Popular French restaurant Coquette reopens in North Hills week after deadly shooting
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- More than a week after the deadly shooting at North Hills, the Raleigh restaurant Coquette reopened its dining room to the public.
The restaurant made the announcement on social media on Saturday. The Urban Food Group thanked the community for its heartfelt support.
"With the strength of our Coquette family and the heartfelt support of our community, we will reopen for dinner service tomorrow, Sunday, January 26th, at 4PM. From all of us at Urban Food Group, thank you for your continued encouragement. We look forward to serving you again.
At this time, Coquette will only be seating via reservations."
"They don't give you a playbook on it, you know, they don't give you an information manual," said Coquette co-owner Kevin Jennings of the decision to reopen.
Jennings said there was never going to be a perfect time to welcome in diners again after the Jan. 17 shooting, but he said a decision was made collectively.
"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 said.
On Sunday, ABC11 spoke with Jennings for the first time since the shooting at his North Hills mainstay. He said the tragic incident has had varying impacts on employees of the restaurant - and of his company, Urban Food Group - but that he hopes the healing process has begun.
"Some people have been, you know, really, really upset and then they come into the restaurant, and that makes them feel better. Some people are the opposite. We've had people who felt like they were in a good place and they come into the restaurant and it just breaks them," he said.
Jennings said they've been working with grief counselors, who said the best thing that the Coquette family could do was "reclaim the space" as a force for good.
"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," he said.
Jennings also said that the community's overwhelming response to the tragedy - and their unwavering support - has the entire Coquette family feeling grateful in a time of tragedy.
"My wife and I opened our first restaurant 26 years ago in Raleigh on Hillsboro Street Community. It's always been there for us. And no surprise, they've, you know, overwhelmingly been here for us. Again, I think that Raleigh is that kind of place," he said.
On Jan. 17, Raleigh police responded to a shooting inside the Coquette restaurant at 4351 The Circle at North Hills Street. When officers arrived, they found three men with gunshot wounds. Police said the shooter, George Colom Jr., and 26-year-old Jonathan Mark Schaffer died from their injuries. 24-year-old Jonathan Aguilar Vega was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released from the hospital.
Download the ABC11 App and get breaking news alerts on your devices
RELATED: Neighbors remember man killed in triple shooting at North Hills
ALSO SEE: RPD chief praises wounded officer; ex-wife of suspect speaks out
