Fayetteville is a hotbed for chain restaurants, and there are more on the horizon

Fayetteville is sometimes overlooked by restaurant chains, but the city saw the arrival of at least five new franchises this year, and there are more on the horizon.

Regional players like Jaggers, Bahama Breeze, Cinnaholic, Stoner’s Pizza and Potbelly each opened their first Fayetteville-area stores in the last several months.

Krystal, Del Taco and Tim Horton’s have announced plans to expand to the Tar Heel State, making Fayetteville a potential candidate for new locations.

Some plans for new chains in Fayetteville are up in the air

A few chains that submitted plans for Fayetteville locations haven't seen progress in months.

Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe submitted plans for a restaurant at Cross Creek Mall and City Barbecue had its eye on a Skibo Road spot last year, but there hasn’t been any further activity from either restaurant. Tijuana Flats and Famous Toastery were seeking Fayetteville franchisees in 2022 but have since gone dark.

Razzoo’s, City Barbecue, Tijuana Flats and Famous Toastery did not return requests for comment last week.

Despite that, there are a few chains expected to open soon in Fayetteville and Hope Mills or that have recently shown interest in the city.

Opening later this year: Clutch Coffee

Morrisville-founded Clutch Coffee Bar is bringing its caffeinated drinks to Fayetteville’s Ramsey Street corridor.

Slated to open Sept. 21 at 3919 Ramsey St., according to the company website, the new location is planned to be an 850-square-foot freestanding building with a drive-thru on a half-acre property next to KFC.

The city reviewed plans Feb. 21 for a second location at 117 Grove St. Plans show an 835-square-foot freestanding building between Biscuitville and CVS Pharmacy, about four miles south of the Ramsey Street location in progress.

Clutch serves lattes, mochas and “amped” drinks made with two extra shots of espresso — any of which can be ordered hot, iced or frozen and made with oat, almond or coconut milk. There’s also cold brew coffee, energy drinks and tea.

The coffee chain since 2018 has a dozen locations in the Carolinas.

In progress: KPot

KPot is in progress at Cross Creek Mall. On Thursday, a sign was up for the new Korean restaurant on a building in The District shopping that was once home to Jason's Deli.

The restaurant chain offers hot pot, soup stock simmered at the dining table served alongside vegetables, meat and fish for diners to cook in the stock. It also serves Korean barbecue, where diners grill meat at the table to be eaten with sauce, rice and lettuce. The chain's restaurants have a full bar.

KPot has 78 locations in 34 states with dozens of new locations under development, according to the company website.

Neither KPot nor Cross Creek Mall representatives returned requests for comment last week.

Under construction: Culver's

Like the idea of a butter burger? Then you’ll be glad to hear that construction began in March for Wisconsin-based fast-food chain Culver’s in Hope Mills.

Previously: Wisconsin food chain serving burgers, cheese curds and custard plans Hope Mills location

Known for its burgers made with fresh beef and buttery toasted buns, Wisconsin cheese curds and frozen custard, the restaurant is in progress at 3320 S. Peak Drive, near the Millstone Town Center plaza.

Founded in 1984, the franchise has nearly 1,000 locations in 26 states, including those as far from its midwestern roots as Arizona, Florida and Texas.

There are 15 Culver’s stores in North Carolina, the closest of which is Fuquay-Varina.

Searching for a site: Smalls Sliders

Louisiana-founded chain Smalls Sliders plans to open nine North Carolina locations in the next five years, including one in Fayetteville, franchisee Aaron Zucker told The Fayetteville Observer in May.

Related: Louisiana burger chain to open its first NC restaurants, including a Fayetteville location

With a small menu of burgers, waffle fries, shakes and signature “smauce,” a typical Smalls location has a drive-thru, walk-up window and covered outdoor patio. The locations do not have indoor dining rooms.

Founded by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux creator Brandon Landry in 2019, Smalls has a dozen Louisiana locations and one in Mississippi, with sights set on rapid expansion. More than 200 new locations are under development. 

Making plans: Peach Cobbler Factory

Peach Cobbler Factory has listed a Fayetteville location as “coming soon” for over a year.

Franchisee Stella Walker, who has opened three locations this year with her business partner, said she is still planning to open a Fayetteville location, but it won’t be until next year at the earliest.

“We are pausing for the rest of this year,” she said by phone last week.

Founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 2013, Peach Cobbler Factory serves fruit cobblers with ice cream, pudding, milkshakes, cookies and cinnamon rolls.

Making plans: Whataburger

Early this year, Whataburger submitted plans to the city for a 3,305-square-foot freestanding store with a two-lane drive-thru on an outparcel of a planned retail and dining development on Ramsey Street.

Since then, the Texas burger chain hasn’t resubmitted plans for evaluation, city officials confirmed last week.

Whataburger has not officially announced a forthcoming Fayetteville location and did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the proposed restaurant.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at [email protected]. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: New restaurant chains coming to Fayetteville, NC in 2024