Dampf Good BBQ will not open new restaurant in Durham after community backlash, tell me about this news today

Dampf Good BBQ, a Texas-style barbecue concept run by owners Nick and Bryce Dampf, has officially decided against opening its planned permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Durham, North Carolina.

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The restaurant was originally announced to take over the former space of The Pit on Geer Street. However, the plans quickly sparked widespread pushback from the local community. The backlash centered around the owners’ publicly expressed conservative and fundamentalist Christian views, as well as past social media posts that clashed with Durham’s progressive, LGBTQ+-friendly identity.

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Following the heavy public criticism, the owners announced they were scrapping the expansion, stating on social media that their faith was under attack, while local reactions remained heavily divided over community standards, accountability, and free expression.