So quaint! Decent drinks, coffee, tea, food, etc. Food trucks visit regularly (visit their website for schedule details). Great place to stop in and hang around. They have a nice collection of games, too... if you like to sit in coffee shops and play games, which I do. Nice little outdoor space. I don't have anything bad to say about this place, but I'm cheap and would have appreciated a bottomless iced tea instead of $1 for each refill.
Review Source:This is not a sporting goods store anymore.
It is a lovely little cafe/grocery/community center/I don't even know what.
How do I know?
Well it was a gorgeous Sunday in January and we decided to walk on Franklin street in Chapel Hill. We knew enough, at least, to not turn back when we hit the bend. So we kept walking and ended up in Carrboro but rather than stop on Weaver & Main we kept walking past our normal stops and around yet another bend on Main. We passed a few more cool shops, lots of funky Carrboro houses, and then a coffee shop which looked to be about the end of the line (Looking Glass Cafe). The day was too beautiful so we decided to just keep walking for several more blocks until we happened upon what has got to be one of the coolest places we've stumbled upon by chance in all our wandering around the Triangle thus far. Â
The place looks like just a house on the side of the road with a name that is just as deceptive -- Johnny's Gone Fishing. Today when we were there Parlez Vous Crepe was parked on the property serving up crepes (it seems like they regularly have some trucks around there). We walked inside to find a lovely little local store selling a bit of everything -- clothes, vegetables, bakery items (including gluten free) , wine, beer, and, of course, a lovely little counter serving coffee (and other beverages) along with a few cafe style options.
The place was dripping with local charm and even had great sound with folks chatting happily over coffee and a pair of folks working their music together over a guitar. This is a truly wonderful place that you should seek out if you are anywhere near the Carrboro area.
Community has been and always will be important to me, having spent the better half of my life working towards building and strengthening communities both on a small scale locally, as well as on a large scale globally. Â Ever since my arrival to Chapel Hill (and then Carrboro), I have attempted to find a sense of local community, good will, and just good people in general. Â There is no doubt that Carrboro has this sort of community, and there is no better establishment that embodies this sentiment than Johnny's. Â Nowhere else in all the places that I have lived have I ever felt so welcome, accepted, and safe than at Johnny's. Â The first time I entered the store, the two managers Meg and Duncan gave me a cookie because I tasted some lackluster (yet healthy) celery juice. Â Already enchanted with the calm and welcoming atmosphere, I continued to return throughout the following weeks. Â Within 2 weeks, I was already on first name terms with most of the staff at Johnny's, and had developed relationships to the point where I would stop by moreso for the good company and conversation rather than just my daily cup of coffee as is usually the case at all other coffee establishments. Â By the way, the coffee is from Carrboro Coffee Roasters, and is probably the best coffee I have sampled yet (having sampled Counter Culture, and other unique roasts throughout the Triangle). Â
Soon I began attending events at Johnny's, to include the occasional wine tasting as well as live music performances. Â I cannot say I've ever found myself in a more serendipitous environment, as random strangers engaged each other with conversation on the music, on Carrboro, on the lovely establishment, all the while sampling and then purchasing wine from the tasting. Â The music that comes to Johnny's is serene, eccentric, unique, and accommodating. Â I have nothing but praise for what is slowly turning into the strongest community hub I have ever had the joy to be a part of.
Johnny's is more than just a place or a building on Main Street, it is the heartbeat of this up and coming community, made up of people who care about holding onto something that is hard to come by in other places.
I work from home quite a bit, and so it's nice to be able to visit the various and sundry coffeeshops in the area and work. Evidently contributing to the tax base is frowned upon at Johnny's, at least it is when you contribute to it within their four walls as a customer.
I had the good pleasure of meeting Johnny's owner today. After spending a good half hour updating his blog on his own laptop (at least that's what I gathered from half-listening), he walked up to me and asked, "Do you like children?" Before I could answer, he gestured to the little girl who may have been his granddaughter and said, "We're trying to make this the kinda place where children are more important than laptops. We're trying to make this the kinda place where people come to meet. You can go down the street to all the other coffeeshops if you need to be on your laptop."
I told the owner that I taught schoolchildren for 10 years, so yes, I do like children. It was at this point he formally introduced himself with his name an his identity as the owner.
I find several things about this interaction galling. If you don't want people working on their laptops, maybe don't offer free wi-fi? If you want other people visiting at 2 in the afternoon on a Monday other than your own family members and the people who already work here, perhaps be a little more inviting? If you do prefer to discriminate against certain types of people who may want to patronize your coffeeshop, by all means, make them feel uncomfortable for doing the kinds of things people do at coffeeshops. Finally, why spend so much time on your own laptop only to shut it and encourage others to git?
I dunno, I'm new to town, and it can be hard to meet new people staying holed up indoors. I also have a job to do. Maybe the kinds of people I want to meet aren't the kinds who don't want me around.
The saving grace of this place is indeed it's ambiance, it's coffee, and it's food. And everyone else I've meet here who works here is incredibly affable and kind. But it's strange. Coming from a big city, no one cares who you are and what you do within reason--as long as you pay. I'm coming to grips with the fact that in some places in this lovely town (and I mean that truly), in some places, it DOES matter who you are and what you do, no matter how inoffensive or unobtrusive you think you are being.
So anyway, K____, I got your message loud and clear. Regardless of it's intent, its subtle messaging wasn't lost on me. I don't plan to be meeting with my laptop at your establishment anytime soon. In fact, I don't plan to be meeting anyone there in the near future. And I'll send along your message along with my own personal addenda to all the new people I will be meeting.
See you around,
Mike
I get my coffee here quite often but when they closed down for maybe five months because of owner arguments I was quite frustrated. The crepe truck is marvelous and everything tastes wonderful but you can't close something for five months for nothing but an argument and then expect customers to come back. I don't go to Johnny's much anymore.
  Also, I feel like some cashiers aren't paying attention. Once I stood at the register for ten minutes while the man played Fruit Ninja on his iPod. I cleared my throat a couple times and said "Excuse me." But he said "Hold on." I ended up leaving because he wouldn't even give name a discount for his lack of customer-care.
This place is simply sweet. Every time I come here to pick up some eggs fresh from the coop down the street or for the $99 wine case deal Brian puts together, I end up drinking some good, cheap brews with some cool local people. They always have live music and good food trucks in the parking lot competing for your love. Taco truck always wins, Pie Pushers a close second.
Review Source:I wanted to like this place, mainly based on all the Yelp reviews. Â Perhaps I just went at the wrong time, but I went on Saturday morning about 9:30am for coffee and the hopes that I would hit up the Crepe truck. Â The crepes out front were great! Â But this isnt a review of their truck. Â The coffee at Johnny's was weak and burnt. Â The staff was relatively friendly, and the inside of the shop is quaint (looks like a DIY treehouse) and the outside patio looks really cool. Â I was just really hoping for *good* coffee and they totally missed the mark.
Review Source:Here's the deal, ya'll - Johnny's is wonderful and beautiful and great for all the reasons enumerated in other reviews. So why not 5 stars? One reason: the awful, awful live music. I get it, it's a nice idea and all, but seriously, nothing puts a damper on a lovely afternoon or evening than some dude playing fusion riffs or recycled Santana solos loud enough to make conversation difficult. I still love Johnny's, but the crappy music is seriously aggravating.
Review Source:Johnny's is a great place for any number of tastes. Â I don't really know how to describe it to people - coffeeshop inside, that also sells some groceries and wine/beer; music venue inside and out; site for various food trucks.... it's a unique place. Â The first time I went with 2 friends and the woman working there gave us a buck off our bottle of wine, uncorked it, and gave us 3 cups. Â Nice! Â Then we got some tacos and listened to some music - it was a great time. Â The taco truck is the best one I've encountered in the area, and it's cheap. Â (Carnitas tacos were $1.75.) Â I would also recommend going on Saturday morning for some crepes and jazz. Â It's definitely best when it's warm and pretty so you can take advantage of the outdoor seating.
Make sure you check out their website, particularly the calendar, so you'll know what's featured. Â It can be a let-down when you bike over for some tacos and find out it's a hamburger truck instead (or vice versa I suppose...)
Tamales for breakfast!
I usually stop somewhere else for coffee, but the lights were dark, so I remembered Johnny's and drove on over. I stumbled in, disoriented in the eclectic sort of strangely organized place, but heard the word, "Coffee?" and I answered "Yes!" The nice man (guess it was Brian) took my measure and told me I would like the tamales for breakfast. So I obeyed and bought one.
He was right. Perfect cheese/hotpepper/masa combination on an empty stomach. The coffee is probably good, too, but my mouth is burning too much to tell. Love it.
I'm a fan of Johnny's! Â They've got a great space that is perfect for those Food Truck Roundups, and can I just say that I am thrilled with their wine selection? Â I was able to get a bottle of my favorite Malbec for about $5 less than I get it at WF, AND they recommended another one to me that I really enjoyed.
The outdoor seating is great for spring, and they've also got a great selection of pastries and snacks. Win.
When I moved to Carrboro, finding this eclectic establishment within walking distance of my home was an unexpected bonus. Â Its a great place to wander down to on a Saturday morning or weekend night to see what's going on... could be live music, a portable pizza oven, some of your neighbors, or just a bunch of chickens running around.
Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, everybody-friendly. Â What more could you want?
Well, since you asked, I guess the crepe truck could arrive at 8 am instead of 9.
Top 10 Reasons why I *heart* Johnny's!
10) Â The taco truck -- usually here Thursday-Sunday
9) Seasonal stuff like pumpkins and Christmas trees
8) Brian kept the name "Johnny's" as an homage to the old bait and tackle shop--be sure to ask someone where they used to keep the deer hanging in the walk-in cooler!
7) Cool/funky outdoor seating and picnic tables/rustic decor
6) Gugelhupf pastries--in fact, if I'm lucky enough, I'll see the truck pass by my window and then I know to head over to Johnny's for a chocolate croissant or a freshly baked baguette.
5) The crepe truck on Saturday mornings/early afternoons--I love nutella/banana crepes!
4) Music--esp. the jazz combo that plays on Saturday mornings--we loved them so much that we...
3) ...used them for our wedding--and we loved Johnny's so much that it was the site for our wedding reception (Andrew Y. below aludes to this in his review--and he's right--it was absolutely beautiful--Brian and the rest of his staff really knocked themselves out to make the reception really laid back but also lovely--and we got to decorate the place with just simple white candles/lumieres and white lights.
2) I can walk there. Â 'Nuf said.
1) It's good to support local business
Great establishment-culture, grub, coffee, beer, its all good.. Â I went by today for the best coffee beans in the triangle, their triple X brew. Â Frickin delicious. Â They just renovated and they have expanded into where the Latino food store used to be so they now have the entire 1st floor. Â The place serves excellent coffee, brewed at a good strong level, plus they now have a delicious selection of beers, including Rouges. Â Not a better place in carrboro to spend some time. Â Plus they got christmas trees for sale right now so it smells of pine needles. Â To add to the groovy factor, they have taco trucks a couple nights a week.
Review Source:There's not much I can say about Johnny's that hasn't been said by other reviewers. Â It's a fantastic, laid-back gem in the Carrboro community. Â La Fermiere (fried egg, spinach, cheese, and veggie sausage wrapped in a crepe) from the Parlez Vous crepe truck is the highlight of my Saturday afternoon, after an Apple Cider donut and coffee from Sari Sari Sweets at the Carrboro Farmer's Market. Â
The outdoor space is a great place to gather with friends and a beer to hear some live music or have a conversation. Â The store has a good beer selection, amazing pastries, an ATM (you'll need it for the crepe or taco trucks), and some other staples. Â
Update: Johnny's has been remodeling and it looks lovely. Â And, they have a farmer's market on some weekday evenings (check their website for details). Â They also have a new Twitter account: @johnnyscarrboro
We recently had a slew of guests come through town and upon reflection I realized that a visit to Johnny's (preferably by bike) was a priority with almost every single friend or family member who visited. Â It was like a local treasure that we felt we needed to share. Â Johnny's is not fancy, but that is what makes it so darn special.
For grub you can more often than not trust that there will be either the crepe truck or the taco truck there to delight your epicurean fancies. Â Johnny's XXX coffee is a staple in our household now, as well! Â
The first Saturday morning my husband and I ever biked to Johnny's (we moved here back in the fall) they had a tent set up and were cookin' up fine local vittles. Â Yummy, freshly baked biscuits stacked with bacon and scrambled eggs from their local farm source. Â They had music playing on their back porch and an eclectic assortment of chairs and picnic tables spread about the yard, good for kickin' back. Â The only big draw back is that this is all weather-pending, but on a nice, blue-sky day, whether you're looking for music, brew (of either the coffee or beer varieties), unique local fare, or just an all around great sense of community, Johnny's is the place!
Moving here from the busy borough of Brooklyn, finding a place where I could bike to, grab a cup of coffee and let my toddler son run around was a godsend! He used to love chasing the chickens (who seem to have disappeared again). The coffee, roasted at Jessee's is good and they have a steady supply of Guggelhupf's yummy pastries. If I were to make one complaint it's that the pastries are rarely available before 9, when us folks with kids are up and ready to eat. I doubt that's something they have any control over though and usually they have day old pastries available at a discount to make up for it. One of my favorite places in Carrboro!
Review Source:I don't think I actually had any of Johnny's inventory, but they were the site of my cousin's wedding and it was a really pleasant experience. The site was clean and empty canvas for the wedding reception to be setup. There are also two food trucks that share shifts in part of the parking lot. A crepes truck that we did not get to try and a TACO truck! Yes, I did get to try and it's pretty good. If for some reason I was stranded in Carborro unintentionally, I'd be rest assured that I would eat well.
Anyway, rock on and keep being a mellow place to hang out.
Totally great place. Â Good coffee (what no decaf for my nerves!?) and delicious little pastries. Â It's got a great outdoor area with a lot going on. Â A bit strange, it has a somewhat unfinished feel but that ups the quirkiness factor nicely. Â The first time I stopped here they had a crepe cart and the second time a lady making empanadas and grilled meat. Â They also had a couple selling eggs, locally produced meat, bread, and yogurt. Â I talked to the wife (it's "small potatoes farm") and she told me that they will also sell milk on request. Â There's also a small Mexican market in the front that sells various veg, fruits and canned goods that make me miss the food options in Los Angeles less.
Review Source:Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Â Well, this is the place. Â Not only will you find delicious local goods (milk, butter, pastries, wine), you'll be met with friendly faces and a warm atmosphere. Â And, if the good eats/drinks and smiles don't get you... the wonderful local musicians that perform there on Friday nights (and throughout the week over the summer) will.
Seriously - check out Johnny's. Â You won't find another place like it.
Lunch items from Neal's Deli
Patries from Guglhupf Bakery
Parlez-Vous Crepes on Saturday from 9am - 2pm
from the Chapel Hill News:
Longtime Carrboro bait-and-tackle shop Johnny's Sporting Goods at 901 W. Main St. has had a facelift. New owner Brian Plaster has turned the back room into a quirky convenience store/coffee shop, serving quick drip coffee, pastries and sundries, including local Farmer's Daughter-brand homemade preserves and sauerkraut, Chapel Hill Creamery cheeses and, like any convenience store worth its salt, Coca-Cola and Heinz ketchup. The store retains a retro vibe, with worn wooden floorboards and vintage Sunbeam bread signs. Plaster has had a "very soft" opening during the past several weeks, more items should be on the shelves soon.
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