June 25, 2023 Faircloth’s Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Around Our Town with Gene Merritt
Blog # 12
June 25, 2023

Elaine Henson postcard image
A favorite eating place for many people in the Wilmington area for many years

To me and my family, Faircloth’s Restaurant at Wrightsville Beach was one of our favorite places to eat.

I remember going there, especially on Sundays after church.

I have a favorite remembrance from those good old days.

For some reason, when I was age 11 or 12, I did not like oysters. This is despite growing up in a seafood environment in southeastern North Carolina. My father used to pick at me about my lack of enthusiasm for oysters. He loved them. Then, on one fateful Sunday in the mid 1950’s, my father made me an interesting offer. We were at Faircloth’s, and, in front of the entire family, he offered to pay me .25 (that’s twenty-five cents) for every oyster I ate that day at Faircloth’s.

After I had eaten 25 or more oysters, he said loudly, “that’s enough, no more.” Upon hearing that statement my mother said to him in firm terms, “you will pay him for every one he eats.”

That encouraged me to eat 10—12 more. My mother forced him to pay me on the spot in front of the entire family. That was some form of poetic justice.

Needless to say, that was the day I learned to like oysters. Since then, I have enjoyed them in any form you wish to service them: boiled, broiled, fried, steamed-you name it.

I am certain my story is not the only one of interest for people enjoying this great restaurant.

Faircloth’s was owned and operated by Liddie Mae King and Clyde King of Wilmington. According to Liddie Mae’s obituary in 2022, she and Clyde owed the restaurant from 1945 to 1981. If this is not correct, I am certain one of my local friends will set me straight.

I hope the friends I grew up with in Wilmington will appreciate this blog and join with me in a very fond remembrance of this restaurant.

For those of you who never visited the restaurant, or are too young to remember it, I hope you find the photos interesting, showing how this area has changed over the years.