After 56 years, Whitey’s kitchen is closed for good

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– Whitey’s Restaurant has been a Wilmington trademark since it first opened in 1954. And after over five decades of business, the restaurant has decided to close it’s doors permanently. Crowds of customers made their way to Whitey’s on Sunday morning to get one last meal before the restaurant closed for good.

Whitey’s served the community for 56 years; offering warm breakfast and lunch, endless coffee refills, and life long friends. Betty Brisson has been visiting Whitey’s for over 50 years. She says there are many reasons why she has continued to come back. “The service is wonderful,” says Brisson. “Everybody’s always so welcoming, warm. They’re just family. They’re just family.”

The iconic business will soon be replaced with a Walgreens. Owner Whitey Prevatte says he feels the decision to sell the restaurant is the best move for his business. “The highway department is going to take our dining room,” says Prevatte. “We have an opportunity to build a Walgreens drug store so we feel it would be in our best interest to build that store.”

Whitey says he is blessed, not only because of his business’ success but by the amount of community support he has been given over the years. “I just want to thank everyone for their support for me and my family and friends,” says Prevatte. “They’ve all been very nice. A lot of them have passed on, but we still remember them and their families and we want to thank everybody for everything they’ve done to keep our family and support out family, together.”

One this is for sure, Whitey’s will be greatly missed. “Every time I drive by, I’m sure I’ll wish it were here but I guess it’s time for it to go,” says Brisson. “Really, it’s a historic landmark that I wish could stay forever.”