Popular restaurant goes on pause before its next chapter

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Jimmy Pearls co-owner Oscar Johnson prepares oysters for serving.

The doors of a popular restaurant at 7th Street Market have closed, but not permanently.

The journey of Jimmy Pearls was not an easy one, but through time, it became a favorite eating spot. Owners Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson started the restaurant as a dream and now its closure means space for something bigger.

“Mainly because our lease was up and we did not want to renew it,” Cooper said. “We thought it was best for us to try and search for a standalone brick and mortar  location somewhere around the city. I don’t know as of yet where we want to go. We’re still looking.”

Jimmy Pearls’ last day was March 24. Through their time in the spot, the Cooper and Johnson served African-Southern foods inspired by the Chesapeake Bay in their native Virginia.
“Our concept pays homage to the Chesapeake Bay,” Cooper said. “If you know about the Chesapeake Bay, there's a lot of seafood going on here, so we are seafood forward. However, we do mess with a lot of agricultural items like pork and beef and all that other stuff.

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Jimmy Pearls co-owners Oscar Johnson (left) and Daryl Cooper.

“So, you might see some West African flavors in there. You might see some Caribbean flavors. You might see some Latin American flavors, some America things in there. Anything global that's connected to the African diaspora, because, as we do this cool stuff, we are finding out that West Africa or Africa in general has had an impact on all the cuisines in the world.”

Cooper and Johnson met years ago while attending Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte. Cooper noticed Johnson’s frequent attendance at his house parties.

“One day we just sat down. We just chopped it up,” Cooper said. “Next thing you know, we found out we actually came from the same place, damn near, in Virginia. I am from Newport News; he is from Hampton, which is like Charlotte or Concord – next door neighbors. And we started to find out that we knew mutual people, and ever since then we just became good friends.”

Their business venture began in 2020 at Uptown Yolk where they opened a pop-up restaurant after 2 p.m. for the dinner crowd. Six months later, the pair took their business to a food truck to test the market.

Cooper and Johnson have been conducting business while working full time jobs, Copper is cafeteria manager at an elementary school and Johnson is a prep cook for a pierogies company called Baba and Pops.

In 2022, the restaurant moved to 7th Street Market, where its popularity earned Cooper and Johnson a semifinalist berth in the 2024 Best Chef Southeast.

Cooper said while trying to find another spot to conduct business, the pair has been participating in other ventures. Most recently, they helped a colleague, Chef Adè Carrena, curate a West African themed dinner for VIPs of Live Nation and their families at the Dreamville Festival in Raleigh.

“We curated a nice menu. We went up there, we just did our thing,” Cooper said. “We just cooked, had fun and rejoice in Jesus and fellowship with each other.”

Cooper and Johnson plan to participate in pop-up shops around Charlotte to remain connected with old and possible new customers as well as host private dinners and other events.

Fast forwarding into the future, Cooper said their vision is to be a neighborhood spot.

“We to want to have those regulars that come in and enjoy some good food and a great environment,” Cooper said.

Though they will miss their clientele at 7th Street Market, the pair are ready for their new adventure.

“We appreciate all of our customers, by the way,” Cooper said. “They're excited for us. It's time for us. And it's time for our new chapter.”

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