A Lake Norman barbecue restaurant has expanded with a second shop in Elkin
.jpeg "The Crazy Pig is opening in early May at the former Royall’s Soda Shop location at 128 West Main St., Elkin.")
The Crazy Pig, which serves up pulled pork, smoked chicken and Texas-style brisket in Davidson, is heading further up I-77. In early May, the restaurant will open a second location in Elkin — in a building that held Royall’s Soda Shop and Drug Store for 97 years.
TAKE A ROAD TRIP: The new home to The Crazy Pig — about 75 miles from Charlotte and just a few blocks from the banks of the Yadkin River — sits right across the street from The Reeves Theater music venue. The area is a frequent stop for hikers headed out to nearby trails, and the town of 4,000+ residents also boasts access to a variety of wineries.
“We should be jamming once we get going. We’re excited,” said Lake Norman area restaurateur Robert McCrary, who owns The Crazy Pig with his wife, Eileen, plus The Egg Cafe restaurants in Davidson and Huntersville.
The Crazy Pig’s food
If you’ve been to The Crazy Pig’s Davidson location, where you’ll often find construction workers, Wildcats football staff and players, and other community members gathering to chow down, you’ll know what to expect. The fast-casual menu and setup will stay largely the same, save for a few tweaks.
Guests will get a number at the counter, then head to pick up their beer or help themselves at the soda fountain. They’ll also have a choice of seven barbecue sauces to slather on their sandwiches and platters, including Eastern Carolina vinegar, South Carolina mustard, a ketchup-based option and mango habanero.
“Our food — in one word — is amazing I’m not lying. Our barbecue is really good,” McCrary said. “I don’t try to put a style on it.“
The restaurant also serves traditional sides, including potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and baked beans.
Community spirit
While The Crazy Pig has freshened up the space with new decor, the restaurant is keeping one Elkin fixture that’s surely to evoke memories for many — the soda shop’s booths.
“I don’t know how old they are, but they’ve got everyone’s names carved in it. I’ve had 70-year-old women come in here, and said they’ve got their mother’s names carved in there,” McCrary said. “There’s history connected to it — people come in here and say my initials are somewhere.”
Another ode to Royall’s — its fan-favorite hot dog — will appear on The Crazy Pig’s menu at the Elkin location, with a little update.
“Royall’s was famous for their hot dog,” McCrary said. “Everybody came after school and had this hot dog, so I’m adding a hot dog here.”
The Crazy Pig Hot Dog Royall will come with barbecue pork, slaw and barbecue sauce, although you might see a traditional version, as well. McCrary now has the nearly 100-year-old chili recipe that Royall’s Soda Shop used.
But first, he and his wife plan to get the restaurant up and running with a practice run or two for the town’s first responders, city staff and family members of The Crazy Pig’s newest employees.
“It’s all about family and community,” McCrary said. ”We do it all ourselves, and we’re deeply involved with everything. We like to know all of our guests.”
The Crazy Pig
Location: 128 West Main St., Elkin, NC 28621 (opening in early May)
Location: 402 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Cuisine: Barbecue
Instagram: @thecrazypigbbq
