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K&W Cafeterias facts for kids
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Formerly
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Carolinian Coffee Shop |
|---|---|
| Private | |
| Traded as | K&W Cafeteria Inc. |
| Industry | Casual dining restaurant |
| Founded | November 28, 1935 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Founder | Grady T. Allred, Sr. |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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North Carolina, Virginia |
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Key people
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Gary Allred (Chairman and CEO) Dax Allred (President ) Todd Smith (Executive VP) |
| Products | Homestyle food |
| Owner | Piccadilly Restaurants |
K&W Cafeterias Inc. is a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants found in the Southeastern United States. A cafeteria is a type of restaurant where you choose your food from a line and then pay for it. K&W was based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, until another company, Piccadilly Restaurants, bought it in 2022. K&W is known for serving traditional Southern foods. These include tasty dishes like fried chicken, turnip greens, fried okra, and delicious homemade desserts.
Contents
The Story of K&W Cafeteria
The story of K&W Cafeterias began on Thanksgiving Day in 1935. Grady T. Allred, Sr., who would later help start K&W, began working at a small restaurant. This restaurant was called the Carolinian Coffee Shop. It was located on Cherry Street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The owners were brothers Thomas, Kenneth, and William Wilson, along with their brother-in-law T.K. Knight.
In 1937, the restaurant changed its name. They used the first letters of Knight and Wilson to create "K&W." That's how K&W Restaurant got its name!
Grady Allred, Sr. later bought a part of the K&W Restaurant. After working with his partners for a few years, he bought their shares. Around 1941, Mr. Allred became the only owner of K&W Restaurant.
Growing as a Cafeteria
The K&W Restaurant did very well at its first location in Winston-Salem. But then, a fire caused it to close for several months. After repairs, it reopened as both a restaurant and a cafeteria. People loved the cafeteria part so much that Mr. Allred decided to make the whole place a cafeteria.
K&W stayed at its original spot in Winston-Salem for a long time. Later, a city project called "urban renewal" made them move. They moved to a new location at 720 Coliseum Drive in Winston-Salem.
Grady Allred, Sr. passed away in 1983. His family, now the third generation, continued to run the cafeteria chain.
Challenges and New Services
On January 18, 1988, a K&W restaurant in Winston-Salem was destroyed. This happened because of a natural gas leak. Luckily, the restaurant was closed at the time. Only a few people were there, and they had only minor injuries. The restaurant and a nearby hotel were too damaged to fix.
In 1991, K&W started offering a new service. They began to offer "To Go Shop" service, where customers could pick up their food. In 2009, K&W also started a Catering service. This meant they could provide food for special events like weddings and business meetings.
Many other cafeteria chains struggled during the 1980s and 1990s. But K&W continued to do well and grow.
Recent Changes
Like many businesses, K&W faced big challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, they announced they needed to reorganize their business. They worked hard to get back on track. By September 2021, they had successfully reorganized. They had fewer locations and employees, but they were ready to keep serving customers.
On August 16, 2022, the president of K&W, Dax Allred, shared some big news. K&W and its 11 locations were sold to Piccadilly Restaurants. As of April 2024, K&W still operates 11 locations. You can find them in North Carolina and Virginia.