Rob Duckworth, owner of Duckworth’s Grill and Taphouse, has plans to bring a favorite restaurant of his from West Virginia to the Charlotte market.
Ron Smith founded Tex-Mex concept Chili Willi’s in Huntington, West Virginia — Duckworth’s hometown — in the 1980s. The original location closed in 2011. However, Duckworth is now working with Smith to bring the concept back, this time in Charlotte.
Chili Willi’s holds a special place in Duckworth’s heart.
“It was the place to go, and everyone knew everyone,” Duckworth told What Now Charlotte. “I personally would frequent Chili Willi’s two to three times a week, having business lunches during the day and dinners with friends and family at night. My (now wife) and I actually had our first date there.”
Now, he hopes to bring the same approachable feeling of community that he remembers.
Duckworth said the goal is to recreate the culinary-driven menu he used to enjoy, which focuses on center-of-the-plate dishes cooked over wood. Menu offerings will include hardy protein dishes as well as traditional Mexican cuisine like enchiladas, flautas, burritos and enchiladas. Everything on the menu will be made in-house.
“It’s a brand that’s special to me,” Duckworth said. “I have to believe in it to get behind it and endorse it. We’re going to bring it back to what I remember it as, which is very bold, robust, rich flavors that are authentic Tex-Mex dishes. It’s unique.”
Currently, Duckworth and Smith are in the early stages of searching for locations for Chili Willi’s, looking from Mooresville to South Charlotte. Duckworth told What Now Charlotte that he expects they are about 12-18 months out from opening.
