WILMINGTON — New owners announced today that they’ll be bringing back veggie-friendly favorite Sealevel City Gourment under new management. With the blessing – and many of the classic recipes – of former chef Nikki Spears, the restaurant will reopen with a 100-percent vegan menu as Sealevel City Vegan Diner.
Less than two months ago, Sealevel shut its door. For long-time customer fan Kelsey Gibbs, it was too good to let go.
“When it closed its door — I just didn’t want to see it go. I needed it, Wilmington needed it,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs said she and her husband Scott Key — known to some as the drummer for Wilmington’s own ASG — just finalized the transition. With the help of Gibbs’ mother and Chef Spears, the couple decided to focus on an all-vegan menu.
“It seemed like a natural progression to make it completely vegan, since it was almost all the way there,” Gibbs said. “We might as well go ahead and do it — because I don’t think there’s really anything else that’s like it.”
Gibbs, who owns The Wonder Shop (a new and vintage clothing store on Front Street in downtown Wilmington), and Key have both run their own businesses before – but it’s their first foray into restaurants.
“We’re happy, and honored, and excited. It’s a whole new family business for us. It’s going to take a few months to learn the ropes and recipes, but we’ve always said ‘food service’ is in our future — we didn’t think it would happen this soon, but the opportunity presented itself,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs said hough Gibbs said they still have some renovation work to do, they hope to a soft opening with a paried down menu. Gibbs said Spears offered her expertise and classic menu items that will show up on the menu, including a vegan tempeh kmchi Reuben, nachos, and the popular lentil burger.
“Once we get our footing we hope to do a grand opening and extend the menu,” Gibbs said.
Sealevel City Vegan Diner will (still) be located at 1015 S. Kerr Ave. Gibbs said there was no set opening date, but promised Instagram updates at Sealevel City Vegan Diner.
