Downtown support, stolen birthday car, and Brixx exit lead today’s Winston-Salem news

Winston-Salem Daily Brief – February 17, 2026

City leaders look for new ways to support downtown

Winston-Salem officials and business advocates are renewing efforts to keep downtown storefronts busy through the slower winter months. Leaders have been meeting with restaurant and shop owners about everything from event programming to parking and safety, aiming to keep more traffic on the streets after work hours.

City staff are also steering entrepreneurs toward existing resources, including small-business help, downtown development tools, and inclusion programs intended to make it easier for new owners to open and stay open. The push comes as local leaders say they want to stabilize existing businesses while still recruiting new ones to the core.

Family pleads for return of teen’s stolen birthday car

A Winston-Salem family is asking for the public’s help after a car given to their teenager for a 16th birthday was stolen over the weekend. The vehicle disappeared not long after the celebration, turning what was supposed to be a milestone gift into a police report.

Relatives have shared images of the car and are urging anyone who sees it to contact law enforcement. Police are investigating, and the family says they hope community attention will pressure whoever has the car to leave it in a visible spot where officers can recover it.

Winston-Salem Brixx Pizza location closes with Triad exits

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza has closed its Winston-Salem restaurant as part of a broader pullback in the Triad. Posts from the company confirmed that both the Greensboro and Winston-Salem locations have shut their doors, with a spokesperson calling the move a difficult decision for the franchise operator.

The closure removes a familiar casual dining option from the local scene and follows a string of restaurant changes across the region. The company has signaled interest in returning to the Triad in the future through new franchise partners, but there is no timeline yet for a new Winston-Salem site.

Local standout honored during NBA All-Star week

A Winston-Salem native who became a star at North Carolina A&T picked up conference recognition tied to NBA All-Star week. The guard’s strong season, highlighted by consistent scoring and leadership, helped earn the award and put both the player and their hometown back in the spotlight.

Coaches and supporters say the honor reflects years of work that started on local courts in Winston-Salem. The recognition also gives younger players in the city a fresh example of how far local talent can go with persistence and the right opportunity.

Sources

• https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/winston-salem/winston-salem-city-leaders-work-to-support-businesses-downtown/
• https://www.wfmynews2.com/
• https://www.wxii12.com/article/north-carolina-pizza-restaurant-closes-triad-locations/70379428
• https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxQNWp3dUZ0NDdtTU84WU9JcnM0VlJmN3lUSzNqZjI5czdIbVlfSGFwN