ABOUT NANNY GOAT MARKETS

Nanny Goat is a convenience concept with a focus on sourcing and supporting local, small, or emerging brands & businesses. From Preeti and Amy Waas, the mother-daughter duo behind Cheeni, Nanny Goat aims to bridge the gap between Durham’s thriving restaurant scene and small businesses without their own brick-and-mortars. We source a variety of vendors, and are always searching for more! Read on for more about Preeti, Amy, and Cheeni.

MEET

PREETI

Woman with long, dark hair wearing a white top and colorful necklace, smiling in a cozy indoor setting with hanging lights and framed photos.

Preeti’s journey to Nanny Goat began, as most good things do, by accident. Her venture into retail was born from a love of shopping, an opportune conversation, and a willingness to take risks. Her restaurant, Cheeni, brought her to RTP, where she recognized the need for a quick, convenience-meets-grab-and-go concept to serve residents, hotel guests, and nearby offices. Alongside her partner in crime (Amy, her daughter), she opened Nanny Goat to fill that need. Unknowingly, she brought her career full circle; Cheeni started as a small farmer’s market stand, and Nanny Goat now carries a variety of micro, small, and emerging brands from businesses in similar positions, acting as a brick-and-mortar hub for local makers, bakers, and more. Preeti can be found between Nanny Goat and Cheeni still, as both are expanding.

chef, BAKER, BOOK-LOVER, James Beard semifinalist; FOODIE, IMMIGRANT, LOVER OF SHOPPING, MASTERMIND; CREATOR, RESTAURANTEUR, MOM…

MEET

AMY

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a black shirt, holding a cocktail shaker behind a bar in a dimly lit setting.

Amy’s role within Nanny Goat is mostly that of a coordinator. As a firm believer in (most) of Preeti’s grand ideas, jumping on board was easy; however, as putting together all the bits and pieces of a retail space came to a head, Amy found herself most drawn to the community-building aspect of managing a convenient-yet-local market. The sourcing of local products, scouting of local vendors, and curation of goods became a passion project that yielded the selection of goods that both stores currently offer, with new products frequently joining stock. When she’s not at Nanny Goat, you can find Amy at Cheeni: Durham, where she manages the restaurant and leads the bar program.

daughter, manager, mixologist, lover of food and drink; homebody, tech support, organizer…

Person holding a crispy Indian samosa with a view of accompanying green chutney and tamarind sauce on a plate.
Interior of a cozy cafe with wooden and floral decorated furniture, potted plants, framed black-and-white photographs on white walls, a teal decorative shutter, and hanging pendant lights.
Empty bar with flowers and chandeliers, and a large screen projection of a woman in a white dress lying on a bed with gold curtains.

  • 202 N. Corcoran St., Durham, NC (Suite 100)

    Preeti’s home dining room, expanded; a sentimental, nostalgia-driven menu concept featuring North Carolina produce and meats, regional Indian cuisine, and a Bollywood-themed bar serving up Indian-inspired cocktails with a variety of NC Spirits. James Beard Semifinalist.

  • Attached to Cheeni Durham

    An eleven-seat, quiet, experimental cocktail bar focused on NC Spirits and Indian flavors. James Beard 2025 Semifinalist for Best New Bar in the Country.

  • 3151 Elion Drive, Durham, NC (Suite 101)

    The upcoming, evolved version of Preeti’s first restaurant. A daytime cafe with a nighttime prix fixe concept, featuring (respectively) street-style classics and elevated regional fusion.