Jun 17, 2024 - News

Upscale diner Prospects closes permanently

Zachery Eanes

The bar at Prospects, a new upscale diner in Glenwood South. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios — The bar at Prospects. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios

Prospects Craft Kitchen, an upscale diner that opened in Raleigh's Glenwood South neighborhood in December, has closed permanently, chef Alex Ricci tells Axios.

Why it matters: Despite its short run, Prospects turned out some of Raleigh's most creative dishes, with Ricci oftentimes using entirely local ingredients to refresh its offering.

The restaurant, which opened in the former Rainbow Luncheonette space on North West Street, offered an intimate eating experience, with an open kitchen and staff often bantering with customers at the bar.

Driving the news: Prospects' last dinner service was earlier this month. Its closure was due to a disagreement over Ricci's salary and the city's slow permitting process for outdoor seating, which could have significantly expanded its serving capacity, per Ricci.

"It was really deterring for bigger parties that wanted to come sit with us," Ricci says. "So we just kept missing that business."
Ultimately, that kept the business from becoming sustainable fast enough, Ricci says.

What's next: Ricci hasn't decided yet. He's hopeful to stay in the area as a chef, but says he's already been offered work in another market.

What they're saying: "I was really proud of the creativity and proud that ... we were only using local products and local farmed animals," Ricci said in an interview.

"Also, I loved the fact that I got to actually speak to my guests every day, and I got to hang out with them and get to know them."

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Upscale diner Prospects closes permanently

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