No more Mongolian barbecue in Charlotte area: Restaurant quietly closes 3 locations
As a newbie to Charlotte, my sister, and brother-in-law, Zachary Titus, were happy to help me move — if for no other reason than to help me build my “Restaurants I must try in Charlotte” list.
And Zachary knew exactly where to start me on my culinary adventures in my new city: with Mongolian barbecue. After they helped me settle into my new place, he suggested we hit up Genghis Grill for dinner.
And while Genghis Grill is a chain, the Mongolian-style stir fry restaurant is popular — with both locals and people willing to drive, say, 170 miles for the food (looking at you, Zachary). We headed out for a well-earned meal after a day of moving.
Yet, when we arrived on Friday, June 7, we found the location on Community House Road was permanently closed — with the sign already taken down.
“It was one of my favorite establishments in Charlotte,” Zachary said. “When I found out it was closed, my heart dropped.” It’s safe to say that he didn’t have an appetite for anything else. My sister even chimed in, saying Genghis Grill was one of the main reasons she looked forward to visiting Charlotte. Hey, what about me?
So, I did some digging — and the Ballantyne-area location wasn’t the Dallas-based chain’s only casualty.
The airport location was listed online as permanently closed. Our team scoped out the Independence Boulevard location a few days later only to find it also closed, emptied out, and with doors locked.
I wasn’t the only person missing the place: Charlotteans had recently turned to Reddit to express their thoughts about the local closings. One user, Matthew James, told me he was quite “surprised considering the Ballantyne location always seemed to be busy.”
“I heard they struggled to staff the place,” Matthew said. “However, it always took forever to get your food, and that’s probably due to being short-staffed all the time.”
Genghis Grill ownership changes
In April 2023, Franchise Times reported that Craveworthy Brands bought Genghis Grill as part of the 80-unit Mongolian Concepts, which includes BD’s Mongolian Grill, Flat Top Grill, and Genghis Grill.
The CEO of Craveworthy Brands, Gregg Majewski, told Franchise Times at the time that Genghis Grill was a “diamond in this deal,” stating that customers loved their customized stir-fry bowls. He went on to say that when he took ownership, “There were a lot of issues with Genghis, but we worked through those.”
Charlotte’s culinary scene took a significant hit, as the loss of all three Genghis Grill establishments is leaving the city bereft of Mongolian barbecue. More than simply another franchise, the menu offers a unique dining experience where patrons can build their own stir-fry bowls with a variety of meats, veggies, and sauces that sizzle off a large circular grill.
The process is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate.
What about other Genghis Grill locations?
The only Genghis Grill location left in North Carolina is in Winston-Salem, according to The Genghis Grill website.
Yet, when I called the Winston-Salem location on Monday around lunchtime, a server said they weren’t exactly sure why the Charlotte locations were permanently closed.
Shortly after, the phone call was disconnected, and our team hasn’t been able to contact the restaurant again. I called neighboring businesses, and representatives at an eye doctor next door and an eyeglasses shop in the same building both told me they didn’t think the Winston-Salem location was currently open.
When we reached out to the corporate PR team via email, we received a response saying that the email address was no longer available for use.
My brother-in-law isn’t the only person who is emotionally affected by the closure of this fan-favorite chain. Many Genghis Grill locations have closed permanently, starting in 2023:
In August, Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill, located in Missouri, wrote in a Facebook post that it would be closing immediately due to a “staffing shortage.” Riley Valentine commented, “I have been coming here since I was a baby, major heartbreak but lots of love and all of the best. Thank you for everything.”
In September, The Telegraph reported that its North Macon, Georgia, location had closed.
In October, KSAT News reported that Genghis Grill in Texas was “evicted for being behind on rent.”
In December, Central Illinois News reported that The Genghis Grill, located at an outdoor mall in Peoria, Illinois, was “closed for good.”
Genghis Grill
Location: 11324 N Community House Rd #10, Charlotte, NC 28277 (permanently closed)
Location: 9727 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105 (permanently closed)
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208 (permanently closed)
This story was originally published June 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
