Rare opportunity to acquire a beloved, consistently profitable diner with 40+ years of history and an exceptionally loyal customer base in the Greater Wilmington, NC area. This is one of the region’s most recognized local eateries - family-owned, deeply rooted in the community, and still growing year after year despite reduced weekend hours.

Business Overview

Established in 1981, this iconic diner has become a staple in its market, known for its consistency, home-style cooking, and friendly service. With an unmatched reputation and decades of trust built with both long-time locals and the surge of new residents moving to the area, the business enjoys a uniquely strong position. Customers eat here at least once a week, creating a reliable recurring traffic flow.

The restaurant operates from a welcoming shopping center location and has perfected a simple, proven menu centered on fried seafood, burgers, pork chops, shrimp, and house-made seasonings that customers rave about. It is a turnkey, community-famous diner with a legacy that’s hard to replicate.

Key Financial Highlights

- Annual Revenue: $545K+

- Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE): $202K+

- 37% SDE margins

Operational Details

The restaurant runs a full-service dine-in and takeout model, open Monday–Friday, 11 AM to 7 PM, a dream schedule for many restaurateurs. The kitchen is staffed with 2 full-time cooks and 2 part-time cooks, while 6 waitstaff handle all front-of-house service. Back-of-house handles prep, cooking, and cleaning, keeping operations streamlined.

The business uses unique, in-house developed seasoning blends that give its dishes a distinctive edge. Operations are currently manual but simple, consistent, and repeatable. The seller remains active in daily management, ensuring well-maintained systems and smooth handoff.

Reason for Sale

Owner is retiring after successfully running the diner for decades. They are prepared to transition the new owner over a 3-week training period, living nearby and ready to support a smooth takeover.

Growth Opportunities

- Add weekend breakfast service - high-demand, currently untapped

- Partner with delivery services (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.)

- Expand catering, which has never been explored

- Extend hours or reintroduce weekends for instant revenue lift

- Leverage booming population growth in the region

Ideal Buyer Profile

The perfect buyer is a family or entrepreneur with restaurant experience and strong work ethic who wants a profitable, stable, cash-flowing business with deep community roots. This is a rare chance to take over a beloved establishment that can support a family and continue growing for generations.

For more information, including full financials, lease details, and a confidential business summary, please submit a business inquiry to learn more about this exceptional opportunity.