The Wilmington NC Riverwalk—a two-mile, scenic walkway along the Cape Fear River lined with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants—just got a major refresh. Riverwalk Hospitality Group, a second-generation, family-owned company rooted in the area, has unveiled renovations and culinary reinventions at two of the city’s iconic waterfront dining spots: Elijah’s Oyster & Fish Camp and The Pilot House.
For over 40 years, these restaurants have served as cornerstones of Wilmington’s dining scene. Now, they’re entering a new era. One that still pairs Southern heritage with innovative cuisine and warm hospitality, but now does so with refreshed menus and reinvigorated interiors.
Long Legacy and New Energy on the Wilmington NC Riverwalk
For Taylor Stanfield, CEO and one of the owners of Riverwalk Hospitality Group, this revitalization is more than a business decision. It is deeply personal. “Despite living in Charlotte for the last 25 years, I was born and raised in Wilmington,” Stanfield shares. “A lot of my early memories are tied to Elijah’s and The Pilot House. These places were where my family gathered for holidays, birthdays, graduations—moments that matter.”
Those early memories are now guiding the restaurants’ new chapter. “What really inspired me was the idea of preserving a small part of local history while also creating space for the next generation,” Stanfield explains. “Downtown Wilmington has so much character. But some of these iconic spots just weren’t able to keep up with the shift. I saw this as an opportunity to bring a new energy to the familiar tradition on the Riverwalk that many know and love.”
Coastal Cuisine with a Creative Twist
At the helm of the transformation are Katie Edmister, Director of Operations, and Chris Vergili, Culinary Director. Together, they’ve introduced menus that—although new to these establishments—should feel familiar to anyone who has sampled Southern coastal cuisine…