After 32 years as an anchor of this prominent corner situated in the heart of SouthPark at Fairview and Sharon Roads, Harper’s Restaurant will serve its last customer on July 20. The building will be demolished and replaced by a bank, according to the restaurant’s owner.

By Sharon Smith

Say it isn’t so! Harper’s Restaurant — one of only a handful of family-friendly, comfort-food driven restaurants in SouthPark — will shutter its doors in July. There’s no telling how many people have savored those tempting, heavily-breaded chicken supremes over the decades and ordered wood-fired pizzas with maybe a slice leftover to take home and enjoy.

While known as a go-to spot for family and friends, Harper’s has equally drawn guests for lunchtime meetings and reliable takeout, for a mid-week easy meal or holiday catering.

There is history here. It’s even written on the walls. Right before the aged brick archway leading to the dining room, guests walk past a plaque that reads: “This Antique Brick Which Was Handmade In 1905, Was Reclaimed From The Historic Charlotte Bagging Company Building Once Located At 1601 North Brevard Street In Uptown Charlotte.” 

There is history in the restaurant’s people, too. Some employees have been with Harper’s since the first location opened on Woodlawn Road in 1987. That’s astounding, especially in the restaurant industry and it says something admirable about the restaurant’s culture. People stay — and likely would have stayed, if they had a choice.

“We wish we could say this is our decision, but it simply is not. We are working on a new location for a new iteration of Harper’s, and hope we will be able to share more information soon,” says Tom Sasser, owner of Burke Hospitality Group. A representative for BHG says the new location is unlikely to be in SouthPark.

Sasser’s first comment in the closing announcement showed appreciation for the team at Harper’s. Many relocated to the SouthPark location when it opened in 1992.

There’s line cook Tyrone Hargrove who started at the Woodlawn location in 1987. Shon Harris joined him around 1995 at the SouthPark location. 

Walter Freeman, of Walter’s Wine School, started as a bartender at Harper’s Woodlawn in 1999 and has worked all over the company for the entire 25 years.

Carol Weinles, known as the pizzaiola extraordinaire, started at Krumm’s (a former bakery) in 2004 and then worked at Harper’s Pineville and now Southpark. Erin Robertson, a server, started at Woodlawn in 2009, worked in Pineville and then came to SouthPark.

Bartender Stephanie Kossaras has been there 11 years and has many fans around the bar. Chef Lenny Williams started at Mimosa Grill (owned by BHG) in 2012 and moved to Harper’s SouthPark during the pandemic.

Harper’s final day of service is scheduled for July 20, 2024. The Greensboro location at Friendly Center remains open. – SP

images courtesy of The Plaid Penguin