Local businesses come and go. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, they can be resurrected — like the stationery and gift store If It’s Paper, which returned to Winston-Salem last month after years away.

That got us reminiscing, so we asked readers: what Winston-Salem business do you miss the most?

For me, I’m still mourning the loss of Sweet Potatoes, which closed in early 2025. Like reader Amy W., it was one of the first places I ate at during a visit to Winston-Salem and it became a go-to spot after officially moving here.

You offered restaurants where you wish you could get another meal: Zorba’s, Pieworks Pizza, Bib’s Downtown, Meta’s, Flashback Smoothies + Grill, and Twin City Diner.

Some of you ache for in-person shopping at places like 1502 Fabrics, BE Shoes, Pleasants Hardware, Merita Bakery Outlet Store, and the toy store Tiny Town.

The pain of several recent closures still hasn’t gone away, either. K&W Cafeteria, Ichiban, and Vincenzo’s all closed last year.

Here’s a deeper look at some of your favorite bygone businesses.

Winston-Salem-based K&W Cafeteria closed all of its restaurants, including this one at 3300 Healy Dr., in December 2025. | Photo by WStoday

Rose + Thistle restaurant

This pizza joint — known for its thin crust — near Baptist hospital was “the kind of place you went with a gang of friends,” according to one reader. It closed and was torn down in the 1990s for the straightening of the infamous Hawthorne Curve.

Mary’s Of Course!

Of course this beloved cafe made the cut. A longtime staple of downtown, Mary’s was known equally for its good food and quirky decor. It closed in 2020 due to the pandemic after nearly two decades. Pro tip: former owner Mary Haglund recently shared her recommendations for good eats in the Triad.

Sam’s Gourmet

Opened in 1966, Sam’s Gourmet may not have invented the salad bar, but it certainly was a local legend. The Thruway restaurant closed in 1990.

Dill Pickle Sandwich Shop

This family-owned shop was a downtown lunch staple for 41 years, closing in 2013. A cash-only joint, the Dill Pickle offered a daily meat-and-two-vegetable special that allowed customers to eat affordably and quickly.

Mr. Dunderbak’s

This Bavarian-style restaurant and deli, which closed in 2002, was so missed that someone created a Facebook page in 2019 to campaign for the return of the Mr. Dunderbak’s to Hanes Mall.

Stein Mart

While not a local business, Stein Mart was the most common response to our survey. The fashion and home decor brand closed its location at Thruway Shopping Center in 2020 after it filed for bankruptcy.

L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase

The largest nursery in Forsyth County at 37 acres and a destination for all Triad plant lovers, L.A. Reynolds closed in 2017 after nearly 40 years in business.

Skippy’s

Readers have sworn that Skippy’s had the best hot dogs in town. The downtown lunch spot closed permanently in early 2018; it had reopened a year earlier after a monthslong hiatus and ownership change due to the death of its original owner.

Bocock-Stroud Company

Originally a sporting goods store, Bocock-Stroud Company became a department store with a wide variety of offerings. It moved around downtown a few times since its beginnings in the 1920s, first on North Trade Street and then to West Fourth Street. Bocock-Stroud also had a location at Thruway, which closed as the store’s final location in the 2000’s.