Kale’s Kitchen Express has closed its Durham restaurant after more than 10 years in business. Owner Monica McLaurin is not renewing the lease at 2100 Angier Ave.
The decision was posted to Instagram on Oct. 21. In a report published Wednesday, The News & Observer said customers can still get meals through occasional pop-ups, catering, meal-prepping and personal-chef appointments, and that McLaurin is moving into content creation.
The Lease She Walked Away From
The public explanation is short. “We decided it wasn’t in our best interest to renew our lease there,” the restaurant said in that Oct. 21 post. The News & Observer said it would update its story after receiving a response from Kale’s Kitchen Express.
The address and the decade are not the same fact. The paper reported a Durham restaurant closing after more than 10 years; the lease McLaurin declined to renew was the one at 2100 Angier Ave. How long that particular storefront had been open is a separate question from how long the business has been cooking.
Standard Tray, Heavy Tray
The draw was a build-your-own soul-food plate. Guests picked a main dish, two sides and bread, served as a four-item tray in a standard size or a heavy one. The roster ran through fried chicken, turkey wings, stuffed salmon, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, baked beans and cornbread…