Popular Chapel Hill Eatery The Loop Reopens After Storm Damage

The restaurant was shuttered for six months following flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:39pm

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The Loop, a popular restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina's Eastgate Crossing, has reopened its doors after being closed for six months due to extensive storm damage from Tropical Depression Chantal. The restaurant faced significant flooding and damage, but has now completed repairs and renovations, welcoming back customers on January 27th.

Why it matters

The Loop is a beloved community staple in Chapel Hill, and its reopening is seen as a positive sign of the area's recovery from the severe weather event. The extended closure impacted both the restaurant's employees and regular patrons, making its return an important milestone.

The details

The Loop experienced significant damage during the flooding, with manager Hendrix Prescott describing "a mess" where "everything was all over the place." The repairs took longer than the initial 3-4 month estimate, ultimately requiring six months to complete before the restaurant could reopen. Some employees did not take second jobs during the closure, and Prescott said there was an adjustment period for him and the staff when they returned to work.

  • The Loop was shuttered since July 2025 due to the flooding damage.
  • The restaurant officially reopened its doors on January 27, 2026.

The players

Hendrix Prescott

The manager of The Loop restaurant.

Charlotte Hines

A diner who was delighted to see The Loop reopen.

Jalen Enrique

A diner who was excited for The Loop to reopen, calling it a "pretty big staple" and "good place" in the community.

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What they’re saying

“It was just like a mess. Everything was all over the place. The hallways and stuff back there were full of appliances and dishes and everything. You could barely walk through here.”

— Hendrix Prescott, Manager

“I'm delighted that it's open. We all missed that for sure.”

— Charlotte Hines, Diner

“If you look around, you see there's a lot of people that were ready to get back in here. It's a pretty big staple. It's a good place.”

— Jalen Enrique, Diner

The takeaway

The reopening of The Loop, a beloved Chapel Hill restaurant, represents the community's resilience and the importance of local businesses in the fabric of a town. After overcoming significant storm damage and a lengthy closure, the restaurant's return is a positive sign for the area's recovery and a testament to the loyalty of its patrons.