RALEIGH, N.C. — After decades of serving the Raleigh community Clyde Cooper’s BBQ says they will be moving out of downtown.
Co-owner Ashley Jessup says downtown has been going down hill since the pandemic, so they’re looking to the outskirts or town to keep their business thriving. Clyde Cooper’s BBQ has been a staple in the downtown Raleigh community for 85 years.
“It’s a Raleigh institution,” Jessup said. “I mean, there’s no other way to put it. We are good at what we do.”
Jessup says she basically grew up here, and has been working at the restaurant since she was 14 years old. After she recently made the hard decision to move out of downtown Raleigh, she says she’s disappointed.
“It’s extremely sad,” Jessup said. “If things were different out here, if downtown really could suddenly get it together, we’d stay because that’s the only reason we’re leaving.”
They still want to serve the Raleigh community, but they say the negatives of being downtown have started to outweigh their love of the location. Crime, homelessness and lack of parking are just a few reasons Jessup wants to move to the outskirts. She says she needs her staff and customers to feel safe.
“I mean, after they leave here, we can’t take care of them,” Jessup said. “So we don’t want them to be in danger coming to see us.”
Jessup feels like downtown Raleigh has been neglected ever since the pandemic. She said she has to lock the doors early, listen to profanity in the streets, and deal with customers getting haggled at the door. Now, she’s had enough.
A BBQ sandwich at Clyde Cooper’s BBQ. (Spectrum News 1/Jenna Rae Gaertner)
“I mean, since the announcement came out,” Jessup said “It’s been me getting emails constantly saying, ‘I used to be a super regular customer, and I’ve been coming there since I was younger when I lived here. And then that’s the exact reason I haven’t been coming.’ So it’s more confirmation that this is the right thing to do.”
The City of Raleigh and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance have recognized the increase in crime in certain areas downtown.
They’ve taken steps to make sure people are more protected, including hiring private security officers to patrol the downtown core area. While Jessup says she appreciates the effort, she doesn’t see things changing enough to keep her business at its current location.
“When downtown was at its greatest, we’ve been here,” Jessup said. “When downtown has been on its worst, we’ve been here. But it’s if the people who are running downtown aren’t doing anything to make downtown be the best it can be, there’s not going to be a downtown to go two years from now.”
Police have increased their presence in areas such as Moore Square, near Clyde Cooper’s, the Glenwood South area, and the GoRaleigh bus terminal in an effort to reduce crime. Clyde Cooper’s will still be in their downtown location on South Wilmington Street until they find a new location. The owners say they are actively looking for a place, but they own their current building so there’s not a rush to get out.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance did not respond to a request for comment on why Jessup said she plans to move the restaurant.