Wilmington restaurant honors soul food legend Lynwood ‘Booty’ Davis

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington restaurant is honoring a local soul food legend following his death by serving a full day of his favorite dishes.

On Thyme Restaurant on Castle Street recently paid tribute to Lynwood “Booty” Davis, a longtime figure in Wilmington’s restaurant community. The restaurant served some of Davis’ favorite foods, including lima beans, rice, and pork chops.

On Thyme owner Corey Scott says Davis was a trailblazer and one of the few African American restaurant owners in the area at the time.

Davis founded Booty’s Soul Food and was known for keeping his doors open late to serve the community.

Scott says Davis also had a lasting impact on his own career as a restaurant owner.

“He’s our legend. He’s one of my heroes; I never thought I would own a restaurant, so it’s given me hope. He gave us hope; I think that’s why he was such a legend. Right now is just giving everybody else hope in the community: you could own your own restaurant and be successful with it too,” said Scott.

Davis died Sunday, just days before his 86th birthday.