Charlotte is in line to get another "better burger" chain, as a pair of local restaurant professionals have signed an agreement to open 20 Burgerfi locations in the Carolinas.
"We'll eventually have four to six in the Charlotte area," said Burley Moss, who has previously developed franchise locations for Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill. "It takes you a while to get that first, one and they seem to roll pretty quickly after that."
Along with business partner Henry Harris, Moss said he's searching for sites in Charlotte and hopes to open the city's first Burgerfi in the second quarter next year.
North Palm Beach, Fla.-based Burgerfi currently has five locations. The chain focuses on humanely-raised, naturally-grown beef burgers, and features green touches such as chairs made from recycled materials.
Charlotte has seen fast-casual burger concept restaurants grow recently, with new market entrants such as Smashburger and American Roadside Burgers, and the expansion of Bad Daddy's Burger Bar and Five Guys. But Moss said he doesn't think the city's burgerscape is too crowded.
"I don't think so," Moss said. "It's definitely a growing segment."
Part of the reason he thinks the chains will have enough room to grow together is appeal that crosses income lines: Prices low enough to lure everyone, and menu offerings attractive enough to lure upper-income customers.
Said Moss: "The people who live in... $4 million houses will eat at our burger restaurant, and the people who cut their grass will too."