Duck's Cottage

About Duck's Cottage..

Duck's Cottage is Duck's historic coffee shop located in a building originally known as the Powder Ridge Gun Club, a hunting cottage built in 1921 by a group of New York investors who frequented the area to take advantage of the waterfowl hunting it afforded. Powder Ridge was the only hunt club ever built in Duck, is one of the oldest buildings in town and oft mentioned in local history books. 

The original floor plan included three bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen with attached porch, a combined living and dining area and a screened porch on the front. Several outbuildings- guide's quarters and a boathouse- were part of the Club in its heyday. For most of its existence the Club stood right on the shores of the Currituck Sound with a distinctive pair of crossed whalebones gracing the peak. Managed by village native and life-long resident Lewis Scarborough, most hunting was done from battery rigs and shoal brush blinds. The Club fell into private hands in the forties and remained a private residence until 2001 when it was moved east a few hundred feet to where it sits today. Its last inhabitant, 'Duck' Braithwaite was a Duck legend; many early comers to Duck have fond memories of sunset cocktail hours spent with Duck and his wife, Betty, on 'Duck' s Porch'. To this day, the building remains in the caring hands of Duck and Betty's family. In 2002 childhood friends John Power and Allen LeHew opened a coffee shop/bookstore within its walls bringing Jamie Anderson on board to manage the bookstore side. Over the next two decades Duck's Cottage would build a huge fan following, become Duck's most popular gathering spot, be featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times and Our State magazine. In 2023, after almost twenty years behind the espresso machine, Allen was ready to retire to the mountains and sold the business to Jamie.  

Step inside and you'll find Duck's original and truest full service coffee shop with freshly brewed pots of coffee made from beans roasted just days before at a small artisanal roaster; an Italian made La Marzocco espresso machine; baristas with over 114 years of combined experience ready to create any and all specialty drinks from a traditional caffe macchiato to signature lattes like the Nutty Duck, Mucky Duck and Swan. Duck's Cottage has been serving up cold brew since day one and all drinks can be made hot or iced, hi-test or decaf. Keep the younger set happy with a hot chocolate or flavored steamer topped off with homemade whipped cream. Pair your drink with a delicious muffin, danish or other pastry; power ball, biscotti or nutritional bar. Gluten free options available.

A selection of the East Coast's most popular newspapers arrives daily including the New York Times and Washington Post. The book side, while small, features a meticulously curated inventory of both hardback and paperback bestsellers, staff picks, non-fiction, new Outer Banks releases, children's books and young adult titles. The shelves are consistently eclectic and interesting-  come in just for a coffee and you'll most likely leave with a book. Rounding out the inventory are all-occasion greeting cards, Duck's Cottage signature gift items including mugs, hats, t-shirts and a great selection of coastal themed puzzles for those rainy hours. 

Duck's Cottage Coffee & Books is located on the pond at the Waterfront Shops in Duck, NC.
To visit our store from the Southern beaches travel north on NC 12 through Southern Shores into the Village of Duck. The Waterfront Shops are on the Currituck Sound (left) side of Route 12 just past the big green water tower. Coming from the Northern beaches, follow NC 12 into Duck and the shops will be on your right just past Tommy's Market. Look to the southern end of the parking lot and you'll see the Cottage! If you are staying within Duck village, you'll find we are an easy walk, bike ride or boardwalk stroll from your house. From Corolla, allow about twenty minutes for the drive down; from Kitty Hawk, it takes about fifteen. Drive times do not apply to rainy summer days! :)

Duck's Cottage is open at 7am seven days a week. Open every day but Christmas & Thanksgiving.