Psst...Dillard's is Still Open! Sort of.

So, it turns out a good family can't be kept down for long in Durham.  The fine folks at Dillard's BBQ are at it again, just a few weeks after they closed their iconic restaurant on Fayetteville Street for daily service operations.

The restaurant is now available to rent for private events, parties and meetings.  Of course, they'll serve up their famous 'cue and such when it comes time to eat, too, fear not.  "We own the building and we're not leasing it to anyone...and we really wanted to continue to have a presence in the community," said owner Wilma Dillard.  The restaurant was Durham's second oldest when it closed last month.

Dillard expressed her legendary fondness for the community at the time of the closing, citing a preference to shut the doors rather than raise prices essentially denying access to some long-standing patrons with limited budgets.

Dillard is handling all the arrangements for clients who are encouraged to use the existing phone number for the restaurant.  The website will be updated soon with more detailed information on this new development..

The move should be welcomed news to many who were loyal fans.  Especially those harboring the question of whether or not they will ever taste Dillard's BBQ again?  The answer is yes.  They can even order BBQ to go...they just need to order it seven days in advance starting on May 21st.

Confirmed - Dillard's BBQ, Durham Stronghold, Closing Friday

The Durham News Service has confirmed in an interview with Wilma Dillard that Friday is the last day of business for Dillard's BBQ.  When asked why, now, after decades of success, the restaurant was closing, she offered only two words, "the economy."

The restaurant opened in 1953 at their current location on Fayetteville Road and has served countless patrons meals of Southern fare in the 58 years the restaurant operated.

Ms. Dillard, a former school teacher, took over managing the restaurant in 1997 after her father's passing.  Samuel Dillard operated the restaurant until that time.

The family plans to restructure, reorganize and watch the economy. 

Dillard is a well-known to be a woman of strong faith and appreciation, two traits that shine through even now as she faces a very challenging turn of events.  "We just want people to know how much we appreciate them - their years and years of support.  We could not have made this far without their good will," she said.  "We provided a service for them and they provided us the opportunity serve them and to be a blessing.  We made friends.  This business has always been about people," she added.

The restaurant is Durham's second oldest BBQ operation bested only Bullock's, which began operations in 1952.