Ask anyone who knows restaurants and they’ll tell you it isn’t an easy business. They’ve had challenges, especially in the difficult, post-pandemic hospitality industry.
Those restaurateurs who’ve been operating eateries in the greater Wilmington area for four decades or so have lots of stories. They can tell you about hurricane damage, kitchen repairs, fires, unexpected closings, difficult customers, labor shortages, supply chain hiccups and more.
But they’ve also seen celebrations and first dates. They’ve watched those couples bring their children to the restaurant. J. Michael Hutson said he’s worked alongside some of those children, too. His current general manager, Cheryl Wojik, started working at his restaurant when she was just 17 not long after they opened.
Hutson, a Charleston native, fell in love with cheesesteaks when he was working and putting himself through barber school in Philadelphia. He was excited to bring that to locals when he opened J. Michael’s Philly Deli at Hanover Center in 1979 across the street from Independence Mall, which was completed the same year.