WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC Locals say goodbye to 'out of this world' breakfast dishes

Locals say goodbye to 'out of this world' breakfast dishes

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Chris Lubben can't believe he is cooking breakfast at his family-owned restaurant for the last time. The doors to the popular breakfast restaurant on Eastwood closed on Sunday after almost four years of business. His wife and business partner Kristen Lubben calls the ending ‘bittersweet.'

"We just wanted to be in control of it, and not have it like other restaurants. Sometimes they'll run out in the middle of the night. We didn't want that to happen because we have such loyal customers," said Lubben.

On Sunday morning, the chef-owner tweeted about his last day. And the couple credits social media for keeping them afloat during the recession. But now that their lease is up, closing just feels like 'good timing.'

"Its great to hear that they'll miss us and come in and share our last day with us - it really means a lot to all of us," said Lubben.

There was a limited menu served because of Hurricane Irene but the Cosmic Kitchen delivered one of the menu's biggest hits: the big stack of pancakes.

One of their regular patrons even tried to get them on the Food Network show ‘Man vs. Food"

Another said it's not only the food that drew them in but it was the family environment and good company. Pam Ardell said going to Chris's Cosmic Kitchen on Sunday's was a ‘ritual' for her and her girlfriends.

"Where else can you walk into someplace in the morning and have your drinks sitting on your table before you've even come in the door," said the woman in her Sunday's best as she tried to fight back tears.

And the Lubben's said its people like her that make the departure so hard.

"When you own a restaurant you see people everyday. We've seen their kids grow and we've just had so many tremendous experiences here. I mean we feel like these people are family," said Lubben.

As of now the family doesn't know what the universe holds for them, but they know it will involve Chris's cheesecake. They plan to use social media to help get it off the ground.

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