After 74 years, Hop's says goodbye to Asheboro

ASHEBORO — Hop’s Bar-B-Q will close for good on Saturday, Aug. 29, after a run of 74 years.

The architectural oddity at 240 Sunset Ave. in Downtown Asheboro was built in 1930, according to the Randolph County GIS. It’s believed that it had been a car lot or taxi stand before Burl Hopkins opened the restaurant in 1952, serving short orders and sandwiches.

The eatery changed hands, being owned by Joe Turner before Jerry Southard took over the business after starting work there at the age of 14. He never left, passing away at the age of 67 in February 2025.

His son Jeremy Southard took over ownership upon Jerry’s death but, due to other businesses he was overseeing, had to hire a manager to run Hop’s. 

Keeping the restaurant open had been a challenge for a number of years, Jeremy said.

The decline started when textile mills were closing in the 1990s, he said. “Up until the ’90s, tons of people in textiles came for breakfast and lunch. We always had the clientele for that.”

Adding to the challenge was the COVID-19 shutdown when Hop’s had to rely on a takeout drive-thru in the parking lot. During the pandemic, normal events were canceled and there were few people downtown.

In more recent times, Jeremy said, “prices have gone up and it’s hard to make the profit margin. And it’s hard to find employees. We really struggled and then my father died and my aunt retired. It’s hard to fill the voids.”

Jeremy said the family had wanted to update and modernize the restaurant but the building was not for sale. Owning the property would have allowed him to make needed repairs and upgrades.

“We had to make the decision to close the doors,” he said. “It’s sad to see it go but it’s a big challenge for small business in today’s society.

“The reason it stayed open was Dad. He made sacrifices, lost sleep and did the leg work.”

Jerry used his own recipes, particularly his special barbecue sauce. When he died suddenly, he hadn’t passed on his recipes.

“We would have loved to keep it open,” Jeremy said, stressing the place Hop’s has had in the community.

“Since opening in 1952, Hop’s Bar-B-Q has been much more than a restaurant,” he said. “It has been a gathering place for families, friends, employees, and generations of loyal customers …a place filled with familiar faces, hard work, laughter, shared meals, and countless memories.”

Jeremy credits his father for keeping Hop’s viable, an Asheboro institution, posting on Facebook: “Jerry Southard began working at Hop’s when he was only 14 years old. He eventually purchased the business and dedicated his life to making it what generations of customers came to know and love. Jerry was the heart of Hop’s Bar-B-Q. His personality, generosity, determination, and passion became part of everything the restaurant represented.

“Through countless highs and lows, Jerry continued moving the business forward. He cared deeply about the food, the customers, the employees, and the community surrounding Hop’s. For Jerry, this was never simply a restaurant or a way to earn a living … it was part of who he was.

“Jerry unexpectedly passed away in February 2025, leaving behind a loss that could never truly be filled. Hop’s lost far more than its owner, it lost the person whose presence, passion, relationships, and commitment had guided the business for most of its history.

“We invite everyone to visit us Wednesday through Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., through Aug. 29, 2026, to enjoy Hop’s Bar-B-Q again and help us celebrate the memories, friendships, community, and history that have made this place so special.”

Lila Southard: I have lots of memories

Jerry Southard’s widow, Lila Southard, said she had worked beside her husband despite having been employed by a textile mill for 45 years. In fact, she said, they would take orders to her mill workers, particularly for lunch on Fridays.

Besides serving food in the restaurant, Hop’s also did catering. 

Lila Southard said, during all those years at Hop’s, she had experienced “so many nice people, so many nice places. I appreciate all the people who invited us to their events to cook for them.

“I have lots of memories,” she said. “But I’m wearing out and getting tired. I appreciate all the customers and I love them very much.”

Asked what she’ll do when Hop’s closes, she said she may do “a little traveling, getting around. I’ll do some things I want to do.”