Bull City
Discovery Society

Made for the curious. Made for Durham.

Your next
favorite spot.
On us.

Local gems. Open tabs. Good company.
Discover a little more of Durham with complimentary experiences at the places that make it special.

Get Discovery Drop invites

Free to join. A little adventure included. 21+

Durham locals browsing together during a Discovery Drop at Middle of May Vintage Thrift
A little discovery. A lot of community.
Neighbors enjoying a Discovery Drop at Bull City Burger
See you around, Durham.
4,000+ curious localsNew Drops each monthFood, retail & moreAlways local. Always a discovery.

Meet the Discovery Drop

Your city has
good surprises.

We open a tab at a local spot.
You come discover something you love.

Discovery Drops are limited-time windows to enjoy complimentary menu items or products at Durham’s independent businesses. Think ice cream, vintage finds, burgers, and your next “how did I not know about this?”

Here’s how it works

A few very good days out

Been there. Discovered that.

A taste of past Drops. Your next discovery is still a surprise.

Less planning. More discovering.

Good plans.
Three simple steps.

You bring your curiosity.
We’ll take care of the tab.

  1. 01

    We find the local gems.

    We team up with independent Durham businesses and fund a tab for you to try their food, products, and experiences.

  2. 02

    You get the invite.

    We email you the place, time, and what’s included. Show up early—Drops are first come, first served, while the tab lasts.

  3. 03

    Find a new favorite.

    Enjoy something complimentary, meet a few neighbors, and spread the word about a local spot worth coming back to.

Sounds like my kind of thing

Good company comes with it

The locals get it.

4,000+ locals in on the discovery

I’ve discovered so much through you guys. Y’all pick really good spots to try.
Jamie P.
Durham resident
This is fun to be a part of. My husband and I use this as a reason to get out of the house on the weekend.
Erin O.
Morrisville resident

A little more to know

Curious?
Good.

Here are the details.

What kinds of Discovery Drops can I expect?

Think coffee and pastries, burgers and fries, ice cream, vintage finds, groceries, and more. Every Drop is a chance to discover something different at a local business. Your invite will tell you what’s included.

Why do you do this anyway?

Because when local businesses thrive, communities thrive. We bring people through the doors of Durham’s independent businesses and give neighbors a reason to try somewhere new. Read our story.

Do I need to be a Durham resident to join?

Nope. You don’t have to live in Durham to join. If you’re 21 or older and want to discover what our local businesses have to offer, you’re welcome here.

How are the tabs funded?

Local service providers help fund the experience as Welcome Hosts. They get to meet their neighbors, local businesses get discovered, and you get to enjoy something complimentary. The person welcoming you might be a local insurance agent, realtor, or furniture maker.