WILMINGTON — Chops Deli and Grill’s on Wrightsville Avenue has permanently closed.
After five years in business, signs were posted on Chops Deli and grill’s doors to announce the closure.
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“It’s not terribly sad, it’s business. We want to take a step back, lessen our load and focus on what has made us successful in the past,” Co-owner of Chops Chris Graham said.
Below: Chop’s also posted the closing on Facebook.
Chops Deli’s locations on North Front Street, South College Road, and Castle Hayne Road will remain open.
Graham said the decision to close the Wrightsville Avenue location will allow his team to reorganize around the deli’s original business model; Chops Deli and grill was a hybrid, whereas the restaurant’s original model is a deli.
This decision to close Chops Deli and Grill follows the restaurant’s GoFundMe, created June 15. The restaurant asked to raise $100,000 in three days in order to remain open, according to its GoFundMe page. The campaign garnered only about a tenth of the goal, but was ultimately able to keep the Chops restaurants open.
Graham said employees of the Wrightsville Avenue location will be offered positions at the deli’s remaining locations if they so choose.
“We’re very blessed to be able to provide these folks with jobs at our remaining three restaurants,” he said. “We love good food and we love good people.”
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