K&W Cafeterias Inc. was an American chain of cafeteria-style restaurants in the Southeastern United States. It was a subsidiary of Piccadilly Restaurants from 2022; until its acquisition by Piccadilly, its headquarters were located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[2] On December 1, 2025, Piccadilly announced the closure of all K&W Cafeterias effective immediately.[3] K&W served traditional Southern foods including fried chicken, turnip greens, fried okra, and homemade desserts.
History
Grady T. Allred, Sr., a founder of K&W Cafeterias, entered the restaurant business on Thanksgiving Day 1935, as an employee of a small restaurant on Cherry Street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Carolinian Coffee Shop was owned by brothers Thomas, Kenneth, and William Wilson, and their brother-in-law, T.K. Knight. In 1937, the initials K&W (for Knight and Wilson) were adopted, and K&W Restaurant was established.
Allred later acquired a one-third interest in the K&W Restaurant. After operating the restaurant with his partners for a few years, Allred purchased their interests and became the sole owner of K&W Restaurant in 1941.