Local businessman David Peterson has embarked on his first restaurant concept with Sloppy Poppy’s Sloppy Joe Shack, which is expected to celebrate its grand opening this week. 

After losing several businesses 10 years ago during the financial crisis, Peterson has made a comeback, owning several businesses locally, as well as shares in a western North Carolina micro-dairy and MadVapes, the nationwide retailer of e-cigarettes, which he founded in Wilmington.

Peterson said he’s been looking to open a restaurant for the past couple of years, ideally hoping to take over an existing business rather than starting from the ground up. Last month, he purchased Low Tide Pub, 4540 Fountain Drive, from Joel and Eleanor Deschamps.

The pub has remained opened as he transitions it to Sloppy Poppy’s, closing for just a few days this week for renovations and the training of new staff. A grand opening is scheduled for Friday.

As Peterson puts the finishing touches on the restaurant space and menu, he’s already thinking about additional locations, with his target areas being Ogden and Porters Neck.

“At first I wasn’t sure about the concept,” Peterson said. “But the only marketing we’ve done so far has been our Facebook page and the response there has been amazing. If it does anywhere near what we’re expecting based on the comments we’ve seen there, we should have no problem opening two more locations by May.”

Sloppy Poppy’s will be double the original size of the Low Tide Pub, having taken over the neighboring unit. There is a full bar and seating for approximately 80 inside, and another 20 on the outdoor patio.

The menu will include a variety of sloppy Joes including the classic, the smokehouse with barbecue sauce and bacon, and the Italian with a tomato based sauce and Italian herbs and cheese. All are served on a Kaiser roll with hand-cut or sidewinder beer battered fries for a grand opening price of $5.95.

The menu also includes sloppy Joe sliders, tacos, a pulled-pork barbecue sandwich, grilled cheese sandwiches, wings, and potato bowls, which Peterson describes as an oversized potato skin with lots of potato that can be filled with a sloppy Joe filling or as a loaded baked potato.

Sloppy Poppy’s will host weekly trivia and open-mike nights, as well as an open-mike comedy night and karaoke.