After enduring the tragedy of a fatal shooting that claimed the lives of two individuals, Raleigh's Coquette Brasserie cautiously resumed dinner service. According to News Observer, in an announcement shared via social media on Saturday, Coquette signaled a step toward recovery, stating, "With the strength of our Coquette family and the heartfelt support of our community, we will reopen for dinner service tomorrow," according to a Facebook post. For the time being, the restaurant indicated they will only be seating guests with reservations.
Kevin Jennings, co-owner of Coquette, spoke to ABC11 yesterday about the reopening, and the complex emotions it stirred amongst the staff. "Sunday seems like the right day. You know, Sunday is the day of rest, the day of reflection, the day of family and time to gather and family meals. And so we found that to be the most appropriate," Jennings explained in the interview.
The initial closure followed a heartbreaking incident on January 17 when police say George Colom Jr., the restaurant's executive chef, fatally shot coworker Jonathan Schaffer and then himself. Another man, Jonathan Aguilar Vega, was injured but survived. This act of violence led to a lockdown in the North Hills area as the community grappled with the shock and sorrow that swiftly followed.
Jennings has acknowledged the struggle in deciding to reopen, stating, "Unfortunately, there’s not a handbook. There’s no right time," in an article by WNCT. He credited working with grief counselors, who suggested reclaiming the space as "a force for good" as part of the process. "The thing that we really enjoy is serving others and that's part of the process. And it - I can say for me personally... it's been very healing," Jennings told ABC11.
