These emerging chain restaurants are opening and growing in the Wilmington area
The Wilmington area is home to many locally owned restaurants, as well as some national chains. Some of them you’re probably familiar with due to their ubiquity and large advertising budgets. As the Wilmington area grows, though, it’s also attracting some emerging brands and those that are growing, too. Here’s a look at some of what’s on the way.
Noodles & Company
Construction is underway at 351 S. College Road in Wilmington’s University Commons shopping center for this pasta restaurant. The 2,100-square-foot eatery will be located beside HoneyBaked Ham Company and could open in May. The menu features a wide variety of noodle options, from Asian dishes to mac and cheese. The company was founded in 1995 and now has more than 450 restaurants in 26 states, including locations in Jacksonville, N.C., and Myrtle Beach. Noodles & Company was recently named one of the country’s Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes magazine.
City Barbecue
The Crossroads at Independence shopping center is home to Wilmington-born chains like Port City Java, P.T. Olde Fashioned Grille and K38 Baja Grill. Now, it’s set to get a City Barbecue location at 3824 Carolina Beach Road. Instead of focusing on one style of ‘cue, the menu boasts “American barbeque” and showcases styles found across the country. Plans are for a 3,550-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru and covered patio. The restaurant was founded in 1999 and now has about 67 locations in eight states, including 12 restaurants in North Carolina.
Melecio's Mexican Restaurant
A North Carolina restaurant brand has posted that they’ll be adding a Pleasure Island location. The restaurant boasts authentic Mexican food, including favorites like tacos, fajitas and enchiladas, as well as specialty dishes like the multi-protein Crazy Pineapple and the Guaca Chicken. The existing locations include those in Shannon, Pembroke, Fairmont, Lumberton and Stedman in North Carolina. Now, they plan to open at 219 Myrtle Ave. in Carolina Beach soon, near Gulfstream and Island Burgers & Bites restaurants.
Burnin 99
A social media post let local diners know that a location of this Carolinas-based chain was on the way to Wilmington. Burnin 99 is an all-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean barbecue restaurant, which offers a choice of six broths, 45 vegetable and meat options, and 20 sauces. Plans are in the works for the restaurant to take over the former Cicis Pizza location in the University Commons shopping center. The restaurant has four locations, three in South Carolina and one in Greenville, N.C.
Dave & Buster's
Plans are in the works for this family friendly restaurant/bar/arcade to come to Wilmington's Mayfaire shopping center. If all goes well, it would be a 22,706-square-foot space at the corner of Town Center Drive and Destiny Way. The first business opened in Dallas in 1982 and there are now 162 Dave & Buster’s stores in the United States and Canada.
Biscuitville
This cult-favorite biscuit restaurant has not one, but two, locations in Brunswick County in the works. Planning and permitting have started for one at 4425 Main St. in Shallotte, and there's serious speculation that another will be in the River Run Shopping Center between Southport and Oak Island, which has ties to Biscuitville. The first restaurant opened in Danville, Virginia, in 1975. There are now 82 locations, serving North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. The closest to this area, though, are in New Bern and Fayetteville.
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
This restaurant opened as Fabe's Roasting Co. in the former Denny’s at 1201 S. College Road in 2021. But it's since been rebranded to match the Alpaca parent chain, which has 14 restaurants, most of which are located in the Triangle area. But another five are on the way, including one in Southport at 5028 Southport Crossing Way, which will also be serving Peruvian-style roasted chicken, as well as sides, drinks and desserts.
Scooter’s Coffee Shop
This company recently landed in the No. 2 spot on Yelp’s 2024 list of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Brands. This chain emerged in the Wilmington area last year, with a location at 6851 Market St. in the Ogden area. The second is in the works at the busy intersection of South College Road and Oleander Drive. It’s slated for 1425 S. College Road between the Trader Joe’s parking lot and Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. The Ohama-based brand has more than 650 locations nationwide.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
While there’s already one of these sandwich restaurants in the area, there’s another under construction in the Mayfaire area at 6818 Parker Farm Drive in the former SunTrust Bank site. The first opened at 2515 S. 17th St. in Wilmington in 2020. And the owners are planning more for the Carolinas, too. The first location opened in Chicago in 1977 and there are now more than 400 company-owned shops, and another 40 from franchisees.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Chain restaurants opening in Wilmington, NC, include Biscuitville
