WRAL Small Business Spotlight: Country cookin' at Big Ed's in Raleigh

Big Ed’s popularity is undeniable, but like most restaurants, they faced some tough decisions about how to maintain business during the pandemic.

“We did close our doors for, I think, six weeks, before reopening for takeout for two weeks,” manager Sammy Hobgood said. “And then after those first two weeks, we went to 50% capacity. The sales weren’t there because the foot traffic wasn’t there. It’s as simple as that.”

Hobgood manages the store, and his parents, Sam and Lynn, own all three Big Ed's locations. The others can be found in the Quail Corners shopping center in north Raleigh and on Timber Drive in Garner and opened in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

That's a lot to manage during a pandemic, but Sammy says Paycheck Protection Program funds helped keep things afloat during the rough patches.

“The PPP was the literal lifeline that allowed us to maintain a staff and maintain an open restaurant, that could then generate its own business,” Hobgood said.

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Since purchasing the business, the Hobgoods have worked to ensure the high standards of country cookin’ are met every day. Hobgood says it’s about both consistency, and of course, ingredients.

“I’d say it’s about the quality of our ingredients, and the attention we have in preparing them, because you can’t have good food without good ingredients,” Hobgood said. “So, we’re really intentional about putting a lot of time and energy into our food preparation.”

“The breakfast menu is there all the time, all day long, and it kind of just runs itself,” Hobgood said. “But the lunch menu, which we change every single day, we put a lot of energy and heart into that.”

Hobgood admits things got scary for a bit but says business is starting to trend back in the right direction.

“Weather’s getting better, vaccinations are going up, comfort level is going up, so there’s a direct correlation,” he said. “January and February are typically slow months in the restaurant industry, but they were especially slow this year, painfully slow at times. But it’s changing fast, and I love to see that.”

And after a year filled with so much negativity, it’s nice to be able to sit a have a meal next to your friends and neighbors – just as Big Ed intended.

“One of the things I’m most proud of with our business is the diversity of who dines with us,” Hobgood said. “You’re going to see everybody and anybody. This is a place that’s welcoming to any individual, and we pride ourselves in having an affordable meal for your family or for yourself.

“You come to Big Ed’s downtown, you’re going to be surrounded by your neighbors.”

So next time you're in downtown Raleigh, check out Big Ed’s in City Market, and don't forget your appetite.