Smack Eats Closes Westside Location but Owner Kat Hunter Plans New Restaurant

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 8, 2026 — Smack Eats, a Westside Corpus Christi restaurant known for its soul food menu and deep ties to its local community, will close its current location at the end of June after an accident forced owner Kat Hunter to make a difficult decision though Hunter says the closure is temporary and a new restaurant is already in the works for 2027.

Hunter broke the news on Facebook Live, where the post quickly generated more than 74,000 interactions as the Corpus Christi community rallied behind the restaurant. The response underscored a level of loyalty that Hunter said she had not fully anticipated until the moment she asked for it. "I mean that's a lot," she told KRIS 6 News. "I didn't realize I had such an impact."

Smack Eats Westside Closure Follows Accident That Forced Hunter's Hand

Hunter did not disclose the specific nature of the accident publicly, but confirmed it was the direct reason behind the decision to close the Westside location. In her Facebook Live broadcast, she explained her initial plan to the community: "I don't really know what to do. So we're going to do everything free, with the hopes you guys donate."

The response was immediate. Supporters arrived before the restaurant even opened on the morning of the accident, bringing cash donations directly to Hunter. The scale of community engagement in both financial support and online interaction reflected a relationship between Smack Eats and the Westside neighborhood that Hunter has spent years building through both her food and her public presence.

Smack Eats Community Ties Run Deep on Corpus Christi's Westside

Hunter made citywide headlines last Thanksgiving when she partnered with El Vago Burger and BBQ to distribute more than 500 free meals to the Corpus Christi community an initiative that established her as a hospitality operator whose commitment to the neighborhood extended well beyond the dining room. That event was among the most visible of several community-facing efforts Hunter has undertaken since opening Smack Eats.

The community's response to the closure announcement mirrors the goodwill that initiative generated. Hunter said the flood of support from followers and customers reminded her of the significance of what she had built. For context on how soul food and community-rooted restaurant culture shape American dining neighborhoods, HCP Good Food's recipe collection covers the broader culinary traditions that underpin restaurants like Smack Eats.

Hunter Keeps Smack Eats Operating Through the End of June

Despite the closure announcement, Hunter has not shuttered the restaurant immediately. She told KRIS 6 News she continues to open on her days off and remains available for orders through the end of the month. The approach reflects both a commitment to her customer base and a practical determination to keep the brand present in the community even during the transition period. "I'm still gonna make it a point to have myself on people's minds," Hunter said.

The Westside location will serve its final customers by the end of June 2026. Hunter has said she plans to spend the summer with her children before returning to the kitchen in preparation for the next chapter of Smack Eats.

New Smack Eats Location Planned to Open at the Start of 2027

Hunter confirmed to KRIS 6 News that she intends to open a new Smack Eats location at the beginning of 2027. No specific address or location details have been disclosed. The planned reopening gives Smack Eats' customer base a timeline to look forward to and frames the Westside closure not as a permanent ending but as a transition between chapters in the restaurant's story.

Hunter acknowledged the perspective shared by those around her that the accident and closure, while painful, may create room for something better. "Everyone keeps telling me it's a blessing in disguise and I accept it, so," she said. The community response to her Facebook Live post suggests that Smack Eats' audience will be waiting when the new location opens.

For a restaurant that has made community generosity central to its identity, the outpouring of support during its moment of difficulty represents a direct reciprocation of that generosity and a clear signal that the Smack Eats brand carries equity in Corpus Christi that extends well beyond any single physical location. Further updates from Hunter on the 2027 opening plans are expected through Smack Eats' Facebook page, where the community has gathered throughout this latest chapter.

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