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Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro sold, plans to reopen

One of North Carolina's most famed barbecue restaurants is reopening its doors.

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Kathy Hanrahan, Out
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GOLDSBORO, N.C. — One of North Carolina's most famed barbecue restaurants is reopening its doors.

Wilber's Barbecue has been sold to a group of local investors known as Goldpit Partners, LLC, said attorney Jeb Jeutter, who represented Goldpit in the sale.

The Goldsboro restaurant plans to reopen in spring 2020.

“All parties involved in Goldpit are thrilled the sale of Wilber’s has closed so it can continue its North Carolina tradition of serving the state’s best barbecue,” Jeutter said via a press release Tuesday. “Goldpit will now focus their attention on beginning restoration to the historic Wilber’s building in the coming weeks with plans to resume operations and reopen in Spring 2020.”

While the names of the individual investors were not released, Jeutter noted that they have ties to Goldsboro and "a love of Eastern North Carolina pit cooked barbecue" that inspired them to come together to save the local barbecue joint.

The investment group plans to carry on Wilber's legacy and serve the traditional pit-centric menu its known for.

Filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of North Carolina show Goldpit Partners, LLC, purchased the assets of the bankrupt restaurant, which is located at 4172 U.S. Highway 70 in Goldsboro, for $350,000. The sale was approved by a judge earlier this month.

In March, the Department of Revenue seized Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro after filing six tax liens against Wilber's, totaling $70,647.98 for tax liabilities that dated back to 2018.

The agreement included the "private sale of personal property free and clear of liens, encumbrances and interests," according to court documents.

Wilber Shirley and Carl Lyerly purchased Hill's Barbecue in 1962 and renamed it Hwy. 70 Barbecue. Within a year, Lyerly sold his share in the business to Shirley, who changed the name to Wilber's.

The restaurant was a 2015 WRAL.com Voter's Choice Award finalist for best Eastern N.C. barbecue and served many famous figures, including Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford and U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

Wilber's closing was not alone, as a string of other historic barbecue restaurants in the area closed, including Allen and Son Barbecue in Chapel Hill and Bill Ellis Barbecue in Wilson.

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