End of an era: Bill Spoon’s BBQ closes permanently

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte institution has permanently closed its doors.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Steve Spoon Jr., owner of Bill Spoon’s BBQ, announced the restaurant’s closing:

“If you’ve been a customer over the years, you remember the lines that wrapped around the building. Those lines have diminished as time has passed, and each year has become substantially harder to keep our doors open. 2020 has proven hard for everyone but has truly been detrimental to small businesses like us that were already barely making ends meet. Despite every attempt to hang on as long as we could, we simply aren’t able to any longer.”

Spoon is the grandson of founders Bill and Marie Spoon, who opened the restaurant in 1963 when South Boulevard was a two-lane dirt road.

He started working at the family business at 10 years old and bought the restaurant from his grandfather in 2006, one year before Bill’s passing.

“As hard of a decision this was to make, I know it’s what my grandfather would want me to do,” Steve posted.

“I hope he’s smiling down from Heaven, knowing I served our Eastern North Carolina barbecue with the same love and passion as he did.”

In addition to serving its loyal customers through the years, the Serving Spoons Foundation provided close to 4,000 meals to Charlotte’s homeless.

“We have always strived to treat the businessmen who stopped by for lunch and left a hefty tip the same as the many regular homeless who stopped by, offering only a handshake and a ‘thank you’ to pay for their meal,” Steve’s post read.

Pandemic shutters popular Elizabeth restaurant that has served Charlotte for 30 years Pandemic shutters popular Elizabeth restaurant that has served Charlotte for 30 years

Cox Media Group