A restaurant near Wrightsville Beach is closing about two months after opening, and its parent company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

“From the beginning, we knew that the Epicurean Grille [2012 Eastwood Road] was a long shot in that it was an ambitious attempt to turn a building that had spent its 50+ year life time as a neighborhood bar into a classy casual restaurant virtually overnight,” said owner Rob Shapiro in a news release Monday.

Shapiro said that while the reviews from the market were favorable, the guest counts were nowhere near high enough to overcome the debt that needed to be absorbed from five years of substantial losses incurred by its predecessor, The Pub.

In conjunction with the closure, the parent organization of both the Epicurean Grille and Sweet n Savory, MMM So Good LTD, has entered into a Chapter 11 reorganization plan. Shapiro said this court filing was necessary to separate all debts and liabilities associated with losses incurred by both The Pub and Epicurean Grille from the financially healthy and stable Sweet n Savory brand.

“We deeply regret that this closure will affect the families and livelihoods of many employees from both businesses,” Shapiro said. 

Shapiro said that as part of the reorganization, Sweet n Savory will be undergoing some cosmetic changes, including improvements to the dining room, back patio and bar, as well as updates to the menu. 

The free Wednesday wine tasting will continue with an added twist of one super premium wine available every week for a small fee.

“We are excited to begin this next phase in our journey,” Shapiro said. “We appreciate all of the support of our brands over the years and look forward to having the privilege of serving Wilmington for many years to come.”

Have a tip for Restaurant Roundup? Email [email protected].