Gulfstream Restaurant of Carolina Beach will soon have a second location at the former Causeway Café in Wrightsville Beach.

Ed Thomas, co-owner and operator of Gulfstream, took over the 40-year-old Gulfstream Restaurant five years ago, along with business partner Rich Johnson of Atlanta. 

“Gulfstream was especially appealing to me because it had become a much-beloved icon in Carolina Beach, and I could also envision updating and putting my own spin on it to serve even more locals who love the Pleasure Island community in addition to our seasonal visitors,” Thomas stated in a post to the Carolina Beach Locals Facebook page last month. 

Thomas said he felt very much the same about Causeway Café, noting that it too has a very loyal following of both locals and visitors to Wrightsville Beach. 

He said that when Causeway’s closure was announced, he started getting phone calls from people urging him to see about taking it over. Shortly thereafter, Thomas and Johnson negotiated a lease with building owners Sue and Gordon "Dee" Reddick, who also own the neighboring retail outlet, Redix. 

While the exact name of the new restaurant is yet to be determined, it will have Gulfstream as some part of it, Thomas said. And like his current location, it will serve breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner.

He anticipates many of his current menu items to carry over, but also plans to expand his breakfast offerings to include some of the pancake and waffle options similar to those on Causeway’s menu. 

“The menu won’t be the same as Causeway’s, but we want to offer the locals some of what they’ve been accustomed to,” Thomas said. 

Thomas said that the building was in need of significant repairs. He is working with local architect Mike Saleed of Design Elements to finalize the architectural plans, as well as with interior designers Jennifer Kraner and Lauren Brown of Big Sky Design. Once the plans are finalized and the necessary permits are granted, construction for the new restaurant can begin.  

An early May opening is expected.

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Correction: This version has been changed to correct the name of Gulfstream co-owner and operator Ed Thomas.