Owners of one of the most beloved restaurants in downtown Wilmington have sold the business to well-known local entrepreneurs.
Thierry and Patricia Moity opened Caprice Bistro at 10 Market St. in 2001. In a note posted to social media on Saturday, they said their journey wasn’t always easy, but that they never regretted opening the restaurant. Now the couple, who were at the restaurant most every day running the front of the house and the kitchen, have decided it is time to pass the business on to new owners.
“Well, you know we are 70 now,” Patricia Moity said. “We think we want to spend more time with our grandchildren… and spend a few months in France.”
Previous reporting: With its classic French fare, this downtown Wilmington restaurant is a perennial favorite
Still, they wanted to make sure Caprice Bistro was in good hands before they did so. A few offers came their way, but they eventually found Dustin Cook and Edie Senter, who are the owners of Pravda and KGB.
“They are also known downtown, and they are good people,” Moity said.
The Moitys worked in restaurants in France before moving to the United States and operating eateries in New York and Charlotte before coming to Wilmington. Since then, they’ve become known for their dedication to hospitality. And many people know Thierry Moity simply as “Chef.”
“I’ve worked for a lot of people in this town and know a lot of people in the restaurant business,” said Ray Worrell, a former Caprice employee and owner of the Slice of Life restaurants. “Patricia and Chef were the most dedicated people to the profession that I know.”
But the decades of operating the restaurant have had an effect, Moitty said. She said she had a few accidents at the restaurant in recent months. While everything was fine, they were a wake-up call.
“That’s really what triggered this,” she said.
She added that she’s sure the new owners will add their own touch to Caprice, but they plan to continue the menu, the tradition and the service.
“And keep 99% of the staff,” Moity said. “The same kitchen staff.”
The paperwork was recently completed and the Moitys first plan to spend time in the Triangle area, before visiting family in Cassis and Lyon.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Caprice Bistro in Wilmington, NC, has new owners