Sahara Pitas & Subs celebrates its last day before owner retires

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — It’s the end of an era for the one long standing restaurant in Ogden. Sahara Subs and Pitas celebrated it’s last day on Saturday.

“It’s been a roller coaster for the last two weeks, but all good things come to an end,” said owner Edwin Bahouth.

“It’s a piece of history going away from Ogden. This is probably one of the oldest places here and so much has been built up around here in recent years and it’s kind of hard to see it go,” said long-time customer Doug Stanford.

Stanford has been coming to Sahara Pitas and Subs since the 1980s. The little family-owned restaurant will close it’s doors as the owner is set to retire.

“I’m feeling all the customers’ appreciation and it’s just overwhelming. I’m grateful for the support this community gave me over the last 37 years and I enjoyed every bit of it,” said Bahouth.

Bahouth says it has been 37 years of joy. He says he has seen generations grow up here.

People say it was more than just a place to get some authentic food.

“We’d come over here for lunch and we just got to know him really well over the years and always enjoyed him. It was good food. It was great food, great friends, great people,” said Stanford.

Great food enjoyed by customers like Stanford from right across the street, to visitors from across the country.

“Muscatine, Iowa. It’s 1,800 and something miles. 1,182. We just had to stop here. It’s our favorite place to eat,” said Karen Morgan.

What’s next for Bahouth?

“I don’t have any plans. I’m just going to try to enjoy life and do the things I’ve been missing out on for the last many years that I’ve been here,” said Bahouth.

The restaurant was packed for it’s last day with customers saying their goodbyes.