Charlotte’s oldest restaurant, Green’s Lunch, to close. ‘You will remain in our hearts’
Charlotte’s oldest restaurant will close its doors this week after nearly 100 years in business.
Green’s Lunch, the iconic hot dog spot open at 309 W. 4th St. since 1926, announced on Facebook Sunday that the restaurant’s last day will be Wednesday.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers for these wonderful 97 years,” the post said. “... We will always remember your smiles, hugs, and laughter, you will remain in our hearts as our family.”
Green’s is one of multiple landmark Charlotte restaurants to close in the past couple years, including Gus’ Sir Beef, Price’s Chicken Coop, Mr K’s and The Charlotte Cafe.
Green’s future had gone through a spate of uncertainty in the last year.
In December, the building that houses the restaurant was put up for sale, with the listing broker confirming to The Charlotte Observer the restaurant would close once the building sold.
“The business will not remain there,” Saeed Moghadam said at the time. “But Green’s may show up in another Charlotte location.”
In February, co-owner Pete Sikiotis, who took over running the restaurant with his wife Joanna Sikiotis in the 1980s after his father-in-law’s retirement, died at the age of 61.
Joanna Sikiotis spoke briefly with the Observer on Sunday night, and said that staffing issues and the loss of her husband contributed to her family’s decision to close down the restaurant.
‘It’s real’
At first, some people on social media doubted that Sunday’s announcement could be true. The family had gone on social media in May to dispel rumors the restaurant had already shut down.
“We are open and have been open for 97 years,” a May 17 Facebook post read. “We have lived and made it from the recession, depression, WWII, and recently COVID. We are not going anywhere.”
Those rumors led some to question the validity of Sunday’s announcement in social media comments, but the owner’s son, Nick Sikiotis, confirmed the news on his own Facebook page.
“It’s real,” he wrote in a comment after sharing the restaurant’s post. “This is the only time it’s ever been real.”
‘Some of the greatest hot dogs I ever had’
Over the years, Green’s has welcomed everyone from Cam Newton to local beauty queens and the Rev. Billy Graham.
Some fans of the restaurant left praise and thanks in comments on the restaurant’s Facebook announcement Sunday.
“Thank you for all the great memories and wonderful food!!!” Lisa Bishop wrote. “Best wishes to you and your family!!!”
“Really hate to hear this,” Bobby Cope wrote. “Thank you for some of the greatest hot dogs I’ve ever had.”
Another user, Scott Burgess, said he wished someone would buy the restaurant and keep it going. “Charlotte’s losing too many long running restaurants,” he wrote.
And Justin Demers summed up his feelings this way: “Thanks for all the great years.”
This story was originally published June 25, 2023 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Charlotte’s oldest restaurant, Green’s Lunch, to close. ‘You will remain in our hearts’."
