Pioneers Durham
Nestled in the historic Old North Durham neighborhood, Pioneers Durham boasts a locally curated retail store, a cozy coffee and tea shop, a welcoming cafe to study and work in, co-working and classroom space, and a versatile event venue.
Shop Pioneers Durham
Our mission-driven retail space showcases over 70 local artisans, who are predominately women and people of color. We carry an additional 100 small businesses from across the country and abroad, and every small business we carry restores dignity, builds equity, or helps solve a problem. From supporting foster care in Durham to combating human trafficking in the Research Triangle, every time to you shop at Pioneers Durham you are building a brighter future.
Community Events
From classes on entrepreneurship to trivia nights and live music, there’s always something going on at Pioneers Durham.
Host an Event
Our versatile event and meeting venue is an ideal setting for a wide range of occasions, including birthday celebrations, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, workshops, and various other gatherings. Whether you require spacious seating on both our upper and lower levels or need assistance from our dedicated event team to bring your vision to life, we can cater to events of any size and style.
Explore Faith
If you're looking for a judgment-free space to ask hard questions about faith, the meaning of life, and purpose and share your opinion, there's a place for you. Pioneers Church is a multicultural church that centers its work on feasting together as we pursue the ways of Jesus.
Our Story
Pioneers is a new retail and community concept introducing a space to sip, shop, and build friends in the beautiful Bull City. We believe that people matter and how we shop matters. At Pioneers you’ll find curated goods, gifts, and consumables that are not only part of the new growth in Durham, but also keep equity and community development at the center of what we do. When you drink our coffee, you’re supporting local entrepreneurs. When you shop Pioneers, you’re investing in tiny, micro-business owners that are dreaming up a new dawn for their families.
Did you move to Durham because you wanted to be part of the weird, creative, and diverse leg of the Research Triangle? Are you in a creative, technical, or medical field and dreaming or playing in the startup wonderland that is Durham? Are you a student whose world just got bigger? We are creating a space for Durhamites, new and native, to build community through good food, good drinks, social events, and a co-working space. Pioneers is part modern general store, part coffee house, part study spot - full third space. Pull up a chair, the wifi and coffee are flowing. Connect with us in person or reach out via email at sherei@pioneerschurch.co.
Pioneers is an expression and overflow of our faith. We believe that healthy spirituality includes pursuing healthy community. Learn more about our new faith community below:
About Sherei
Sherei Lopez Jackson is founder of the Pioneers. She’s pursuing her Doctorate at Asbury (‘26), is a Duke Divinity grad (‘20), and mama to Bear and Cat. Sherei is a serial entrepreneur and likes to stress her parents out with all the wild and wonderful dreams that haven’t stopped pouring since ‘89 - but she comes by it honest (her Puerto Rican Papi is also a serial entrepreneur). She’s also the happy wife to Daniel Jackson, who is her partner in entrepreneurship and shenanigans. Together they live in beautiful North Durham. These days, she’s dreaming about community, equity, and faith.