[SoDu Showcase] Oct. 2, 2025 - Life in a Northern Town

Weather

Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Tonight, mostly clear with a low around 49.

🧺 SoDu Shopping Basket Report – Week of Oct. 1, 2025

Wondering where to find the cheapest groceries in South Durham this week? We’ve updated our weekly SoDu Shopping Basket with current prices from nine of the area’s major grocery stores - including Walmart, Publix, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and more.

After updating Publix's prices, we found some notable shifts in the rankings, especially for meat and pantry staples.

🥇 Cheapest Grocery Store in South Durham This Week

Walmart stays on top with the lowest overall basket price: $52.68, followed closely by Target ($54.12) and Food Lion ($55.10).

📊 Total Grocery Basket Cost by Store

🧾 Average cost across all stores: $67.47

🔎 Grocery Price Highlights – South Durham

✅ Best Deals This Week

• 🥚 Eggs under $2.40 at Walmart and Target
• 🍗 Boneless chicken breast at $1.99/lb at Food Lion and Harris Teeter
• 🍝 Spaghetti under $1.00 at Walmart, Target, and Food Lion
• 🧀 Cheddar cheese for $1.94–$1.99 at Walmart and Target
• 🍌 Bananas stay budget-friendly at all stores, averaging just $0.61/lb

⚠️ Most Expensive Items

• 🥩 Ground beef is $10.99/lb at Publix and $8.49 at Sprouts
• 🥛 Milk remains high at $7.99 at Fresh Market
• 🧻 Toilet paper hits $13.99 at Fresh Market
• ☕ Coffee jumps to $14.99 at Publix, while Wegmans offers it for $6.99

🛒 What’s your go-to grocery strategy? Let your neighbors know! Comment on this newsletter.

Keep checking the shopping basket page on our newsletter site for updates on comparisons.

The Rivalry Challenge Is On!

Southpoint Access is turning football spirit into community support. Pick your team - Duke, UNC, NC State, or NCCU - and your donation will go toward paying local freelancers to cover South Durham’s stories: our schools, businesses, traffic, youth activities, and neighbors.

I want to raise $4,000 by Dec. 31 to fund local news reporting through the end of the year. Every dollar adds points to your team’s score on our Rivalry Challenge leaderboard.

Cheer for your team. Invest in your community. Keep South Durham connected.

Donate now: ko-fi.com/southpointaccess

Durham Public School Lunch Today

Elementary and Middle Schools

• Entree Options: Beef spaghetti with garlic knot or toasted cheese sandwich.
• Side Options: Green beans, steamed broccoli, chilled pears.

High Schools

• Entree Options: Loaded nachos or crispy chicken salad with roll.
• Side Options: Salsa, fiesta black beans, chilled pears.

EVENTS TODAY AND TOMORROW

TODAY

• 1 – 2:30 p.m. Homeless Services Advisory Committee Executive Committee [Durham Government]: 101 City Hall Plaza
• 4 – 6 p.m. Jordan High Girls Varsity Field Hockey [School Sports]: @ Saint Mary's School
• 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Food Hub Distribution Day [Parktown Food Hub]: 5124 Revere Rd.
• 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. Githens Middle Boys Soccer [School Sports]: @ Brogden Middle School
• 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. Githens Middle Girls Volleyball [School Sports]: @ Brogden Middle School
• 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. Rogers-Herr Boys Soccer [School Sports]: vs. Shepard Middle @ Rogers-Herr Middle School
• 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. Rogers-Herr Girls Volleyball [School Sports]: vs. Shepard Middle @ Rogers-Herr Middle School
• 6 – 7 p.m. Jordan High Girls Varsity Tennis [School Sports]: vs. Riverside High @ Jordan High School
• 6:30 – 8 p.m. Southern High Girls Varsity Volleyball [School Sports]: @ Riverside High School
• 7:30 – 9 p.m. Morbid Tales III [Moon Dog Meadery]: Horror readings and death metal with Cosmic Reaper, Jon Carroll Thomas, and Richard Dansky. 1104 Broad St., Ste. C.

TOMORROW

• All day. These Routes Are Made for Walkin': Exercise Challenge [Durham County Library] (Day 15/43) 4505 S Alston Ave. Discover the deep roots of Durham with our 2025 exercise challenge that celebrates the story of Bull City's history. Track the number of minutes you exercise using our tracker available at South Regional Library (or click here to request a printable PDF) Earn extra entries into the prize drawing by exploring historic areas of Durham. The challenge runs from through Oct. 31. Trackers will be due at South Regional Library (4505 S. Alston Ave) by Nov. 8. Click here for more details. Questions? Email Jessica at jllundin@dconc.gov.
• All day. Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda [Duke Chapel] (Day 1/31): Duke University Chapel. Visitors are invited to contribute to this tradition of honoring the dead by adding an offering in the form of photographs or objects that represent a departed loved one. Visitors also can add a link to a paper chain that drapes over the Ofrenda.
• 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Dance the Night Away - Monster Bash [Durham Parks and Recreation]: 1309 Halley St. Come join the fun and dance the night away. Wear your favorite costume. Pre-registration required. Ages 16 and up. Teen CR fee: Free; Teen non-CR fee: $5. Adult CR fee: $4; Adult non-CR fee: $9.
• 7 – 8:30 p.m. Jordan High Varsity Football [School Sports]: vs. Green Hope High @ Jordan High School

Check out the SoDu Events Calendar. Submit your own events to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news!

NEED A TRAFFIC UPDATE?

Look for the snags and slowdowns that could mangle your commute on our Southpoint Access traffic data page.

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