The owner of Hayes Barton Cafe and Dessertery in Raleigh has died.
The restaurant posted on Instagram that Frank Ballard died after complications from pneumonia on Wednesday.
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This comes just months after a life-changing spinal cord injury. The restaurant said Ballard was in an accident at his home in March and needed round-the-clock care.
Recently, a GoFundMe campaign was created to help support Ballard, his wife Marget, and his family. The funds raised went towards medical bills, long-term care and specialized wheelchairs.
"While the grief of losing him is an immense weight and the world might feel a little dimmer, the beautiful legacy he leaves behind serves as a guiding light, reminding us of the incredible impact one good man can have on his community," the post said.
Ballard opened the restaurant in 1998. Community members said that since then, Ballard has gone above and beyond for friends, customers and neighbors.
One of those people being friend and owner of Knightdale's Prime BBQ, Christopher Prieto, who became a regular to Hayes Barton when he moved to Raleigh in the early 2000s.
"He always make you feel like one of one, not one of many." said Prieto. "It's devastating to see that today and it's been devastating for some time as I dine there and not see Frank.
But Prieto says that he wants to honor his friend through his own restaurant and the legacy that Ballard has left behind.
"He is that legacy that sets the tone for anyone who wants to open a restaurant in this beautiful city" Prieto said. "Frank sets the standard."
A reception for family and close friends will be held at the cafe on Sunday, August 30 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. An open reception for friends and neighbors will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The restaurant said in lieu of flowers, they are asking anyone to offer support to Transitions Hospice, The Veterans Life Center or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
