Tropical Smoothie Cafe is kicking off the New Year with Mardi Gras-themed menu items designed to bring vibrant flavors and colors to the cold winter months. “As guests nationwide welcome a fresh start in the New Year, we remain committed to providing guests better-for-you smoothies and food that inspire a healthier lifestyle,” says Charles Watson, CEO of Tro ...

The Hop Yard, a Raleigh-based bottle shop and bar, has opened a second location, at 108 Grace St. in Wilmington in the space previously occupied by Bombers Beverage Co. Owners Susan Barnes and her husband, Christian Stoner, along with partner Lance Rogers, opened their first location in North Raleigh about six years ago. Barnes and Stoner own property in Wilming ...

According to a news release from Restaurant News, Batti Cinque LLC has signed a multi-unit expansion deal to bring the Healthy James franchise to Wilmington and the surrounding areas. The new agreement was announced by franchise developer and partner Greg George of Wilmington. Healthy James offers nutritious heat-and-eat meal options, supplements, smoothies and fresh ...

We spoke with Steve de Castro, owner of the Wilmington location of Ruth’s Chris Steak House for 12 years, as well as eight other locations, about his career, the pandemic’s impact on the country’s largest steakhouse franchise and the restaurant's upcoming move from Hotel Ballast to River Place. GWBJ:  Tell us a little about your background. It ...

Brothers and business partners Miguel and Ramon Villasenor have announced plans to open a third Los Portales Taqueria next month on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington. Their original location is at 912 S. Kerr Ave. and the partners opened a second location at 39 Van Campen Blvd. in September 2019. The Villasenors also own Los Portales Supermarket on South Kerr Avenue and ...

Two local restaurant groups have announced temporary closures to help them weather the winter season now plagued by rising COVID-19 cases throughout the Cape Fear region. Rebellion NC, 115 S. Front St., announced that the rising cases of COVID-19 in New Hanover County, coupled with a staff member testing positive, have prompted owners to close the restaurant temporarily ...

Ben Avalos is a native of Jalisco, Mexico, and was raised in a Wilmington restaurant family. His father, Benjamin Alvalos Hernandez, operated restaurants in Wilmington and Elizabethtown, and after a move to Ohio, Ben said it was a dream of his to return to the Port City and carry on his father’s legacy with a restaurant of his own. Las Margaritas Bar y Grill, 4 ...

Launched here in October in beta version, a food truck app is gaining traction locally and has expanded to two other cities in North Carolina.   Food Truck Track is a web-based application developed by Wilmington tech agency Wide Open Tech. It was inspired by the agency team’s desire to have a reliable source of information as to where they could find their fa ...

A new food truck concept is on a roll – literally - and rolling into Wilmington this week.   Lobster Dogs had its premiere at Flying Machine Brewing Co. on Sunday and has scheduled stops at other New Hanover County locations through this coming Sunday. A new schedule will post on the local franchise’s website each Monday morning, according to franchisee ...

The Clemons family is putting the final touches on a seafood restaurant with the aim of opening Coquina Fishbar at Mayfaire Town Center by the end of the year. The owners of the area's three Hibachi To Go restaurants, the Clemonses have been working on getting the Mayfaire restaurant up and running for six months. The restaurant's menu is partially inspired b ...