Crook’s Corner Restaurant to Close After Decades in Chapel Hill

A staple of the Chapel Hill restaurant community has closed its doors for good.

Crook’s Corner, which has long served refined spins on Southern cuisine, announced in an email to customers on Wednesday it is permanently closed. The restaurant at 610 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill first opened in 1982.

“With an incredibly heavy heart, I must share the news that we are closing,” reads the message attributed to the Crook’s Corner team. “The position we find ourselves in, exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, is no longer tenable.”

Gene Hamer and chef Bill Neal first opened the restaurant with the goal of featuring regional recipes and meals. After Neal died in 1991, Bill Smith assumed the role of chef for Crook’s Corner and earned several regional awards for his cooking. The James Beard Foundation named Crook’s Corner one of America’s Classic Restaurant in 2011, which the foundations gives to restaurants for qualities like “timeless appeal, beloved for quality of food that reflects the character of their community.”

In 2019, a new ownership group including Crook’s former bar manager Shannon Healy bought the restaurant. Asheville-based chef Justin Burdett then came on board and has served as the chef since.

“For nearly 40 years Crook’s Corner has served and been welcomed by the people of Chapel Hill and the UNC community,” read Wednesday’s message, “we sincerely thank you for your decades of support. It has been an incredible honor to both serve our community in our place and serve as Chapel Hill’s culinary ambassador to the wider world.”

Having opened its doors in 1982, the award-winning Crook’s Corner restaurant served a variety of Southern recipes to the community.

Recognized by its iconic pig figurine and its eclectic decor of local art, the building on West Franklin Street held many forms before the current version of Crook’s Corner. Initially a fish market run by community member Rachel Cook in the 1940’s, the building has served as a taxi stand, bait and tackle shop and pool hall, according to the restaurant’s website. Chapel Hill businessman and Town Council member Cam Hill remodeled in the space in 1978 and opened a barbecue house, calling it Crook’s Corner in honor of Rachel Crook, who was murdered in 1951 at the intersection of West Franklin and Merritt Mill Street.

The current ownership team referenced Crook’s history in their message to customers on Wednesday

“The place Rachel Crook built in the 1940’s on the corner of Franklin and Merritt Mill has had many lives,” it read. “It holds the memories of thousands of your celebrations and pivotal career moments for too many of us to count. On behalf of generations of Crook’s Corner staff, we thank you for your many years of support.”

In comments made to Chapelboro, a member of the ownership group indicated the Crook’s Corner team is not currently seeking other projects in the Chapel Hill area.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

‹

Chapel Hill Chef Wins Food Network's 'Chopped' Competition

Chapel Hill chef Dan Jackson can add a new aspect to his resume: “Chopped” winner. The executive chef for the new Italian restaurant Osteria Georgi in Chapel Hill recently won Food Network’s “Chopped” competition on Tuesday, June 15. The culinary competition on the Food Network features four chefs cooking surprise ingredients from a basket — with the worst dish in […]

Chapel Hill Chef to Appear on Food Network Cooking Competition

The co-owner and chef of a Chapel Hill restaurant will soon be featured on national television, as she competes in a cooking competition. Sera Cuni, who runs The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering, will be making an appearance on the Food Network show “Guy’s Grocery Games” next week. She’ll be competing against three other chefs […]

H&H Bagels Sets Opening Date in Chapel Hill's University Place

H&H Bagels, a chain of restaurants based out of New York, will open its new Chapel Hill location at University Place next week.

Local Chef's Episode of 'Chopped' Set to Debut July 8; Restaurant Hosting Watch Party

Chef Sera Cuni — who owns and runs the Root Cellar in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro — recently taped an episode on the hit TV show "Chopped."

'It's A Really Good Handoff': Al's Burger Shack Changes Ownership, But Stays Local

When asked what Al’s Burger Shack means to its namesake, Al Bowers sits back and takes a deep breath. It’s easier to talk about what the Chapel Hill restaurant represents to others. “I always wanted someone to have a memory every time they took a bite of a cheeseburger,” he says. “Or every time they […]

Chapel Hill Chef Using Pop-Up Dinners to Support CHCCS Newcomer Program

Tuki Cuisine is the latest project from Chef Papa Mbengue, whose pop-up dinners in Chapel Hill and Carrboro support an important cause.

Purple Bowl Set To Expand Into Neighboring Suite By Mid-May

The Purple Bowl, a popular Chapel Hill smoothie bowl local, is set to expand this spring.

New Alpaca Chicken Location Now Open in Chapel Hill

Another restaurant has joined the slate of businesses along South Elliott Road in Chapel Hill. Alpaca Chicken, which describes itself as “a healthier alternative to the usual fast food concepts,” has opened a new location at 237 South Elliott Road. The restaurant, which serves a variety of Peruvian charcoal chicken dishes, also has locations across […]

Chapel Hill's Blue Dogwood Market Set to Add West African, French Restaurant

A new restaurant focused on bringing tastes of France and West Africa to the local food scene is set to soon open in Chapel Hill. Bouquet Garni, a restaurant and catering service, is preparing to join the lineup of businesses inside the Blue Dogwood Public Market. Chef Eric Ndiaye, who comes to Chapel Hill from […]

Crook's Corner Restaurant to Close After Decades in Chapel Hill

A staple of the Chapel Hill restaurant community has closed its doors for good. Crook’s Corner, which has long served refined spins on Southern cuisine, announced in an email to customers on Wednesday it is permanently closed. The restaurant at 610 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill first opened in 1982. “With an incredibly heavy heart, […]

›