When Trolly Stop first opened in Wrightsville Beach in 1976, it was named for being the first stop on the historic trolley line to the beach town. Over the years, the brand became known for its hot dogs and local charm. Since founder B.C. Hedgepath, the restaurants have had a number of owners, including Rick Coombs who bought the business in 1996. It also grew to include locations in Chapel Hill, Southport and Wilmington.
Rusty Carter became a part of the Trolly Stop family in 2011, when he took over the original location at 94 S. Lumina Ave. and then opened a franchise in Chapel Hill in 2015 under his Family Dogs LLC company.
Recently, though, Trolly Stop has gone through some changes following the death of Coombs last year. In Southport, owner Sam Roberts opted out of the franchise and renamed his Howe Street business The Southport Hot Dog Company. The Fountain Drive Trolly Stop location in Wilmington closed in December.
Carter said he also decided to close the Chapel Hill location. But he is only just starting the next chapter of Trolly Stop. This month, he reached an agreement with Coombs’ heir, Leigh Coombs, to take over the brand.