As a young girl, homemade biscuits and gravy was one of the first dishes that Khristen Hunter’s mom, Patty, taught her to cook.

Last December, Hunter’s lifelong love of cooking and a $1 million prize package she received through the nationwide Own Your Own competition after the original winner withdrew led to Patty’s Place. She was able to create the modern diner serving Southern-style brunch by transforming two buildings at 106 and 108 W. Courthouse Ave. in Burgaw.

“I was speechless,” Hunter said when she learned she had emerged as the winner of Own Your Own after the original winner opted not to move forward. “This was something I dreamed about my entire life.”

Hunter’s first call was to her mom, the restaurant’s namesake, and her dad, her biggest cheerleader.

Along with the prize, Hunter was awarded a team of designers from Chris Cahill Interior Design, restaurant equipment from Jacobi-Lewis Co. and a construction crew from Masonboro Construction Co. to work with on the transformation. “The buildings needed a lot of love. They had not been occupied for years,” Hunter said.

Hunter’s journey to owning a restaurant began when she saw an advertisement for Own Your Own on Facebook. “So, I clicked on it,” she said.



Wilmington-based entrepreneur Richard Johnson launched Own Your Own after starting Burgaw Now in 2018 as a town revitalization project. Burgaw Now was formed to invest in businesses that revitalize the town. Before Own Your Own, Burgaw Now sparked two new establishments in Burgaw: Fat Daddy’s in 2020 and Burgaw Brewing in 2023.

Twenty-four finalists, selected from a pool of 500 applicants, competed in the Own Your Own cook-off in the Burgaw town square in October 2023. Open to the public, over 200 community members crowded the heart of the town. A volunteer group of 30 residents, along with official judges and Johnson, taste-tested the dishes and selected the final 12. The contestants faced challenges at three local restaurants, which narrowed the field to six, who then presented business plans and financial statements to the judges.

While Hunter was one of the six finalists, she did not win the contest that day, later hearing the news that she would be an Own Your Own recipient from Johnson because of the winner’s withdrawal. She then focused on her vision for Patty’s Place.

“I wanted to open my own restaurant to see my food put smiles on faces,” she said. “I had been running other people’s restaurants my entire life. Now I wanted to take that knowledge and turn it into my own well-oiled machine.”

Hunter decided Patty’s would serve brunch and lunch all day long.

“I wanted to be the restaurant where people start their day on a positive note with good food, fresh coffee, signature lattes and great company,” she said, not to mention that breakfast is her personal favorite meal of the day.

“I started thinking about how to bring the heart of the home to every plate,” she said. “Our open kitchen concept gives Patty’s a modern diner-style feel. It’s a cozy atmosphere; everyone feels right at home and very comfortable from the moment they walk in the door. It’s a home-away-from-home vibe.”

The menu, developed by Hunter and her co-owner/partner, Cheyenne Jones, includes traditional breakfast plates like omelets and eggs Benedicts, plus playful items such as pancake tacos.

Hunter said she uses as many local products as possible in her crowd-pleasers, like her savory green onion and cheddar waffle, topped with fried chicken, hot honey, green onions, cheese and bacon. “It’s truly a fan favorite,” she said.

On Jan. 5, Hunter and Jones ceremoniously cut the ribbon to Patty’s Place. The restaurant opened with general manager Catherine Tedder, Hunter’s best friend of 12 years, who relocated from Virginia to help Hunter run the business, and kitchen manager Ivey Pace.

Originally from Climax, North Carolina, and most recently living in Wilmington, Hunter relocated to Burgaw to open Patty’s Place. “There are a lot of great restaurants in Wilmington, but nothing like Patty’s Place,” Hunter said. “Patty’s is a place to come and relax and enjoy the small-town vibe. Take a break from the busy city and enjoy our homemade food, grab a coffee and go explore all of Burgaw’s shops and stores within walking distance.”

As Hunter prepares the heirloom recipes she grew up with on the family farm, she is building her own legacy. It’s more than just the great food.

“Becoming a part of the fabric of the Burgaw community was a lot of fun,” she said. “Getting to see my staff and customers always so happy and enjoying themselves is the best. At Patty’s Place, you’re not just a customer; you’re family.”

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