Team behind Duckworth’s Grill revives ‘80s-era Tex-Mex restaurant in Lake Norman
An ‘80s-era Tex-Mex chain is being “reimagined” in the Charlotte area more than a decade after its closure, thanks to a culinary partnership.
Chili Willi’s, a Mexican cantina popularized in Huntington, West Virginia, officially opens on Friday, May 8 in the Lake Norman community of Cornelius, according to recent social media posts.
It will take over the space most recently home to The Waterman Fish Bar, which shuttered last year, CharlotteFive reported.
Rob Duckworth, owner of Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse and Link & Pin restaurants, teamed up with Chili Willi’s founder Ron Smith to revive the beloved restaurant chain, according to Axios Charlotte. Duckworth bought the recipe rights, and now Charlotteans will soon see what all the hype was about.
“Even though it’s been over a decade since I’ve had the food, I can just remember how it tasted,” he told the outlet at the time.
Chili WIlli’s debuted in downtown Huntington in 1983 and was a hit with the local college crowd for its “award-winning chili” and Tex-Mex inspired offerings, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported. It saw massive success, growing from a hole in the wall hangout to a full-service restaurant.
Economic downturn forced its closure in 2011 after almost 30 years in business, according to the newspaper.
At the new Cornelius restaurant, customers will find more of the same scratch-made classics like fajitas, enchiladas and wood-fired specialties. Craft margaritas and other tequila-forward cocktails on the menu, too.
“Re-established in 2026. See y’all soon!” the owners teased in a recent Instagram post.
CharlotteFive reached out to Chili Willi’s for more information and was awaiting a response.
Chili Willi’s
Location: 9615 Bailey Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Instagram: @chiliwillisnc
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 11:20 AM.