Obituary of Harrison Jennings Ewell

Chapel Hill, NC – Mr. Harrison J. Ewell “Mickey”, 73, husband of Elle Ewell, died October 5, 2020 at his home in Chapel Hill. 

Mickey was born on January 8, 1947 in Norfolk, VA to the late Martha Harvey and Julius Dees Ewell.  He was raised in Virginia Beach along with his sister, Margaret Joan Brookes, and graduated from Old Dominion University.  He enjoyed Virginia Beach before proudly serving his country in the US Army Reserves.  With his father in the car business, Mickey’s love for cars grew.  He loved buying, trading, upgrading, and caring for his cars, frequently taking his family on long drives.

Mr. Ewell spent several years in the clothing industry, working with Pierre Cardin in New York City.  He then relocated to Chapel Hill where he opened Harrison’s, and Spanky’s, which he owned for over 40 years.  He was the founder of the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, and was a visionary, opening up 518 W. Jones in Raleigh, which changed the landscape of the restaurant industry in our state capital.  He then scoped out the Page Road area and opened Mez, becoming the first LEEDs designed restaurant in NC.  His next venture with the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group was opening the Page Road Grill, sourcing ingredients from North Carolina farmers as much as possible, and committed to sustainable practices from compostable and recyclable to-go containers, bags, and bar stirrers to participation in a food recycling program that reduces our solid waste by 85%.  Closing Spanky’s after 40 years also brought on his retirement, still, he was often seen in every one of his restaurants always with family and friends. 

Mickey’s faith was of the utmost importance, he helped start/grow three churches in 25 years.  His men’s group on campus, started by Danny Lotts and Albert Long, grew exponentially after Mickey joined bringing with him the lost, and the found to this community of men in prayer.   Prior to retirement, Mickey was very active within his industry.  He was elected to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Business Hall of Fame in 2013.  In 1986 he served as President of the NC Restaurant Association, and was the restaurateur of the year in 2009.  He was also very active in his community, being past chair of the Educational Foundation Task Force in 2003, and donating 50 gallons of platelets for the American Red Cross from 1985 – 2003.  He was a member of The Heart Association, hosting ‘The Heart Breakfast’ event at Squid’s each year in the 1990’s, and was very active with Rock Steady Boxing, which is a fitness program for individuals dealing with Parkinson’s Disease. 

In addition to his wife and sister, Mickey is survived by his sons, Bobby Mercadante of Chapel Hill, Harry Ewell, and his wife, Moriah Glenn, of Charlotte, NC. 

No services are scheduled.  Please direct memorials to Love Chapel Hill Church; The Summit Church; The American Red Cross; The American Heart Association; or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

The Ewell family is under the care of Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.