New restaurant with empanadas ‘the size of my face’ coming to Historic West End

Half-pound empanadas with unique fillings are on the menu at a new restaurant taking shape in Charlotte’s Historic West End.

Big Papa’s Empanadas plans to open in August after construction and inspections wrap at the space at 1812 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, chef and founder Jonathan Leonard told CharlotteFive.

Leonard, a Johnson & Wales University alum, left corporate dining and returned to the Queen City in 2020 to continue building his existing meal prep business. Now, he’s onto a new venture: a hip-hop themed takeout spot serving up savory, fried turnovers and more.

“I’ve always been enamored with Charlotte,” he told CharlotteFive. “I loved how much of a friendly city it was, and I just knew that I was going to plant roots here.”

Big Papa’s will offer counter service only (sorry, no seating). However, there will be a small patio for foodies to enjoy their empanadas al fresco.

You’ll find more than your typical chicken- or beef-filled turnovers here. Think: bacon gouda cheeseburger, Cajun crab mac and cheese and Caribbean oxtails.

There are a few dessert empanadas on the menu, too.

They’re “literally like the size of my face,” Leonard said of the half-pound pastries, laughing.

Beyond empanadas, Big Papa’s will serve street tacos and grilled chicken wings (with a sauce of your choice) alongside hand-cut French fries.

The restaurant combines elements of Leonard’s first “baby,” a catering and meal prep service called Freshly Cracked. He launched that business as a side hustle while living in Atlanta, providing ready-to-eat meals to his friends, teammates and church family.

However, he often found himself with leftover product after hosting pop-up events around the city.

“The empanadas came out of a necessity to try to figure out how to mitigate” food waste, Leonard told CharlotteFive. “It kind of correlated with my meal prep (services); I would take the meals, doctor them … and make it its own new thing.”

The restaurant’s name and theme are inspired by hip-hop culture. For instance, Leonard’s “Ain’t No Thang” empanada — filled with lemon pepper chicken — is a nod to the 1994 song by Atlanta rap duo OutKast.

“I was already using big empanadas. Then I was considering ‘Papa’s Empanadas’” for a name, Leonard told CharlotteFive, explaining how he eventually landed on Big Papa’s Empanadas.

“I didn’t spell it exactly like (The Notorious B.I.G.) did, but it’s kind of an homage to that culture … and pop culture in general.”

Charlotte’s Historic West End is home to some of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods, including McCrorey Heights, Hyde Park and Oaklawn. Leonard said his love and familiarity with the up-and-coming area made it the perfect spot for his new restaurant.

Citing the lack of convenient food options in the area, Leonard plans to sell pre-made meals from his meal prep service at Big Papa’s. The restaurant will also have extended hours on certain days for when those late night cravings hit.

For Leonard, this is just part of his long-term investment in the city. The seasoned chef is currently working with Johnson & Wales to provide internship opportunities to culinary students and hopes to expose them to every facet of the food business.

He’s already looking ahead and said he plans to open more businesses, including plans for a sit down brunch restaurant in the future.

Location: 1812 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Cuisine: Empanadas, tacos and grilled wings

Instagram: @bigpapasempanadas