Acclaimed Wilmington Restaurant's Bankruptcy Highlights Wider Pproblem
- louis4952
- Jun 13, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 31
TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL | Diane Smith June 13, 2024
For Diane Smith, mother of the late Fork ’N Cork founder James Smith, the downtown Wilmington restaurant is more than a paycheck. It’s a family legacy that’s being threatened into bankruptcy by multiple Merchant Cash Advance companies, she says.
Fork ’N Cork, known for its duck confit and beef Wellington bites, once drew praises from Food Network star Guy Fieri. But now, it's battling with lenders in bankruptcy court.
Smith said that since her son died last July, she's dealt with deposit freezes, “mob-like” phone calls mentioning her grandson, and the constant uncertainty that what her son worked so hard for could be gone in an instant.