By james art 
Winston-Salem, NC-sweet potatoes, a beloved restaurant known for its southern cuisine, will close its doors on Saturday after 22 years of community service. The restaurant, co-owner of Vivian Waller and her partner Stefani King, has been a major in Winston-Salem since she opened in 2003.
Joiner reflected the success of the restaurant, attributing it to the strong support from the local community. “The community is everything,” she said. “We were hugged by our community, the city of Winston-Salem. This is a great place.”
Over the years, Sweet Potatoes have hired 1,500 people and served over a million customers, earning a reputation of dishes that cause memories of home -cooked meals. Patrons often note that their food is reminiscent of their grandmother’s cookies or their grandfather’s fried chicken.
Joiner, recently sworn in as a member of the Council, plans to continue to serve the community in his new role. “What I have been doing in the last 22 years is to feed people and to serve people, to listen and to help how and where I can,” she said.
While sweet potatoes are prepared to close, locals and visitors stop to enjoy the food for the last time and to express their gratitude for the contribution of the restaurant in the community.