Lutra Bakery Going Brick and Mortar in Durham

DURHAM, NC – Lutra Bakery, a Durham-based pop-up bakery known for its sweet and savory brioche-centric goods, is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar location at 300 Blackwell St #104, Durham, NC 27701. Chef and owner Chris McLaurin confirmed with Business Debut that the café is currently in the permitting stage, with plans to open by late 2025 or early 2026.

We came across the story first from the Triangle Food Blog.

A New Café in the American Tobacco Campus

McLaurin, who has been running Lutra pop-ups and pre-orders for the past year and a half, said the new space will allow the bakery to expand its offerings beyond pastries. The café will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., featuring counter service during the week and full-service brunch on weekends.

“We want to be a place where people can go often in a week, whether it's just stopping for a cup of coffee or getting breakfast on their way to work,” McLaurin said.

Lutra Café and Bakery plans to expand its bread program to offering a breakfast and lunch menu for dine-in and takeout. During the week, the offerings will remain focused on quick grab and go foods. On the weekends, brunch service will feature a menu with dishes like eggs Benedict and other hot meals, creating what McLaurin calls “a fun brunch atmosphere.”

McLaurin shared that his love of baking started with the signature orange sweet bun, a nostalgic recipe from his childhood.

Over time, Lutra's business operations have grown and they are currently popping up on Sundays at Cheeni Restaurant for brunch. McLaurin's menu at Cheeni is a bit of a preview of the offerings to be expected at the brick and mortar: savory brioche spirals filled with cheese, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, granola bowls, and even their “100-layer hash browns.”

The Chef

McLaurin has spent his career between pastry and full restaurant kitchens. He gained early pastry experience at Rose’s in Durham before serving as chef de cuisine at Poole'side Pies, part of chef Ashley Christensen’s restaurant group in Raleigh. With Lutra, he’s merging those skills into a community-driven bakery and café.

The bakery continues to connect with the Durham community through farmers' markets, wholesale partnerships with local coffee shops, and pre-order pickups until the café officially launches.

Follow for More

For updates on the café’s opening and future menus, follow Lutra Bakery’s website or check their Instagram.