CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The owners of Green's Lunch, Charlotte's oldest restaurant, say rumors that they're selling aren't true, insisting that other factors led them to close shop.
Joanna Sikiotis, the owner of Green's Lunch since 1989, told WCNC Charlotte that the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulty finding employees, and changes in Uptown -- including a shift away from in-person toward remote work -- left her with no choice but to close the restaurant after being a Charlotte staple for 97 years.
"I grew up in here," she said. "We're really proud. We were thinking we were going to make it to 100 [years] but it's just too much right now."
Green's was one of the last of the "old" Charlotte restaurants to hang on. Several other Queen City institutions, including Price's Chicken Coop, Mr. K's and Zack's Hamburgers, fell by the wayside as new development made their owners offers they couldn't refuse.
Sikiotis denied rumors that the hot dog lunch counter was being sold for millions of dollars. The restaurant's property was listed for sale at least twice since 2021. For now, Sikiotis said she'll be leasing the building for a lounge.
"No, we didn't sell, just renting the space out," she said. "Uptown Charlotte right now is booming in nightlife, so it's going to be a lounge. Nobody's coming to work so all the restaurants are closing up here. During the day, nobody's up here, this is the most people I've seen in years."
Business has been booming this week after the restaurant announced it would be closing for good Wednesday.
David Belk, a Charlottean, was among those to line up, saying he'd been coming for the past 30 years.
"I'll have to go other places, try different things for a change," Belk said. "I'm going to miss Green's. A lean-green, hot dog machine. Can't beat that."
Green's first opened in 1926. Sikiotis said her father purchased it from the Green family in 1975 and it's been their pride and joy ever since. For the family, Sikiotis said it's bittersweet.
"In one way, I want to go and stay home and another, three-fourths of my life I've been in here so it's going to be hard," she said. "I do have loyal customers and whatever I've asked from them, they've always been there. They showed their love and their hugs and everything in our time of need. We'll miss them because they're part of our family."
And while Wednesday marked the end of what's known as Charlotte's longest-running restaurant, Sikiotis won't rule out a comeback, whether it's a food truck or selling the famous Green's chili in stores.
"There are a lot of options on the table for me and my son," Sikiotis said. "Like a food truck or bottling the chili. We don't know yet."
One thing is for sure. The legendary Green's Lunch chili recipe isn't going anywhere.
"We're not giving that chili recipe out," Sikiotis joked.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.