RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. [Dec 17, 2025] — Horseshoe at Hub RTP today announced the opening of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, the newest restaurant from two-time James Beard Award Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist Preeti Waas. Beginning today, Wednesday, Dec. 17, Cheeni serves lunch Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., bringing a contemporary interpretation of regional Indian cuisine to the center of Research Triangle Park’s growing commercial district.
Located on the ground floor of Horseshoe and encompassing more than 3,000 square feet, Cheeni expands the development’s culinary offerings and builds on Waas’ existing presence at Hub RTP through her concept Nanny Goat. The opening underscores Waas’ continued investment in the Research Triangle region and her commitment to delivering high-quality dining experiences within the mixed-use destination.
“We are pleased to welcome Cheeni to Horseshoe and to support Chef Preeti as she broadens her footprint within Hub RTP,” said Erik Johnson, co-founder and partner at White Point. “Her focus on quality, consistency and community engagement aligns with our long-term vision for the property. The addition of Cheeni, alongside Nanny Goat, enhances the overall experience for office tenants, residents and visitors.”
Cheeni offers a refined approach to homestyle Indian cooking, with a menu grounded in regional traditions and personal culinary heritage. The Durham location has earned recognition for its thoughtful execution, an approach that will continue at the new Horseshoe restaurant. Initially open for lunch service only, Cheeni plans to expand hours and offerings in the coming months. The restaurant features a private dining space available for evening events, providing a venue for corporate functions and special gatherings.
“I am pleased to introduce Cheeni at Horseshoe,” Waas said. “The support for Nanny Goat has been strong, and I look forward to working collaboratively with White Point and the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina as we continue to grow within Hub RTP.”
Waas’ daughter, Amy — a James Beard Award nominee for her work on The Bar Beej at Cheeni Durham — will contribute to the beverage direction at the new location. As operating hours expand, Amy will draw inspiration from The Bar Beej to develop a bar program featuring Indian-influenced classic cocktails, women-driven wines and house-made mixers and syrups.
Cheeni is located at 3151 Elion Dr., Suite 101, with expansive views of the Horseshoe courtyard, walkways and live music stage. Cheeni plans to offer online ordering from the Horseshoe location beginning next week. Cheeni will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Cheeni joins Nanny Goat and DRIFT Coffee & Kitchen as retailers now open at Horseshoe at Hub RTP. Di Fara Pizza Tavern, Prime STQ and High Horse are slated to open in 2026. Developed by White Point in partnership with the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Horseshoe at Hub RTP serves as the central gathering point within Hub RTP, a 100-acre mixed-use district in the core of Research Triangle Park. The development features office space, experiential retail, dining, recreational amenities and regional trail connectivity in a setting designed to support business activity and community engagement.
For more information on Horseshoe at Hub RTP, visit horseshoeatthehub.com and follow @horseshoeRTP on Instagram.
About Horseshoe at Hub RTP
Horseshoe at Hub RTP is the central gathering place within Hub RTP offering office, restaurant and retail experiences within a trio of buildings totaling 157,500 square feet and wrapped around a central, outdoor courtyard. Horseshoe is built with wellness and recreation in mind, offering pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to the existing RTP trail system. Tenants and visitors will enjoy 16 acres of greenspace with streamside trails and boardwalks, including Horseshoe’s splash fountain and event lawn. Conveniently located at the center of Research Triangle Park (RTP) between Highway 54 and I-40 directly off the Davis Drive exit, Horseshoe is easily accessible from anywhere in the Triangle. To learn more about Horseshoe at Hub RTP, including leasing opportunities, visit https://horseshoeatthehub.com.
About Hub RTP
Hub RTP is the new, vibrant downtown district of Research Triangle Park (RTP), North America’s largest research park. At full build out, Hub RTP will feature up to one million square feet of office and lab space, 279 hotel rooms, 1,200 multifamily residential units, and 50K square feet of restaurant and retail space, all designed to bring people together to work, play and stay in RTP. An impressive 16 acres of parks and greenspace includes the award-winning and eco-friendly Burdens Creek, which connects more than 20 miles of trails in RTP. Centrally located in the heart of the Triangle region, the 100-acre district includes Horseshoe at Hub RTP, the mixed-use town square of the development, Frontier RTP, an innovative startup community, and Boxyard RTP, a unique food, retail and entertainment destination. To learn more about Hub RTP and current leasing opportunities, visit https://hub.rtp.org.
About White Point
White Point is a real estate investment firm that specializes in the acquisition and development of mixed-use, office, retail, and multifamily properties across the Southeastern U.S. The Charlotte, NC-based firm utilizes local market knowledge, an extensive network and entrepreneurial approach to pinpoint unique investment opportunities and in-house expertise to execute across multiple asset classes. Since inception in 2014, White Point has invested in over $1.1 billion of real estate assets, receiving numerous design and historic preservation awards. For more information, visit https://whitepointpartners.com and follow @whitepointpartners on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media contact
Laura Graff, media@theplaidpenguin.com