Lisa Callaghan & Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar

If you drove through downtown Durham much this winter, you might have observed some sense of normalcy occurring in a Washington St. parking lot, where party lights border a handful of picnic tables at Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar.  The new restaurant bravely opened its doors (and parking lot) in the middle of the pandemic, offering a brilliantly convivial picnic-style take-out experience.  The visionary behind this oasis is Lisa Callaghan, a Brooklyn transplant with North Carolina roots who is as sharp as she is kind.

Based in Brooklyn, Lisa was a long-time employee for All-Clad, traveling the country as Director of Culinary Relations.  Needless to say, her position meant spending a lot of time in restaurants.  It was during her frequent work trips that the dream of opening a restaurant took shape.  “I was in restaurants all the time.  And traveling alone as a woman was often uncomfortable.  All I wanted at the end of the day was a nice place to be able to relax and feel safe while enjoying a drink and some food alone at the bar. Places like that are so hard to find, sadly.”  Growing up in a culture and environment which taught her to defer to men, Lisa’s voice ached for its place at the table.  It was her deepest hope to be able to freely speak through a restaurant.   After thoroughly feeling out what it would take to create a female-friendly space in Williamsburg, it became clear that rent prices and ethos of NYC restaurant ownership would not allow Lisa to have the kind of impact she dreamed of with a restaurant of her own.

While it took a lot of letting go to move away from the Big Apple, Lisa saw in Durham a progressive community with a restaurant scene that was both exciting and accessible.  Here, Lisa’s dream of creating a welcoming, safe space for women became reality in Plum.  Indeed the girl power is evident--from frequent imaging of iconic women, to the fiercely femme management team behind the restaurant.  It only takes a short scroll through Plum’s Instagram feed to feel the heart and unapologetically female influence behind the place.  

As Plum emerges from the pandemic, Lisa looks forward to watching her restaurant fully blossom as bars and dining rooms fill back up.  Until then she continues to learn and serve her community one take-out/dine-in picnic at a time.  Thanks, Lisa, using your powerfully female voice to empower and invite in the women of our community!