The latest in restaurants: 8 openings and closings in the Wilmington area

The food-and-drink scene in the Wilmington area brought more changes in November. There’s a new steakhouse option and more pop-ups. Unfortunately, a few restaurants have also closed. Here’s a look.

Openings

The Greeks: The Papanikolaou family is growing their popular restaurant concept and opened the Ogden location on Nov. 17. The newest one is at 7150 Market Street at the Publix shopping center and there's also the location at 4401 Oleander Drive. Soon, they hope to open in Leland, as well.

Brighter Days Coffee: The coffee beverage truck hosted a grand opening for its new storefront on Nov. 18 in Wilmington’s Cargo District. Right now, they’re open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 1942 Moss St. You can also try one of the new items from the recently launched holiday menu. Brighter Days is also still posting a schedule for the beverage truck, which includes appearances at the All is Bright event happening throughout the month at Poplar Grove.

G Prime Steak & Cellar: Wilmington’s newest steakhouse officially opened on Nov. 24 at 1981 Eastwood Road near Wrightsville Beach. The restaurant is the latest from restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias, as his Giorgios Hospitality Group expands in the Wilmington area. It's a sister restaurant to Kipos Hellenic Cuisine in Lumina Station.

Concept Kitchen Co.: End of Days Distillery at 1815 Castle St. in Wilmington’s Cargo District has added a new onsite kitchen that will host a rotating selection of different restaurant concepts. The official launch took place Nov. 5 with a Greek menu from chef Bobby Zimmerman, of the We Are True Blue restaurant group. They've also hosted the popular Durham-based Lawrence Barbecue, and then chef Katherine Myhand on Dec. 2.

Smash N Dash: This smash burger and hot dog food truck is the latest vendor to have a presence in the Block Eatz food hall in the McKeithan Center on Cape Fear Community College’s North Campus. Right now, the First Bite Food truck is at the hall Mondays and Tuesdays and Smash N Dash will be there Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It's open to the public 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Closings

Mac’s Speed Shop: The Wilmington location of this restaurant closed abruptly late November. The Charlotte-based barbecue chain has eight other locations and expressed interest in finding another space in the Wilmington area. It opened at 4126 Oleander Dr. in 2018.

Crabby Oddwaters Restaurant & Bar: After serving the Sunset Beach community for more than three decades, this restaurant officially closed on Nov. 5. The restaurant was located at 310 Sunset Blvd N, above Bill's Seafood Market in Sunset Beach. The market will be unaffected by the closure of the restaurant. Joe Peed started Bill’s Seafood Market in an old convenience store in early January 1980 and eventually added the restaurant. In posts on social media, the owners said the closure was the end of an era. They also hinted that a new entity and concept could open in the space. Bill's is also planning to add carryout service offering seafood and Oddwater's famous hushpuppies.

Cicis Pizza: The Wilmington location of this pizza chain closed earlier in November at 341 College Road. The chain was founded in 1985 and now has more than 300 locations in 30 states.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington restaurants that opened and closed in November 2023