Local Eateries Expand Across Regions

Over the past several years, the local dining scene has experienced an influx of Triangle-area restaurateurs opening new concepts in Wilmington.

The Raleigh-based Urban Food Group purchased several of the Circa Restaurant Group restaurants in 2019, and more recently the Giorgios Lifestyle and Hospitality Group opened two Wilmington restaurants, Kipos Hellenic Cuisine (an offshoot of Kipos Greek Taverna in Chapel Hill) and G Prime. Four Corners, a longtime staple on the Chapel Hill dining scene, opened a Wilmington location just this year, while Al’s Burger Shack, another popular Chapel Hill eatery plans to open a Leland location in October.

Now we’re beginning to see the process in reverse. Established local chains such as Drift Coffee + Kitchen and Brunches are beginning to roll out locations in the Triangle as they seek to expand upon their success in the Port City.

Micheal Powell, co-founder of Drift said expansion to the Triangle makes the most sense for the company both demographically and geographically. He also explained that having more than one location in a new market helps to establish the brand in that area.

When assessing a potential location, Powell said Drift takes into account the values of the co-tenants and aims to position their cafes in areas that attract customers who prioritize a healthy, active lifestyle.

Drift now has Raleigh and Chapel Hill locations, and while nothing else is currently pending in the Triangle, they will continue to look for opportunities within the market.

“We’re not growing just because we want to grow,” Powell said. “We want to share the brand experience with new guests while still taking care of the team that’s carrying all of this out. It’s obviously risky, but we’re trying our best, and we’re learning a lot as we go and there are a lot of wins with that.”

Brunches is currently working on buildouts for two Triangle locations, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, with the Chapel Hill location expected to open in Franklin Street’s Carolina Square by early winter.

Brunches co-founder Danny McPherson also spoke about the opportunities that this expansion presents for his team.

He added that expansion to this area makes the most sense geographically since Interstate 40 connects the two areas, allowing staff to travel to multiple locations with ease.

“One of the things we’re most excited about,” McPherson said, “is to give everyone on our team more opportunities to grow within the company by expanding the brand into new markets and letting them experience opening new locations.”