WINSTON-SALEM | Development Guide

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by lareng

Tuscani of NC, LLC was registered with NC SOS on 7/21/25.
The address for the registered agent office of the limited liability company is:
750 Highland Oaks Dr Ste 200, W-S, NC.

The address for the registered agent office of Sugar & Salt Restaurant Group, LLC (owner of Sage and Salt) is:
750 Highland Oaks Dr Ste 200, W-S, NC

Great research, Lareng!

[DCMetroWinston]

Michael and Michelle Millan, owners of Mojito Latin Soul Food, said the decline of downtown Winston-Salem in customer volume and public safety prompted the couple to close their restaurant after nearly five years.

https://journalnow.com/news/local/busine...4604acf.html#tracking-source=mp-homepage

[yadkin]

“ owners of Mojito Latin Soul Food, said the decline of downtown Winston-Salem in customer volume”

I thought activity downtown was increasing as many have posted on this forum?

[winston's finest]

Said to hear about Mojito. It is hard for many restaurants that lasted through the pandemic because even if people have come back, they have been stressed financially for so long that they can’t sustain. Also Mojito was so far north from work/office centers downtown that I think many people didn't think to venture there.

[smain]

Latin food is not anything that I craved on a weekly or monthly basis. It may have been good but I'm sure a lot of people were in the same boat as me. I wish the owner luck in their next adventure.

[Winstonwalker]

I spoke to someone who’s very connected on the north end of downtown and they said to expect another restaurant closure in that area.

They also doubt that the new parking regime had anything to do with Mojito closing since parking is free after 5.

I wonder if the bad press from the youth gathering at Trade and 6th has reduced traffic to that end of downtown.

Unrelated: We went back to Mission Pizza a couple of weeks ago. We keep trying it every year or two and, every time, we come away surprised by its popularity. They have a sort of aggressive vibe there and seem quite snobbish over something very basic. We found the pizzas to be extremely salty. The crust is sublime. But, man, they seem to be shooting for some kind of exclusivity and selling the vibe of the place. I guess it works because the joint was jumping on a Tuesday night. But they won’t be getting much of our business.

[westsalem18]

We're big fans of Mission, though it does come with some unique challenges. I wouldn't be surprised if they relocate to another area of town. Mojito was fine. I wish they had located to a different part of town in a smaller space when they originally opened. It rarely came to mind when trying to think of places to eat.

Generally speaking, until they relocate the bus station, downtown will struggle to get momentum for everyday use. It has gotten increasing rough where certain streets are avoided and any peaceful walks or meals are interrupted. It will remain a fun place for large events like Gears and Guitars. The area around Mozelle's seems to be where a consistent number of people frequent the restaurants and bars. Matt Pleasants' new place should do well there. Excited for it to open!

[DCMetroWinston]

Mass restaurant closings aren’t a Winston phenomenon, they are a national phenomenon. DC is experiencing a tragic holocaust of its restaurants now, even with return to work fully enacted. Raleigh’s acclaimed Mandolin has announced it is closing, shoving the region.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-restaurants-shutting-down-record-rates-new-report-shows.amp

[B-V-R]

Downtown is fine. I spent the last two weekends with my kids downtown and activity was good everywhere we went with the one exception being Reboot, but I think that's more of a late night spot. Restaurants come and go, it's the nature of the beast, and downtown has a ton of restaurants.

I do agree on the bus station. It's in about the worst place it could be right in the central core of downtown and people just loiter there all day long. Problem is we need bus service to downtown and I'm at a loss for where it could be moved.

On parking I get that the new app is a pain, but most of the time people complain about parking downtown they seem to also refuse to use the decks. There is a deck in just about any area of downtown that's easy to use and cheap and at certain times is free. Anyone blaming parking for not going downtown is just looking for an excuse not to go.

[Winstonwalker]

Got another confirmation on the amphitheater.

Someone in the know told me it is a go. But they clammed up regarding details. Hush-hush, I guess, for the moment.

Agree 100% on bus station

Maybe up at Industry Hill would make sense. MLK is a very good thoroughfare with easy access to north-south and east-west arteries. The Downtown Health Plaza is right there for access to health care. And the shelters at the north end of Trade are handy.

I’m sure that the residents in the new building and business like Radar wouldn’t love it but that’s a much less central spot and there is plenty of unused land to the north.

[smain]

No one ever mentions the numerous missions/homeless shelters also located within what is now a restaurant/entertainment district. I know these were there before Trade St and the surrounding areas became popular (rent was low for a reason). But we have two destinations on each end of Trade/Main/Liberty that draw homeless and wonder why that issue exists.

[SpikedCoffee]

It is probably true that RamKat, WiseMan, Radar, Artreaux, Earls, the new arcade coming, Mixxer, Robert Hall, and residents wouldn't like it.

It makes more sense to do away with a central bus station. Have bus routes intersect along the way and use transfers to switch routes. One reason to hate the bus system is you have to ride all the way to DTWS to go back out into town. As far as I know all you need a central point for is Greyhound and the train shuttle.

Another option is to reconfigure the depot to support the DTWS bike patrol instead of that little place on Cherry St at the deck they use now. Then you have a police presence on site.

Originally Posted by Winstonwalker

Maybe up at Industry Hill would make sense. MLK is a very good thoroughfare with easy access to north-south and east-west arteries. The Downtown Health Plaza is right there for access to health care. And the shelters at the north end of Trade are handy.

I’m sure that the residents in the new building and business like Radar wouldn’t love it but that’s a much less central spot and there is plenty of unused land to the north.

[DCMetroWinston]

Why are so many North Carolina restaurants closing?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D2CQNHTxQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[yadkin]

“ Why are so many North Carolina restaurants closing?”

Is it possible for a synopsis for one who does not do Facebook?

[DCMetroWinston]

Originally Posted by yadkin

“ Why are so many North Carolina restaurants closing?”

Is it possible for a synopsis for one who does not do Facebook?

Commentor: Food & labor expenses are insane right now and just about any restaurant that is leasing a property is doomed because landlords keep raising lease terms even in places like Kinston or Rocky Mount.

Profit margins are almost non existent and the labor pool is the weakest it has ever been because people are tired of being overworked in a thankless career field……every single time I interview someone I go in with the mindset that the individual I’m talking to either TRULY loves this industry or this was an absolute last ditch effort to make ends meet - it’s always the later.

People do not understand that when they are buying a $30 New York strip they aren’t simply paying for the meat on the plate. They are paying for the labor, the light bill and the $350 5 gallon bucket of dish chemicals used to clean the plate that won’t even last a whole week.

Restaurants also had the luxury for years of being able to make up the lost revenue of low menu prices by running a bar program where cocktails were $10-$12 but that was when you had cocktails being made with $9 bottles……..there is almost nothing palatable in NC ABC stores for less than $30 these days.

I mentioned the landlords too right……..that’s probably the biggest killer of restaurants in the last 10 years.

[yadkin]

Thanks for this - sounds bleak.

[DCMetroWinston]

Add to the aforementioned factors, restaurants are dealing with a public that is increasingly picky, nasty, rude, and downright violent. And TikTok “food critics” seem to routinely go viral by sabotaging restaurants with negative reviews. It’s taking the joy out of operating restaurants

[LynnAikens]

Originally Posted by DCMetroWinston

Add to the aforementioned factors, restaurants are dealing with a public that is increasingly picky, nasty, rude, and downright violent. And TikTok “food critics” seem to routinely go viral by sabotaging restaurants with negative reviews. It’s taking the joy out of operating restaurants

I agree with everything you have mentioned in both of your posts. Also, consider that the service and quality of food has gotten much worse over the last five years. So, the bad attitude you mentioned is displayed in the people they are hiring. No one cares anymore.

[RoedigerHouse]

07 August 2025

The demolition of the retail spaces between the lobby and the Eye Care Center in the Loewy Building has begun.

[WSBornNBred]

Originally Posted by LynnAikens

I agree with everything you have mentioned in both of your posts. Also, consider that the service and quality of food has gotten much worse over the last five years. So, the bad attitude you mentioned is displayed in the people they are hiring. No one cares anymore.

In addition to everything already stated, you also have changing norms. Younger generations don't drink as much, which isn't a bad thing, but it certainly isn't good for restaurants that depend on selling booze to make ends meet.

Most of the country is likely oversaturated with restaurants/breweries/bars because of years of extremely cheap capital, and ones that are on shaky footing (financial, customer-base, etc.) will likely not make it.