Folks share memories of Whitey's before it closes

Reported by Claire Hosmann – bio |email

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT)- Whitey's restaurant, a place everyone can call home, is closing its doors this Sunday.

That means that Friday is the last weekday where long time friends and neighbors can meet at the popular restaurant, but it will also be a day of great memories and well wishes.

This week has been on of the busiest for Whitey's. When the news broke that the restaurant would be closing, people around town took it hard. They are going to miss the social, familiar landmark, and in particular, the man behind the name.

Customers rave about the food, but perhaps more enticing than the eggs and coffee, is the feeling of home that resonates at Whitey's.

"People come here because they like good food, good service, and they like a smile, which I've always enjoyed doing," said owner Whitey Prevatte.

Whitey, the man behind the restaurant, is everywhere but behind the scenes.

"You almost never come without seeing Whitey here. Everyone loves him and he loves everybody else too," said customer and longtime friend Hugh Macrae.

Macrae has been eating and socializing at Whitey's for years.

"If I want a good breakfast or a good lunch and to catch up on the news around town, this is where I come," said Macrae.

On Friday, Macrae, along with former Nascar car owner Charles "Hoss" Ellington, will enjoy their last breakfast at Whitey's.

"Whiteys' always been fair to everybody, this is a good meeting place for everybody, don't know where we are going to meet now, we'll have to relocate I guess," said Ellington.

Many who eat at Whitey's have some kind of tie to the man, relationships he's been nurturing since opening the spot back in the 50's.

"Its one of the landmarks in Wilmington, my family and Whitey have been best friends for 50, 60 years," said Catherine Saffo Cox.

Whitey's has a big family in the area, who all are part of the business.

"It's a place to gather, filled with family, friends, its part of home," said his sister-in-law Jennifer Prevatte.

And everyone here has their favorite story to tell.

Brent Sponseller once drove from his home in Pennsylvania all the way to Wilmington just to have a breakfast of Whitey's North Carolina country ham. He says it was well worth it, and "I would do it again."

For anyone looking to run a place as successful as Whitey's, or live a life with as much happiness as he has, Whitey says, "live a good life, live an honest life, and treat other people as you like to be treated yourself."

Whitey is sad to close the restaurant, but he says he'll still be around.

"We're not leaving town, we'll still be in Wilmington, we still hope to see all of you at sometime," said Whitey. "We'll hope you continue to support our family, we appreciate all the support you've given our family, thank you folks, appreciate it."

Whitey plans on retiring once doors close Sunday. Something he will have to learn how to do!

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