It’s been two years since Jimmy Pearls closed its storefront, marking the end of a run that helped define a new wave of seafood-driven dining in Charlotte. But that wasn’t the end of the partnership behind it.
Chef Oscar Johnson said the decision to step away came down to shifting priorities, not conflict. He and his business partner, Daryl Cooper, who built the restaurant over more than a decade of friendship and were recognized as James Beard Award semifinalists for it, both found themselves balancing growing families with the demands of the industry.
“There’s always this idea that when something ends, it’s negative,” Johnson said. “But this was a peaceful transition.”…