A New Chapter at Dixie Grill

For Nicolette Hanley, taking over Dixie Grill wasn’t part of some long-range plan but rather something she grew into, shift by shift, over the years.

“I always ended up back here full-time,” Hanley said, referring to periods of time during which she left Dixie to explore other opportunities. “It’s surreal, but something always kept calling me back to this place.”

After working on and off at the downtown diner since moving to Wilmington to pursue a film degree at UNCW in 2014, Hanley officially took full ownership last August. What followed has been equal parts restoration project, history lesson and hands-on reinvention.

Over the past year, the space itself has undergone a dramatic transformation.

“Last year we renovated the whole place,” Hanley said. “Completely new bar, new floor, new bathroom, new walk-in cooler, pretty much replaced about 80 percent of the equipment.”

But the updates weren’t just about addressing years of wear and tear or giving Dixie Grill a new look, they were about honoring its history.

“My whole point was to preserve Dixie,” Hanley said.

That commitment led her to dive deep into the restaurant’s past. Digging through local archives and old records, she traced the diner’s origins back to 1901, when it first opened as the Dixie Café on Princess Street.

“I found all the original newspaper clippings,” she says. “So, yes, we are the oldest running sit-down restaurant in Wilmington, even though the location has changed.”

Dixie Grill’s website contains newspaper clippings from the restaurant’s early years on Princess Street, and Hanley is continuing to build out the timeline. She’s also using the clippings to create a design that will eventually cover all of the tables in the restaurant.

“I love history,” Hanley said. “A lot of people don’t know the details of this place.”

At the same time, Hanley is making room for what’s next, starting with extending Dixie beyond its traditional breakfast-and-lunch roots. Now open for daytime service seven days a week, the restaurant has also introduced an “After Dark” menu Thursday through Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“I always wanted to utilize the space beyond 3 o’clock,” she said.

What began as a limited late-night offerings outside of the daytime menu has quickly evolved.

“It turns out that people actually want breakfast at night,” Hanley said.

In response to customer feedback, the evening menu now leans into what Dixie does best, with many daytime favorites like the Louisiana Hash and Cappy’s Classic available alongside additions like the Dixie Poutine and made-to-order donuts with a growing bar program to match. Thursday night is trivia night with a rotating variety of themes.

The result is something that feels both familiar and new – a historic diner finding its rhythm again, this time with a little more range.

Hanley would like to eventually open a carry-out window for late-night service beyond 10 p.m. to cater to industry workers and late-night revelers, but has had to hold off due to staffing difficulties.

“The majority of my staff likes to come to work early and be done by mid-afternoon, so scheduling the evenings has been a challenge,” Hanley said.

Another challenge she’s faced as an owner is delegating responsibilities. She admits it can be hard for her to relinquish control, but is realizing the importance of entrusting certain responsibilities to managers and employees and empowering them to make decisions with the restaurant’s best interest in mind.

“I think they see how invested I am in both the business and in providing job security,” Hanley said. “We all look out for each other.”

Dixie Grill is located at 116 Market St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.