Table of Contents
North Carolina has about 150 Cook Outs, 39% of the chain, and the chain stayed inside the state for 21 years. Morris Reaves opened the first one on Randleman Road in Greensboro in 1989, and Cook Out did not leave North Carolina until July 30, 2010, when its 74th restaurant opened in Spartanburg, South Carolina. North Carolina has roughly doubled since: about 150 restaurants now, against 73 then, while the whole chain grew more than fivefold to 383.
- ~150
- Cook Outs in North Carolina
- 74
- Stores when it left the state
- 25+
- Charlotte-area restaurants
- 8
- Planned NC stores listed Oct. 2025
39% of the chain, ScrapeHero Aug. 2026
Spartanburg, SC, July 30, 2010
CharlotteFive, Oct. 2026
Plus Apex in 2026
How did Cook Out grow from one store to 150 in North Carolina?
1989
The first Cook Out opens on Randleman Road, Greensboro
Founder Morris Reaves; the company is now headquartered in Thomasville.
1989 to 2010
73 restaurants, all in North Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina, is the 74th overall.
July 30, 2010
Spartanburg, South Carolina
The first store outside North Carolina is the 74th overall.
January 2025
Bowman Gray Stadium
Cook Out becomes the entitlement partner for the Clash and Madhouse Classic in Winston-Salem.
October 2025
Eight North Carolina sites marked coming soon
Three in Charlotte, plus Fayetteville, Kill Devil Hills, Locust, Richlands and Zebulon.
April 21, 2026
Apex is next
A former Skipper's Seafood and Smokehouse on N.C. 55; the mayor says it opens "real, real soon".
Which North Carolina Cook Outs are coming?
| Site | Address | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 10820 Woodland Beaver Rd. | Bradfield Farms area; permits for a sign and menu boards filed Sept. 29, 2026 |
| Charlotte | 3704 W. W.T. Harris Blvd. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Charlotte | 715 Charlottetowne Ave. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Locust | 222 James Ave. (CharlotteFive: 224) | About 11 miles east of the Woodland Beaver Road site |
| Fayetteville | 1909 Skibo Rd. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Kill Devil Hills | 2005 S. Croatan Hwy. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Richlands | 8119 Richlands Hwy. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Zebulon | 1206 N. Arendell Ave. | Listed coming soon, Oct. 2025 |
| Apex | 1001 E. Williams St. | Cook Out bought the site in 2024 |
None has a published opening date. The News & Observer's list of existing Triangle restaurants covers Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Durham, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Fuquay-Varina and Chapel Hill.
What does a tray cost across North Carolina?
The tax varies by county more than the menu does. North Carolina's state rate is 4.75% and the counties in our guides add 2% to 2.25%, except Mecklenburg, which raised its rate by a full point on July 1, 2026. All totals start from usual menu prices; each North Carolina store sets its own board.
| Store | County | Tax on a meal | Regular Tray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir | Caldwell | 6.75% | $7.89 |
| Hickory | Catawba | 7% | $7.91 |
| Lumberton | Robeson | 7% | $7.91 |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg | 8.25% | $8.00 |
Guides for other North Carolina stores: Morganton and Jacksonville. The locations page lists every state, and the price guide has the board.