‘I’m so shocked.’ Charlotte burger and doughnut spot in Dilworth abruptly closes
A Dilworth burger and doughnut shop has closed abruptly but plans are underway for a new restaurant.
Fat Cat Burgers + Bakeshop at 2410 Park Road has been sold, owner Fran Scibelli said on the restaurant’s Facebook page Friday.
“Thank you Charlotte for allowing me to serve you for 14 terrific years in Dilworth!,” Scibelli said on social media.
Scibelli, a longtime Charlotte restaurateur, closed Fran’s Filling Station at the Park Road space after a decade during the beginning of the pandemic. She rebranded and reopened as Fat Cat Burgers + Bakeshop in February 2021. The refresh included adding a bakery and selling doughnuts cooked fresh just about every hour through a walk-up window.
“My desire had always been to be able to announce it and say goodbye to a lot of my customers who have been around a long time,” she said. “But unfortunately, the way the sale worked out, I wasn’t able to do that.”
Scibelli said she wasn’t actively selling the restaurant business but was open to offers. She declined to disclose the terms of the deal. The restaurant officially closed Nov. 11 and the sale was Nov. 15.
“The business has gotten harder; the labor market is harder,” Scibelli said. “As much as I’ve enjoyed my time in the restaurant business, I could see it as a natural time to put a close on that chapter.”
Fat Cat Burgers has eight full- and part-time employees. Scibelli said they were offered the option to apply for jobs at her brother Frank Scibelli’s restaurant group, FS Food Group, including Little Mama’s, YaFo Kitchen and Midwood Smokehouse.
What’s next?
The new restaurant owners are remodeling Fat Cat’s space at Park Square shopping center, which will be an Asian noodle shop, Scibelli said. She declined to name the business but said they own other restaurants in Charlotte.
“Remember your small, locally-owned restaurants,” she said, referring to neighbors at the 10,000-square-foot red brick commercial plaza, which include Fiamma Ristorante, NY Butcher Shoppe & Wine Shop and Taco Mama.
As for Scibelli, a former lawyer, she plans to continue selling bread wholesale and get back into legal writing. Earlier this month, she was honored as one of the 18 Charlotte chefs who brought the farm-to-table movement to Charlotte by Piedmont Culinary Guild.
“It was just time for me to try something else,” she said. “What I’m willing to do is share my recipes.”
What Fat Cat fans are saying
Customers were quick to react on Facebook with surprise, along with well wishes.
“I’m so shocked! We have loved being your patrons all the way back to Frans Fillin station. Oh my gosh you and your delicious food will be so missed!,” Anne Yonke said on Facebook.
Diane Krawczynski said: “So surprised to hear this news, Fran! Clearly you are loved & Fat Cats will be missed! Sending hugs & best wishes for more good things to come.”
What’s next for Scibelli was also brought up.
“Oh no!! We will miss you Fran!,” Nelson Pharr said on Facebook. “But hope this means good things in store for you. Thanks for the memories!”
While Anne Henderson wrote: “I will miss you and your delicious food. Hope you will have a new food venture for us to look forward to.”
