BY JILL McCARTNEY
SALISBURY POST

Memories, laughter, beer and a whole lot of hot dogs were part of the scene at Al’s Night Hawk on Saturday, but it was the tears of a child that typified the true mood of most.

That is, all except the owner’s wife.

“We’re going to take it easy and live like normal people,” Thelma Boulus said. “I’m going to love having him home.”

After 51 years of selling dogs and drafts, Al Boulus, 78, owner of Al’s Night Hawk on West Innes Street, closed his doors Saturday night.

Members of the community, young and old, gathered for their last taste at Al’s.

At one table sat three generations of Night Hawk patrons.

Elizabeth Smith can remember many a night spent hanging out at Al’s when she was in high school.

“This was the hang-out seven days a week. The food was good, but the hospitality was even greater,” she said.

Her daughter, Mary Beth Smith, agreed.

“It’s a hang-out for everybody,” she said.

“They can’t turn this place into a laundromat, Mommy,” said 6-year-old Katie.

Andy Meng plans to close on the purchase of the building in early March, with the intention of turning it into a laundromat. Meng said it should take two months to convert the 2,000-square-foot building into the new business.

Old employees returned to have their last meal at Al’s. Del Knoblock, who worked at the restaurant for 17 years, swapped stories with old friends.

Mike Myers, who grew up in Salisbury but now lives in Raleigh, returned after hearing on the news that Al planned to close his place.

“I can’t believe the man is shutting his doors,” he said.

At age 4, Myers and the neighborhood boys used to steal bottles from the old restaurant and recycle them at the nearby Handy Pantry. Myers would then take his money and go buy hot dogs from Al. But Myers said he’s sure that in the 38 years he’s known Al, he’s more than paid him back.

Myers was the lucky recipient of Al’s last hot dog. Al even signed the bag for him. Myers said he planned to take it home and freeze it.

When Katie Smith realized that she and many others wouldn’t get to taste one of Al’s foot-long hot dogs ever again because they had run out, she burst into tears.

By 8 p.m. Al had only chicken left and that was going fast. People began ordering foot-long buns with just onions, chili and cole slaw just to get that last hot dog feel.

Even Mayor Susan Kluttz and Catawba College President Fred Corriher came out to wish Al well.

Al and Thelma Boulus first opened their hot dog stand in 1950, in the spot now occupied by the Weaver Building. They stayed there nine years before buying The Night Hawk across from the West Innes Street fire station, adding Al’s name to the existing one. The couple spent 25 years there and then moved to the final location at 1337 W. Innes St., where they remained for 17 years.

“They’re going to miss us,” Thelma said.

But she and Al are ready for what’s ahead — rest, travel and a lot of golf. Married for 56 years, the couple golfs together every Sunday.

Little Katie Smith brought Al a box of golf balls as a retirement present.

“We hope he’s going to hit a hole in one for every good deed he’s done over the years,” said her grandmother, Elizabeth Smith.

The Bouluses will also have more time to spend with their daughter, Sandy Flowe, who works at Rowan Regional Medical Center, son Michael Boulus, who is retired from the State Bureau of Investigation, and their five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

For those who wish to keep a piece of Al’s historic business, there will be an auction Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the restaurant. Everything that’s not nailed down — save some pictures and the historic sign — will be sold to the highest bidder.

To the community, the Boulus family says thank you.

“They’ve been so good to us over the 51 years,” Thelma said.