For over 100 years, the American Tobacco factory on Blackwell Street in Durham produced some of the most famous tobacco products in American History, including Lucky Strike and Bull Durham. But in 1987, American Brands closed the factory, ushering in years of decline and decay in downtown Durham.

In 2002, Capitol Broadcasting Company purchased the 16-acre American Tobacco Campus that lay abandoned in downtown Durham. Through work with city officials, CBC began the largest historic renovation project in the state, with the goal of opening one million square feet of office, retail and residential space to help revitalize the Bull City’s downtown.

In 2004, CBC re-opened the old tobacco campus and began a renovation that would change the trajectory of Durham. Capitol Broadcasting would invest over $200 million renovating the factory buildings into a Class A office, entertainment and residential complex recognized nationally as the definitive example of re-purposed and re-developed historic properties.

The redevelopment of American Tobacco would spur other growth in the area, including CBC’s three Diamond View office buildings and the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC).

Small business growth began to take root on Main Street, branching out across the downtown loop to create a restaurant and entertainment district that has been dubbed the Durham Renaissance.

And, underneath the old factory, American Tobacco has become the catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship. The American Underground has helped launch world-class startups including Smashing Boxes, Two Toasters, Adzerk and BoostSuite.

Today, American Tobacco Campus has over one million square feet of office space, nearly 90,000 feet of residential apartments and 10 restaurants with more on the way.