The Q Shack is leaving North Hills

Owner Tom Meyer announced Monday morning that the restaurant would be moving out of its location in the North Hills shopping center and into a larger catering kitchen.

"Because of you, we have served millions of BBQ plates and thousands of weddings, special events and parties all over the Triangle! Our growth is causing us to leave our North Hills home this January to move into a new Catering Kitchen where we will be better able to serve all of your catering needs," Meyer wrote in an email to customers Monday morning.

"Our business model has changed quite dramatically. We've become much more of a catering focused entity," Meyer said.

Realizing that his catering business had grown dramatically, Meyer knew he needed to change locations.

"Catering requires a whole different infrastructure. We also just need different things" he said.

Meyer notified Kane Realty a year and a half ago that he would not be renewing his lease in January 2019. At the time, he also notified his staff.

"I was looking back at old menus. We used to do a lot of $5 lunches when we were just getting started," he said. "I thought, why not have some fun. We will trim down the menu and make it real fast and real easy."

The Q Shack's last day of retail operation at North Hills is Jan. 19.

The catering operation, which is at an undisclosed location, will be up and running in a couple of months, Meyer said.

Meyer, who also owns Southern Harvest Catering Company, Sprout Café and Elements Coffee Bar (both at the Museum of Life and Science), joined the food truck scene earlier this year with his Southern Harvest Mobile Kitchen, according to Triangle Food Guy. Look for more from that truck in 2019.