Cook Out burger and milkshake chain plans 3 new stores in Charlotte and Cabarrus County

A popular North Carolina hamburger chain with a long list of milkshakes is expanding locally.

Cook Out , based in Thomasville, is opening at least three more stores around Charlotte, the company’s website shows.

The “never frozen” burger chain will open in the former Jack in the Box spot at 10525 Mallard Creek Road . That site next to a CVS and near the Interstate 85 interchange has been vacant for years, even as the restaurant’s signage remained up.

Two other stores, both in new buildings, are planned at 1025 Frank Bailey Drive in Charlotte and 5161 Z-Max Blvd. in Harrisburg , Cabarrus County.

Cook Out purchased the Frank Bailey Drive off East Independence Boulevard in June 2023 for $1.3 million, Mecklenburg County property records show. The plan is to construct a fast-food restaurant building with parking, according to the latest city permits filed in February.

Cook Out’s menu includes combo trays with char-grilled burgers and chicken, barbecue, and over 40 milkshake flavors. The fast-food chain is open for lunch and dinner, and late night.

In June, Cook Out gained some celebrity fanfare. Actor Kevin Costner sampled a banana milkshake from Cook Out while promoting his film “Horizon: An American Saga” in Atlanta. President Joe Biden also is a fan of Cook Out’s shakes , visiting twice during stops in Raleigh and Durham.

Cook Out was founded in 1989 in Greensboro by Morris Reaves. His son Jeremy Reaves is CEO. Cook Out now has over 300 stores in 10 Southeastern states, including nearly 20 in the Charlotte region.

Cook Out officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment by Wednesday.

Other burger chains expanding

Cook Out isn’t the only burger chain expanding in Charlotte.

▪ Connecticut-based Wayback Burgers is opening near year in Prescott Village in Waxhaw. The burger joint, which was founded in 1991, has over 170 locations around the world. This will be the eighth in North Carolina, and the first in Union County.

▪ Texas-based Whataburger has plans to open three stores in Charlotte. The chain has filed plans with city at 5018 Sunset Road in north Charlotte, 12809 Albemarle Road and 5301 South Blvd . The company has not disclosed plans for opening dates yet for its store.

▪ California-based The Habit Burger Grill , known for its chargrilled burgers, plans to open 15 stores in the Charlotte region. Recent restaurant openings include 7266 NC-73 Highway in Denver, 379 W. Plaza Drive in Mooresville and 2121 W. Roosevelt Blvd. in Monroe.

▪ Charlotte-based Harriet’s Hamburgers opened its second store this month at The Bowl at Ballantyne. The first store debuted four years ago at Optimist Hall at 1115 N. Brevard St. , north of uptown. Two more locations are opening in the Charlotte area, at 3070 Derita Road in Concord later this year and in Matthews early next year, according to the company website .