CHINA GROVE — Captain’s Galley Seafood Shack will have a slightly different look in the coming weeks. The restaurant, located at 216 S. Main St., closed this week and is expected to reopen by the end of the month.
The owner put up a sign saying it would be closing, but had not said the reason or said publicly when it would officially be open for business again. Owner John Kazakos declined to comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Lee Withers said he made inquiries about the restaurant and was assured the closing would not be permanent.
“It’s a rebranding effort and will be open in a few weeks. We are excited as they are keeping the current wait staff and current managers,” Withers said.
He said he’s pleased China Grove will be able to keep a “great restaurant in the community.”
The restaurant and its owner have always been accommodating, Withers said, when the town has held various events and needed the parking space. The town is hosting its annual Farmers Day this weekend and will use the restaurant’s parking lot for part of the event.
“We are excited we will be able to continue that relationship,” he said.
Withers said he did not know the intended name of the restaurant but was told it would be a family style type of establishment.
James Smith, owner of Crossroads Design & Construction, was contracted to make cosmetic changes to the outside of the building. Smith said he expected to be working on the outside of the building, but at this point had no plans to re-construct the inside. He spent Thursday erecting cedar shakes on the window frames on the front of the building. He also was putting metal shingles on the front and sides of the roof of the building.
Town Planner Julian Burton said someone with the company inquired about a sign, but as of Thursday had not applied for a permit. The Rowan County Planning and Zoning Department handles much of the permitting process for China Grove.
He is also not sure what the new business will be, Burton said.
The restaurant opened in 1988 and was the chain’s third location. Before it was a restaurant, the building held an A&P grocery store. The first Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant opened in 1981 in Stony Point.
There are other Captain’s Galley locations in Greensboro, Concord and Bermuda Run.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.