A bit of fishing on the part of local restaurateur Keith Rhodes yielded a major catch.   Rhodes, chef and owner of Catch restaurant in Wilmington, learned that international food blogger Mark Wiens was staying with family in the North Carolina mountains.   “There was a major COVID outbreak in Thailand, where he’s based, and he had to wait it out,& ...

Wilmington’s beloved local ice cream shop, Boombalatti's Homemade Ice Cream, is going nationwide. Wes and Kristen Bechtel have been serving up scoops since 2015, but earlier this month they have expanded their business to include pint shipping throughout the United States. Anyone can have access to the delicious ice cream, whether they're across the countr ...

Wilmington’s Flying Machine Brewing Company is giving customers a new beverage to quench their thirst. The brewery just launched the Big Ocean Cider Company. Its first beverage, a dry, hard cider, will be offered in canned and draft formats at both Flying Machine's Randall Parkway and Wrightsville Beach retail locations. “Cider is a good alternat ...

A longtime downtown Wilmington restaurant has new owners, according to an announcement Monday. Rachel and Jason McGhinnis recently purchased Little Dipper Fondue, 138 South Front St., from co-founders Pete and Kristen Gruodis, who have operated the downtown eatery since 2005. The Groudises decided to sell the business because they wanted to spend more time with ...

A new coffee trailer has rolled into town, and this one aims to perk up any slow-pokes. The Frothy Sloth Coffee Hut opened earlier this month, serving up specialty brews out of a trailer.  “It’s only been two weeks but we’re loving every minute of it,” co-owner James Yourell said.  About a week out from medical retirement from the Ma ...

Total Wine & More is on track to open this summer, its original target.   Store manager Dawn Ward said Tuesday that the new location is in the process of staffing up and should open its doors in late June or early July. The store, part of the Bethesda, Maryland-based chain, will occupy the 23,000-square-foot retail space at 943 Military Cutoff Road that was form ...

A popular midtown restaurant has new owners.   Wednesday, Amber Moshakos, president of LM Restaurants, announced the sale of Henry’s Restaurant & Bar to Fares and Zeina Hanna of Three Seasons Catering of Durham. The Hannas are longtime friends of the Moshakos family, owners of LM Restaurants, which acquired Henry’s in 2008, according to a news rel ...

Like all other events forced to shutter festivities due to the pandemic, what’s become a tradition for many in Wilmington returns this weekend just in time to welcome the summer season: Greek Festival is back in full swing.  For St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the festivities will be even more special because it’s the 30th anniversary of the ce ...

Prepare to “embark on the most affordable trip your mouth will ever take to Italy.” That’s what Cugino Forno promises, an authentic Italian pizzeria planning to open its fifth location in Wilmington in about two weeks.  Launched in Greensboro in 2017, Cugino Forno was founded by three cousins: Joseph Ozbey, Adam Aksoy and Yilmaz Guver. Each of the ...

There’s more cooking at Famous Toastery these days than just breakfast and lunch dishes. The Charlotte-based restaurant chain has ambitious expansion plans locally and beyond.   Corporate sources say that besides eyeing the Wilmington and Leland areas, Famous Toastery is looking for new spots in metro markets across North Carolina and in neighboring states. & ...