The Triangle’s food scene has taken several hits, with closures reaching local downtowns and even the state fairgrounds. We’ve rounded up our coverage of restaurant shutdowns shaking up the region.
Here are key takeaways:
- Flavor Hills closed its Raleigh location at 319 Fayetteville St. this week after two years in business, with all four of the brand’s locations appearing to shutter as it pivots to catering and private events. The Fayetteville Street space has a history of short-lived tenants, including the celebrity-owned Wahlburgers and The Flying Mayan, making Flavor Hills the location’s longest-running restaurant.
- It’s a Southern Thing closed its flagship restaurant on Main Street in downtown Durham this summer after nearly a decade, though a second location in the Ellis Crossing shopping center near RTP remains open. Owner Pete Susca cited increasing rent and air conditioning issues as factors, saying challenges “ultimately became more than we could overcome.” The restaurant took over the former Motto fine dining space in 2017.
- Apex Seafood & Market is closing Saturday, Aug. 22, after more than eight years serving customers in Apex, Holly Springs and at Triangle-area farmers markets including the Black Farmers’ Market, Midtown Farmers’ Market and Moore Square Market. Owner Tyrone Hightower pointed to rising seafood prices and inconsistent revenue among the reasons the family-run business could no longer stay open.
- Al’s French Fries will not return to the North Carolina State Fair in 2026, ending a 69-year run for the iconic food shack founded by “Big Al” Beckwith and continued by his family after his death in 2004. The state fair has lost several longtime vendors recently, including Charlie Barefoot & Sons hot dogs after more than 70 years and the Cary Methodist Church biscuit stand in 2022.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists
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