and said he could only dream about running his own restaurant at that time. The High family was unsure and even tried to talk down McDermott, but T.J. was persistent. After much convincing, the High family decided sell the place and the two parties inked a deal.
Over the course of a year T.J. rallied community members to help him restore the famous King’s restaurant. People helped him install a new roof and weld new metalwork for the interior and exterior of the building among other things. The High family was so impressed with T.J.’s dedication and hard work that they granted him permission to use the original King’s name and continue the tradition that started back in 1937.
Finally, in August of 2010 King’s Sandwich Shop re-opened for business.
Home | Employment Opportunities | Photography by Chase Olivieri | Paintings by Will Fernandez
Do you have a question for King’s? Want to talk to us for an interview? Wonder what type of oil we use? Ask away! Just use this handy question box below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!
Restaurant Hours:
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed Sunday
Street Address:
701 Foster St.
Durham, NC 27701
Tel: (919) 682-0071