Most everyone can agree that Fayetteville is always evolving. Fort Liberty soldiers and their families come and go. New businesses open all the time to cater to changing appetites.

Yet, some restaurants, cafes, bakeries and butchers remain the same, often still run by the same families who founded them decades ago.

We have a number of eateries that have withstood decades of change in Cumberland County and show no signs of stopping. Here’s a look at some of the oldest places to eat in the area.

Did we miss one that's been open for a while? Let us know by emailing tshook@gannett.com.

80-plus years

1937: Rainbow Restaurant

Rainbow Restaurant was first established on the ground floor of the Palace Hotel as “Rainbo Restaurant” at 223 Hay St. in 1937 and moved to Ramsey Street in 1976. For three generations, the family-owned restaurant has served from-scratch diner food like pancakes and grilled steak.

Address: 3708 Ramsey St., Fayetteville

Website: rainbowrestaurantnc.com

70-plus years

Early 1950s: Luigi's Italian Chophouse and Bar

First founded downtown in the early 1950s, Luigi's moved to McPherson Church Road in 1982. Since then, it’s served signature red-sauce favorites, beef and fish alongside a wine selection that won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

Address: 528 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville

Website: luigisnc.com

60-plus years

1956: Superior Bakery

Founder John Poulos, a Greek immigrant who worked as a dishwasher until he saved enough money to purchase a closed bakery on Raeford Road, opened Superior Bakery in 1956. He moved the operation to Hope Mills Road in 1971. Now, his son Nick Poulos operates the bakery known for cakes, pie, doughnuts and fried croissants.

Address: 2433 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville

Website: superiorbakerync.com

1957: New York Restaurant

Gus Poulos, brother to Superior Bakery's founder, opened New York Restaurant in 1957 on Eastern Boulevard. Its location along U.S. 301 made it popular with travelers. Still open today, the family-style diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Address:  201 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville

Website: facebook.com/pages/New-York-Restaurant/119749261374557

1960s: Continental Cafe

Owner Lynn Prevatte runs Continental Cafe in the Eutaw Village shopping center with her daughter, Beverly Chavis. Prevatte bought the restaurant with a friend in 1995, but it dates back to the 1960s. Diners can dig into homestyle breakfast and lunch dishes like pancakes, French toast, soup and sandwiches at the counter or in one of the booths along the wall.

Address: 808 Elm St., Fayetteville

Website: Search "Continental Cafe" on Facebook

1961: Kentucky Fried Chicken

Nick Fasul, his daughter Dena Fasul and Fasul's nephew Steve Paris opened the Hillcrest Drive-In on Bragg Boulevard in 1961. It became North Carolina's first restaurant to serve Kentucky Fried Chicken after Paris trained for two weeks with Colonel Harland Sanders in Louisville. Ten years later, the restaurant became a Kentucky Fried Chicken. The original building was torn down in 1989, but the Kentucky Fried Chicken has remained at 1207 Bragg Blvd.

Related: The road to North Carolina's first KFC

Address:  1207 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville

Website: kfc.com

1963: Chris's Steakhouse

Chris Poulos founded a steakhouse named after himself in 1964 on Raeford Road, shortly after his brothers John and Gus founded Superior Bakery and New York Restaurant, respectively. Known for fine cuts of meat cooked over an open hearth, the restaurant is now owned by Greg Kalevas, whom Poulos made his business partner in the early 1980s.

’He gave me the opportunity of my life': Greg Kalevas remembers Chris Poulos

Address:  2620 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Website:  fayettevillesteakhouse.com

50-plus years

1965: Barbeque Hut

Alfred Barefoot and his wife, Julie, own Barbeque Hut, which was founded in 1965 on Owen Drive. The restaurant serves authentic eastern Carolina-style barbeque prepared in-house and has won Fayetteville Observer Reader’s Choice Awards for best barbecue since the inception of the list in 1995.

Address:  2802 Fort Bragg Road and 2965 Owen Drive, Fayetteville

Website:  bbqhutsfayettevillenc.com

1968: Lindy's

Known for its country breakfast and spaghetti, Lindy's was founded in 1968 on Raeford Road. Head cook and owner Pete Skenteris, nephew to the late Pete Skenteris of Hamont Grill, runs the restaurant with his wife, Angela. The couple purchased it from the original owners in 2008.

Address: 3001 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Website: facebook.com/Lindys-Restaurant-100146918322878

1972: Peaden's Seafood and Catering

Peaden's Seafood and Catering was founded by James Robert Peaden Sr. in 1972 on McArthur Road. The food — Calabash-style fried seafood, pork barbecue, fried chicken and hushpuppies are a few of the favorites — could be described as homestyle country cooking.

Address: 1600 McArthur Road, Fayetteville

Website: peadens.com

1973: Golden Corral

National buffet chain Golden Corral, now with nearly 500 locations, got its start on Bragg Boulevard in 1973. Originally named Golden Corral Family Steak House, it was founded by James Maynard, now the CEO of a large holding company for food service and service industries, and William Carl, who died in 2005.

Address: 1806 Skibo Road, Fayetteville

Website: goldencorral.com

Golden anniversary for Corral: This national restaurant chain celebrating 50 years started as a Bragg Boulevard steakhouse

40-plus years

1974: Zorba's Gyro

Founder Tommy Frangakis was the first to bring gyros to Fayetteville when he opened Zorba's in 1974. Now run by his son John, the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Regulars order the traditional gyros, Greek omelets and the Wednesday spaghetti special.

Address: 2919 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, and 3114 N. Main St., Hope Mills

Website: zorbasgyro.com

1975: Cedar Point Restaurant

Cedar Point Restaurant has been serving country home cooking from its prime spot at Bragg Boulevard and North Main Street in Spring Lake since 1975. Run by siblings Mike Sheets and Sandra Robertson, the restaurant serves omelets, grits and corned beef hash for breakfast, and burgers and sandwiches for lunch.

Address: 997 N. Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville

Website: Search "Cedar Point Restaurant" on Facebook

1980: Fred Chason's Grandson's Famous Carolina Buffet

Fred Chason's Grandsons Carolina Famous Buffet got its start in Lumber Bridge in 1980. The restaurant was destroyed in a fire in 1997. Warga, one of Chason's grandsons, and his wife, Sheryl, opened the first Grandsons location on Marracco Drive in Hope Mills in 2005, which is still in operation. The buffet serves Southern classics like barbecue and fried chicken.

More: Longtime N.C. restaurant family opens much-anticipated ‘meat & three’ spot in Fayetteville

Address: 5338 Marraco Drive, Hope Mills

Website: grandsonsbuffet.com

1983: Pizza Palace

Pizza Palace was founded by Tom Poulos in 1983 on Hope Mills Road. Run with the help of his son Deno and his wife, Crystal, the house specialties are pizza and spaghetti. The Greek salad and special sub are also popular.

Address: 109 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville

Website: pizzapalacenc.com

1982: Robertson's Sandwich Shop

Not much has changed at this cash-only lunch spot off Bragg Boulevard since it opened in 1982. Owner and cook Frank Fernandez took over the spot in 2004. On a typical weekday, he grills hot dogs and burgers, slathers sandwiches with tuna or chicken salad and serves up sides of fries for a loyal crowd of regulars.

Address: 2712 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville

More: This old-school sandwich shop since 1982 is one of Fayetteville's best-kept secrets

30-Plus years

1984: Hunan Garden

Hunan Garden in Highland Shopping Center has changed hands a few times since it opened in 1984. It continues to serve more than 100 Chinese menu items, including many fish, vegan and vegetarian options. Customer favorites include beef in chili sauce and sauteed tilapia.

Address: 2726 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Website: hunangardenfayetteville.com

1985: Elizabeth's Pizza

The first Elizabeth's Pizza opened in Pamalee Plaza in 1985 and moved to Skibo Road in 1989. The Hope Mills Road location opened in 1999. Rosario Coppola runs the restaurant. Linguine sapore di mare — linguine with shrimp, clams and mussels that are sauteed in wine and then blended with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, basil and spices — is a popular dish.

Address: 1800 Skibo Road and 2468 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville

Website: elizabethspizza.org

1987: Noble Meats and Eatery

Noble Meats on Lillington Highway was founded by Nabil Isbanoly in 1987 and is now run by his son Jason. Once a bulk meat supplier, the restaurant started serving lunch in the late 1990s and is known for ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken.

Address: 2469 Lillington Highway, Spring Lake

Website: facebook.com/NobleMeats

More Hidden Gems: Noble Meats feeding the people, from Spring Lake to South Pole

1988: Captain Jerry's Seafood Family Restaurant

Captain Jerry's Seafood Family Restaurant was opened by brothers George and Andy Anagnostopoulos in 1988, and now their kids manage it. Stella Anagnostopoulos and her brothers, Jerry and Spyro, have worked at the restaurant since they were about 8 years old. The house special is a big plate of various fried seafood: flounder, popcorn shrimp, jumbo shrimp, oysters, scallops, and a stuffed deviled crab.

Address: 691 South Reilly Road, Fayetteville

Website: facebook.com/CaptainJerrysSeafood

1990: Mi Casita

Juan Macias founded the first Mi Casita in 1990 in Tallywood Shopping Center. The small chain now has 11 locations in Cumberland County serving such specialties as Mexican pizza, chilaquiles, and chimichangas.

Address: Multiple locations around Cumberland County

Website: micasitarestaurants.com/

1991: Country Fish Fry

Tasos Hasapis first founded Country Fish Fry on Fort Bragg Road in 1991 and moved across the street to the current building in 2000. The drive-thru-only restaurant serves fried fish (some flounder, mostly whiting), fried shrimp, French fries, coleslaw, deviled crab and iced tea.

Address: 3307 Fort Bragg Road, Fayetteville

Website: facebook.com/CountryFishFry

1992: Brooklyn Pizzeria

Owner Pete Reneo opened Brooklyn Pizzeria on Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake in 1992, followed by a Ramsey Street location about two decades later. The small chain once had a Eutaw Village Shopping Center location. It's known for its huge New York-style pizzas, sold by the slice or by the pie.

Address: 1125 N. Bragg Blvd., Spring Lake and 4411 Ramsey St., Fayetteville

Website: brooklynpizzeriaspringlake.com

1993: Sammio's

Sammio’s was started in 1993 by Sam (Soterios) Frangos, who immigrated from Greece and moved to North Carolina in 1990. The Raeford Road location was opened in 2004. Pasta and spaghetti are among the most popular dishes at the two red-sauce joints, which also serve pizza.

Address: 2623 Raeford Road, Fayetteville and 3057 N. Main St., Hope Mills

Website: sammiositalianrestaurant.com and sammios.biz

20-plus years

1994: Hong Kong Kitchen

Hong Kong Kitchen owner Connie Lin and her husband, Yuan Deng Lin, purchased the restaurant in 2006 from his relatives, who originally opened the business in 1994. The restaurant specializes in made-to-order Szechuan, Hunan and Cantonese cuisine.

Address: 169 McPherson Church Road

Website: hongkongkitchen88.com

1994: Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs

Baldinos was founded in 1975 by Bill Baer. A year later, Bill Pappas joined the company and in 1977, bought the Bragg Boulevard location and licensed the name, while Baer left to open Baldino's locations in Georgia. At its peak in the 1980s, there were 10 Baldinos locations in the Fayetteville area. Now, there are two, which still serve the Jersey-style submarine sandwiches the regional chain is named after.

Address: 102 S. Eastern Blvd. and 3018 Fort Bragg Road, both in Fayetteville

Website: baldinosnc.com

1996: Huske Hardware

Decades before the building at 405 Hay St. was renovated into a restaurant and brewery in 1996, it was a hardware store, established in 1904. Now, Huske Hardware serves its signature brews alongside burgers, sandwiches, barbecue and salads.

Address: 405 Hay St., Fayetteville

Website: huskehardware.com

1997: 316 Oyster Bar

Owners Joyce, Randy and Wayne Horne opened 316 Oyster Bar on Owen Drive in 1997. Since then, oysters have taken center stage at the 250-seat restaurant, served in a variety of preparations, from raw to Rockefeller, with spinach, parsley, bacon, spices and cheese.

Address: 316 Owen Drive, Fayetteville

Website: 316oysterbar.com

Early 2000s: Max & Moritz Bakery & Restaurant

For years, the sign outside Max & Moritz Bakery & Restaurant on Cliffdale Road simply read "Bakery." While it's true that the brötchen rolls, black forest torte, apple strudel and other sweets draw crowds, the restaurant has also served scratch-made German dishes like jäegerschnitzel, goulash and beef rouladen for decades. Longtime cook Petra Volcy bought the restaurant about a decade ago, and her daughter Nadine Dobeneck is the head baker.

Address: 5945 Cliffdale Rd # 1104, Fayetteville

Website: facebook.com/maxandmoritzfaync

2000: El Tucan

Owner Arturo Arellano opened El Tucan more than two decades ago. He brings a taste of his central Mexico hometown of Guanajuato to Spring Lake with specialties like pena rellena — a pineapple stuffed with grilled shrimp and chicken, bell peppers and onions and topped with melted cheese.

Address: 250 S. Bragg Blvd.

Website: facebook.com/eltucanmexicanrestaurant

2002: Sakura

Owner Julie Gin credits Sakura for being one of the first — if not the first — sushi bar in Fayetteville. Before Sakura opened at the Cliffdale Road in 2002, it was home to a Japanese bakery and tempura restaurant, which opened in 1995. Today, Sakura serves an array of sushi, alongside noodles, rice dishes and desserts.

Address: 5945 Cliffdale Rd #1109, Fayetteville

2002: El Cazador

Owner Agustin Alvarez opened the original El Cazador Mexican Restaurant on Skibo Road in 2002. Now, the regional chain has three Fayetteville locations and one restaurant in Cameron. House specialties include the birria estilo jalisco, which is lamb marinated in Mexican barbecue sauce; and the Washington chimichanga, with chunks of beef, chorizo and refried beans.

Address: 1904 Skibo Road, 2800 Gillespie St. and 7835 Good Middling Drive, all in Fayetteville

Website: elcazadormex.com

Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: These are the Fayetteville-area's oldest restaurants