We’ve lost a few of these community institutions over the years for numerous reasons, but their impact on the community lives on today, as evidenced by the many comments from Facebook. The space once occupied by Crawford’s is now home to Packard Place, a co-working and office space for local businesses. ![]() Crawford, an event planner by trade, hosted jazz and other musical acts in the facility, adding a touch of elegance. Crawford’s served more than traditional Southern fare in its 4,000-square-foot restaurant. The space is currently occupied by another black-owned family restaurant, Freshwaters.Ĭharlotte native Lisa Crawford opened Crawford’s Urban Bistro in 1998 in Charlotte’s Third Ward community. If you need some downright feel-good food, this is your place.” One Yelp reviewer of Simmons said, “The food is awesome. City Council member James Mitchell said it had the best banana pudding in town. Simmons Restaurant opened in 1989 on Graham Street in Charlotte’s Fourth Ward neighborhood. Simmons Restaurant Simmons Restaurant (Photo: Facebook) Check out this video from two descendants of the McDonald family. The space on Beatties Ford Road that was once McDonald’s Cafeteria housed other soul food restaurants, but none survived. Much like the Coffee Cup, McDonald’s Cafeteria was a place where community leaders gathered to discuss important policy issues over fried chicken, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, whipped rutabagas, pecan pie and McDonald’s sweet tea. John McDonald opened McDonald’s Cafeteria in the 1970s, and it became a West Charlotte institution, serving as a gathering place for people of all races. I could eat a bowl of the tartar sauce,” said Charlotte native LaShyondha Berry. “Hoyle’s hands down was the best restaurant in Charlotte. One of the best items on the menu, though not an entree, was the homemade tartar sauce. The small restaurant used to have lines wrapped around the building each weekend with people hungry for hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and some of the best BBQ and seafood in town. Located in the University Park neighborhood on the corner of Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle Street, Hoyle’s BBQ and Seafood was owned by Mr. Designated a historic landmark, the restaurant closed in 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession. You could often find the Who’s Who of Charlotte there discussing politics, community affairs and popular culture over salmon biscuits, macaroni and cheese and award-winning collard greens. It became the go-to place for visitors and locals. It was among the first restaurants in the Southeast to do so. Records from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission indicate that the Coffee Cup Soda Grill first opened as a segregated establishment in 1947, but by the 1970s, the restaurant changed ownership and was integrated. It wasn’t originally opened as a black-owned restaurant. The original Coffee Cup was one of the most popular and respected restaurants in Charlotte, serving breakfast and lunch for more than 60 years. Here are the top five by popular vote.Ĭoffee Cup Soda Grill Coffee Cup Soda Grill (Photo: Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission) ![]() In Charlotte, we’ve had quite a few such restaurants in the city’s recent past, but which ones were the best? I had my favorites, but I asked my Facebook friends to weigh in. ![]() ![]() Many of those businesses are black-owned. These meals - grits and salmon cakes, smothered pork chops, collards, macaroni and cheese and banana pudding - are often served at family owned restaurants. Visit any Southern city and you are sure to find good, Southern soul food.
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