Correction: This version updates Jason Nista's titles with Charlie Grangers, where his is CEO, and former title with The Fuzzy Peach, where he was COO.

Louis North opened Peacock Alley in 2013 at 702 S. 17th St., the site that was home to Wilmington’s first drive-in restaurant by the same name. The original Peacock Alley was owned by Charlie Granger. Now North and partners Greg George and Jason Nista have announced plans to franchise under the Charlie Grangers name.

“Absolutely nothing about the restaurant has changed except for the name,” North said. “And that was strictly due to copyright issues with the name Peacock Alley. We decided to go with Charlie Grangers in honor of the man who first brought great hot dogs to Wilmington at this very same location.”

When North purchased the site of the original Peacock Alley in 2012, the two buildings located there were condemned, and so both were demolished and the new restaurant was built from the ground up. North installed 12 custom-made counter stools overlooking 17th Street, and the interior is composed of mostly wood and brick, adorned with gas lanterns and black-and-white photos of Wilmington.

“This place has a direct connection to Wilmington’s past,” North said. “And rebuilding on this site was important to me because I believe in this community. I’ve lived here for 53 years, and I believe that the people here rally around good things."

North’s menu is simple: hot dogs, beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken salad. He uses Kahn’s all-beef hot dogs, which are fresh, never frozen, and the brisket and pork are slow cooked on site each day. Sides such as cole slaw, pimento cheese, chili and barbecue baked beans are also made fresh daily and both the meats and the sides are available by the quart or pound when ordered in advance.

“The brisket has been an excellent item for us,” North said. “It’s something that’s not found many places in Wilmington and we sell out of it every day.”

North says that it’s Charlie Grangers simplicity that makes it a great franchise concept.

“It’s simple, fresh food at a great value,” North said. “The start-up costs are low, as well as the overhead and labor costs. This is a way for people to make a good, honest living and go home feeling good about what they do.”

Both George and Nista have extensive backgrounds in franchising. George has worked as a franchise developer for Port City Java, The Fuzzy Peach and Shuckin’ Shack and will serve as director of franchise development for Charlie Grangers. Nista is the former chief operating officer of The Fuzzy Peach and will serve as CEO for Charlie Grangers.

The team has already signed a franchise agreement for a Charlotte location and anticipates announcing several other locations throughout the Carolinas in the coming weeks.

Charlie Grangers is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

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