The Chicken Hut opened the doors of its Fayetteville Street location in Durham almost 70 years ago. Today, it holds the title of ‘local historic landmark.’

Tre Tapp, the son of restaurant founders Claiborne and Peggy Tapp, now runs the business.

He was at the Durham City Council meeting on Oct. 6 when councilmembers voted unanimously to designate the Black-owned business as a historic landmark.

“I know we’re a staple in the community, but leaving here tonight, we’ll be a landmark in Durham, and for my daughters, just how my parents worked so hard, poured so much blood and sweat and tears,” said Tapp. “My heart is filled with joy right now. I just wish both my parents were here to see but I’m sure they’re smiling down from heaven.”

Julianne Pattreson, the executive director of Preservation Durham, said Tapp started the process to make his business a historic landmark years ago.

“The effort kind of waned throughout the years, and it was really last summer we had an intern who is now a full time employee of preservation Durham, and she really kind of kick started the process again, doing all the research,” said Patterson.

Preservation Durham submitted an application to the city in February. It went to the State Historic Preservation Office for review, then headed back to the city’s historic preservation committee before being approved by the city council.

“There’s a lot of the work that we do on a daily basis that most people will never see or even hear about. It’s a lot of behind the scenes advocacy work, trying to influence change before something is in the 11th Hour,” said Patterson. “It’s rare that we get an opportunity where a property owner wants to proactively take this step, and especially for building and a property and a business that has such a significant impact in in Durham’s history.”

Preservation Durham said The Chicken Hut was a place of activism, support and communal gathering in the city.

Several city council members spoke about the restaurant’s impact at the Oct. 6 meeting.

“I know how hard the job is, from fellow restaurateur to another, but I know when you put your heart, your love, your soul, into it, you’re doing more than just serving food on a plate,” said Mayor Leonardo Williams. “You’re telling the community, ‘I love you,’ and there’s nothing more personable than that.”

Patterson said the designation as a local historical landmark means any changes to the appearance of the building need to go through an approval process. It doesn’t outright prevent demolition, but she said it is one of the strictest protections they have in Durham to stop the building from being torn down.

“We love the city of Durham, and now I’m just so happy that we’ll forever be a landmark,” said Tapp.