Famous Charlotte Black-Owned Soul Food Restaurant Closing After 40 Years
It’s been 40 years, and this Black-owned Soul Food restaurant in Charlotte will close its doors. Floyd’s restaurant on North Graham Street plans to serve its final meal on June 29.
It’s not the type of news die-hard patrons like George Wallace and Jackie Perry want to hear. They’ve been going to Floyd’s religiously since the restaurant opened in 1971. Jackie says it was the place families went for an ol’ fashioned meal. She says she and her family would make every Friday evening ‘Fish Night’ at their house. They’d order takeout from Floyd’s – fried fish, mac n’ cheese, and George’s favorite the candied yams. “It was the closest we could get to my mom’s home cooking”, Jackie reminisced. “It just felt like home whenever we go there.”
Story of Floyd’s Soul Food Restaurant
Otis Floyd opened the doors nearly 40 years ago at the first location on Tuckaseegee Road.
And he built the restaurant to become the staple it is today. His son, Tyrone now runs the business. He took it over in 2014 after the elder Floyd passed away suddenly.
Tyrone says it was never in his plan to run the restaurant. He was a successful engineer who loved his job. But he explained to WSOC-TV, that when his father died he did not want the family legacy to die as well. He says his father passed away two weeks before he was supposed to retire.
Tyrone says he’s been frying chicken ever since, putting his all into the business. And he has the battle marks to prove it. Since taking over the business, he’s suffered two heart attacks. Tyrone believes his health scare has served as a reminder that life is short.
He says he doesn’t want to repeat the fate of his father. He wants to be around to one day enjoy grandchildren and his family. It’s a sobering truth, but a hard pill to swallow for the Perry’s who realize the irony of it all. While the Floyd’s are closing shop for the sake of family, they say it was Floyd’s restaurant that brought a sense of unity to theirs.
