by Heidi Billotto

When Fenwick’s closed its doors back in March 2025 after an incredible 40-year run, we all thought we were saying goodbye for good. I wrote then (with a lump in my throat) this story about the countless meals, memories, and hugs shared within those cozy walls on Providence Road in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood. 

It was a place where regulars were family, where first-timers quickly became old friends, and where the burgers, tomato bisque, bran muffins, fried oysters, and that legendary bread pudding always felt like home.

Sometimes, life gives us the sweetest kind of second helpings: Fenwick’s is back. Same menu and the same vibe. Same neighborhood gem.

We have new owner Tommi Harris, who has worked hand in hand with the Rabb family to keep the restaurant going; general manager Bill Parks, and many of the original Fenwick’s crew to thank for it. 

Harris isn’t just swooping in as some anonymous new owner. She’s a longtime Fenwick’s fan and a neighborhood local you might know from behind the bar at Primo’s, just around the corner on Middleton Drive. Tommi understands the magic of Fenwick’s, and she’s stepping in with open arms and the best possible plan: to keep it all the same.

Harris says she’s stepping in not to reinvent Fenwick’s but to protect what made it special in the first place. Think of it like a home renovation where they keep the porch swing and all your grandma’s recipes.

If you’ve been keeping up with appearances, you’ve seen the work that’s been going on, the pod in the parking lot, and all the construction crews coming and going.

The working plan is that the menu isn’t changing. Those perfectly crisp fried oysters? Still on deck. And yes, you can still order the hand-cut fries, big salads, and bowls of tomato bisque with bran muffins, those grilled burgers, and the bread pudding that Don Rabb so famously gifted to new guests to keep them coming back. (Spoiler: it worked.)

Of course, the bones of the place have had a thoughtful update—think new plumbing, wiring, kitchen equipment, and a refreshed bar and service area—but the heart and soul? That’s untouched.

Hours will be Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The barstools will remain prime seating — and you still won’t be able to make a reservation, so plan to wait a bit for a table, and maybe a bit longer for a seat at the bar.

In many ways, if I could be so bold, I think this is exactly what Catherine Rabb would have wanted. The former owner, who passed away in 2021, built Fenwick’s into what it is today with her warmth and recipes. Her spirit lingers in every muffin, every bowl of tomato bisque, every friendly nod from across the room. And her voice is still on the answering machine. 

It feels right that Tommi, someone who understands the pulse of this neighborhood, is carrying the torch. You’ll find Tommi doing her thing, behind the bar crafting cocktails for the crowds. And, she’s kicking this opening month off with a new cocktail program we are all going to love.

This article originally appeared in Heidi Billotto Food.