This is a post by N&O restaurant critic Greg Cox:

Chapel Hill lost a landmark last night when Pepper's Pizza closed after 26 years. Owner Pepper Harvey cited competition from expanded on-campus meal options for declining business.

Pepper's closing isn't the first time a longtime Franklin Street favorite gave up the ghost (The Rathskeller, which flourished for more than half a century, comes to mind). No doubt it won't be the last.

But it was the only pizzeria I know of where the staff (mostly college kids with attitude) were as much a part of the fun as choosing from the extensive and offbeat list of toppings you could get on a slice or a pie.

I'll never forget walking by the shop early on a Halloween night a few years ago (they were at their previous location a few doors down), and cracking up when I saw the guys making pizzas behind the storefront window. They were all in drag. And I'm not talking half-hearted, I-did-it-on-a-dare drag. These guys obviously had expert help. And just as obviously, they were having fun.

So here's a final toast to Peppers. I think this one calls for a PBR.

Send restaurant news to Greg at ggcox@bellsouth.net. Be sure to tune in to Greg's radio show at 11 a.m. Saturdays on WPTF.

This post is by Chapel Hill News correspondent Matt Goad:

Pepper's Pizza, a popular Chapel Hill eatery for students and townies alike for more than 25 years, will be closing for good today, according to owner Pepper Harvey.

"Downtown is just not busy enough to support us anymore," Harvey said. "The last three years has just been a struggle for us."

Harvey blames expanded on-campus dining choices for the demise of the restaurant.

Pepper's changed locations from 127 E. Franklin to 107 E. E. Franklin in 2006, but Harvey says the change did not affect business for the first two or three years.

In the last four years, however, Harvey said, business is down 40 percent, and he just cannot remain open.