Adios, La Paz: Restaurant closes after 36 years in Charlotte

In 2007, owner Laura Sinclair Manning purchased with restaurant with her husband Ward who died tragically just four months later in a plane crash near Charlotte. In the midst of mourning, the management of La Paz fell to Laura and her kids Talor and Trace.

She sent us a heartfelt thank you and goodbye to the faithful employees and customers who held her up these last eight years.

From La Paz Owner Laura Sinclair Manning:

Today is the day we have known was coming in our hearts yet our minds continued to fight. The doors will close tonight, in more ways then one. The struggles faced on a daily basis will end, but the memories will be in my heart forever. Since 1979 this has been the home base for my family, every event in our lives has been celebrated at La Paz.

Just 4 short months after our purchase, Ward was killed. My kids stepped up and I went from being a wife and stay-at-home mom to learning more about business and people than I could have imagined. There has been many a struggle, tear and days when I just frankly felt defeated. My family torn apart, my savings gone… But what I will remember most is my faithful employees, now friends – people that tirelessly gave me their all.

Laura said the restaurant was packed for a goodbye party Tuesday night but last night, the last night, was depressingly quiet. She couldn’t hold back tears. “It’s hard not to blame myself,” she said. “It hurts most to let our staff go.”

A handful of friends and regulars dropped in for one last run before the doors locked for the last time on La Paz. “I’m in here all the time,” said Chris Hitch who lives upstairs. “When my wife is out of town this is basically my kitchen.”

Laura doesn’t have a plan for what’s next and says she’ll just take it a day at a time. Her son Trace who was behind the bar had the same sentiment. “I have no plan,” he said. “I’m flying by the seat of my pants.”

Cheers to a good run, La Paz. Thanks for the memories.