A Triangle burrito favorite is expanding to RTP’s shipping container development
The tacos and burritos of a popular Carrboro Tex-Mex restaurant are making their way to RTP.
Carrburritos announced this week that it will open a new location in the Research Triangle Park’s Boxyard RTP, a new development being built out of shipping containers.
The first Carrburritos opened in 1997. The restaurant has since become a staple among UNC students, given its proximity to Franklin Street. In 2013, Carrburritos added a second location in the college town of Davidson, just outside of Charlotte.
Carrburritos was founded by William and Gail Fairbanks and is now run by Fairbanks’ daughter, Rae Mosher. A new restaurant wasn’t necessarily in the company’s plans, Mosher said in a phone interview. If anything, Carrburritos was exploring a move to a larger space.
“I wasn’t planning on opening another location, but we have more business than we can handle,” said Ray. “It’s a nice problem to have.”
At Boxyard, Carrburritos will offer about 95% of its full menu, Mosher said, and run as a more traditional counter service restaurant. At the Carrboro location, diners order their meals straight from the restaurant’s cooks.
Bringing funky vibe to RTP
Mosher said when Boxyard first approached her with the idea of expanding to RTP, she didn’t think Carrburritos’ funky vibe would fit in with the office culture of RTP.
“That’s no our scene,” Mosher said. “But Boxyard emphasized community, and they’re creating community where one doesn’t exist. They’re being very purposeful and creating a pace that’s creative and for local businesses only.”
At Boxyard, Carrburritos will join Lawrence Barbecue, Fullsteam Brewery, wine shop RTP Uncorked, CBD retailer Medicine Mama’s Farmacy, Game On Escapes & More and juice bar Poured & Pressed. The project still has two vendor slots open.
At more than 20 years old, Carrburritos is one of the longest running restaurants in Carrboro.
“People tell us we’re an institution,” Mosher said. “They say how one of the joys of coming back here is it feels exactly like it was before when they were in school.”
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
