In a conversation with owner Kevin David on Thursday, February 6, he expressed surprise at all the local commotion about his restaurant The Coffee Cup Grill. “It all got started,” he said, “with one of my employees talking to Mr. Johnson of the Charlotte Post.” Johnson, apparently, is a regular customer at the Coffee Cup.David said the Charlotte Observer had not talked to him before printing their stories – which even included a column by would-be songwriter Dannye Romine Powell lamenting the eatery’s passing — but he wished they had “so the story could be set straight.” David said he had not intentionally been evasive. He explained that the sale of his business to Gardine Wilson is pending and that a grand reopening of The Coffee Cup would occur the first week of March. David said Wilson has run a similar restaurant for six years. David and Wilson have agreed to a live radio interview this week.
Sylvia David, Kevin’s wife, worked in the Coffee Cup for 17 years before buying it in 1999 from Christine Crowder, who had owned The Coffee Cup since 1982. Sylvia David will be a consultant for Wilson, but after two decades in food services, has opted for another career.
Kevin David said, “When you are doing soul food, real soul food, there is a lot of work. Washing the cabbage, cutting the collards, it takes time. We didn’t just open cans. I was wearing a lot of hats — in the kitchen, managing the outside, doing PR work.” David will work in partnership with Wilson, although all the details have not been worked out. The sale, he continued, will allow him more time to pursue a career in real estate.
According to public tax records, The Coffee Cup property is owned by Crescent Resources, which, as Sugarloaf Properties Inc., bought the land in May 2000. David said he thought the land had been offered for sale to Crowder at some point during the 1990s, but she did not buy it. The Davids are on a month-to-month lease, but he thought a two-year lease would be offered to Wilson. Saturday, February 1, was the last day David operated the restaurant.
Gardine Wilson, who grew up in Omaha, NE, operated Sally Mae’s Cafe, his family’s restaurant in Omaha. Wilson noted the cafe is named for his mother and is “similar in character” to the Coffee Cup. Currently he is in mortgage banking with Bank of America here in Charlotte. His partner in the venture is Anthony McCarver of Charlotte. Wilson said, “We want to maintain the culture, the food, the atmosphere (of the Coffee Cup). That’s very important. We are coming in to protect that.”
David said Kevin Doherty, property manager for Crescent Resources, called to tell him an historical organization, among others, had been calling his office. Other Charlotteans have come forward offering to buy The Coffee Cup, but David believes Wilson will maintain the integrity and quality of the restaurant.
“I want to keep the tradition,” David said. “It’s not all about money.”
More Awards For CLNC Press Association honors three LoafersBy Timothy C. Davis
Creative Loafing was informed recently that we had won three awards in the 2002 North Carolina Press Association News, Editorial, and Photojournalism Contest.Matt Brunson won a first place award in Criticism for “Cop Out,” a review of Training Day; “Sam The Sham,” a review of I Am Sam; and “Dark of the Sun,” a review of Insomnia.
In the Editorials category, Tara Servatius won a first place award for “Kissing the Wrong Rear End,” a look at the push for a downtown arena; “A Needless Tragedy,” about a casualty of the drug war; and “It’s Great to Be King,” a look at Governor Mike Easley’s “entourage.”
In addition, yours truly took third place in the Criticism category, filling Matt Brunson with no small sense of accomplishment. Davis’ stories were “The Song Remains The Same,” a look at post-9/11 rock & roll; “Praya Haters,” a piece on the anti-Creed backlash; and “Your New Favorite Bands,” about the resurgence of garage rock.
Creative Loafing editor John Grooms said, “We’re very proud of these guys. Any publication in the state would be improved by adding one of that trio of writers to their roster. It’s gratifying to garner praise from folks who are our peers. When you’re on this end of the phone line, more often than not what you hear are complaints about this or that — why isn’t my quilting bee in See & Do, your reporters are out to get me, etc. – so it’s always nice to realize someone out there has noticed that we’re doing a good job. It also means that we’re redoubling our efforts to keep on improving week to week. So watch out. “
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2003.
