The Country Smokehouse will close its doors in early May after decades of service in the restaurant business

BEULAVILLE — The outstanding family owned restaurant is set to close on May 6.

Owner Peggy Howard spoke with The Duplin Times about the end of the Country Smokehouse and its legacy in Duplin County.

Her grandmother Bertha Kennedy started the restaurant in the early 1950s. She began the business across the street from its current location on Main Street in Beulaville. The business was bought under Bertha and her name only, making her a woman ahead of her time.

It was later passed on to Bertha’s daughter, Rena Cole. Peggy Howard’s mother taught her how to run the business which she does today and cannot imagine what the next weeks will look like without fulfilling this lifelong role.

Peggy’s daughter, Jerrie Ann Miller is sad to see the closure of the restaurant but remembers its pivotal place in the community.

“I love the legacy of these strong women who have provided for their families in doing what the enjoy — feeding people,” said Miller. She once worked in the back cleaning silverware and made homemade pastries by hand.

Before the interview, I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a homemade biscuit and I instantly felt like family. It was incredibly tasty and I did not want to leave. Customers came in with their grandchildren and spoke to me about their love for Peggy and the delicious food.

Doug Lanier and his granddaughter, Bonnie Blue Lanier Mills, are huge fans of the Country Smokehouse. Lanier has been a patron for over thirty years and claims that it is the best spot in Beulaville.

“I’ve been coming here all my life,” said Lanier with a smile. When it comes to breakfast, although the menu is limited there are enough choices to keep your mouth watering whether you order grits, a breakfast sandwich, or pancakes. “Take the inside out and it’s a real crispy biscuit and there’s plenty of egg and bacon and cheese on it — homemade.”

His granddaughter says that the pancakes are “yummy,” and was also excited to share the names of her dachshunds at home.

When it came to deciding the menu, “there was nothing to it…(we picked) what we thought people liked,” said Howard.

The restaurant serves breakfast and operates out of a cozy interior which was built in 1968 on 812 East Main Street in Beulaville.

The family thanks the community for their service to the restaurant and encourages people to stop by and make their final order before May 6.