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Frank Ballard, the beloved founder of a classic Raleigh neighborhood restaurant, died Wednesday, Aug. 19. He was 66.
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Nearly 30 years ago, Ballard and his wife, Marget, opened Hayes Barton Cafe in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood, honoring the pleasures of life with comfort food and famous desserts.
Ballard’s death was announced Thursday, Aug. 20 on the restaurant’s Instagram page.
Earlier this year, Ballard had suffered a spinal cord injury during a fall at home, an accident that required 24-hour care. Ballard had recently contracted pneumonia and was transferred to a hospice facility, according to an Instagram post Aug. 19.
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“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 restaurant said in a statement on social media.
Ballard’s presence was synonymous with Hayes Barton, a funky cafe embraced by the Five Points neighborhood. The restaurant is known as one of the Triangle’s top sweet shops, with a gleaming window of cakes and desserts, sending slices throughout the checkered tile dining room.
A public memorial for Ballard will be held Sunday, Aug. 30 at Hayes Barton Cafe from 3 to 5 p.m.
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