Rise Biscuits founder Tom Ferguson, a leader in the Triangle’s food scene, has died
Tom Ferguson, whose brand of a Southern-style biscuit is now known across the nation, died Thursday. He was 57.
A creative and innovative force within the Triangle’s dining scene, Ferguson was influential in the early days of fast casual, founding OnlyBurger as a food truck and launching the biscuit phenomenon Rise. His death was confirmed by Rise in an email Thursday night.
“We are terribly saddened by the passing of Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken Founder and CEO Tom Ferguson, Jr.,” Rise said in a statement. “Tom was a fearless visionary, a leader, a mentor, and a devoted husband and father. The Rise franchise owners, employees, and the people Tom worked with over the many years all mourn his loss. We will miss his unbridled enthusiasm, his positivity, his passionate pursuit of life, and his ability to connect, relate to, and encourage people to believe in themselves. Tom’s vision gives us a clear working path for the future of Rise.”
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Caterer for celebrities
Originally from Texas, Ferguson was an Army Airborne Ranger who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, one of the country’s top cooking schools.
Following school, Ferguson moved to Los Angeles and catered parties for celebrities like Harrison Ford and Barbara Streisand, according to a 2014 interview in the Triangle Business Journal.
After LA, Ferguson cooked in two of the Triangle’s most famous restaurants, Scott Howell’s Nana’s and Magnolia Grill with Ben and Karen Barker.
Food truck pioneer
He went on to found the Durham Catering Company and in 2008 helped usher in the dawn of the food truck in the Triangle, with the launch of Only Burger, partnering with co-owner Brian Bottger.
In 2012, Ferguson founded Rise Biscuits and Donuts in Durham, creating a counter-service ode to the sweet and savory carbs of breakfast dreams. Rise was an immediate hit, with customers lining up and willing to wait more than an hour for a buttery biscuit or maple bacon doughnut.
Within four years there were seven Rise locations in the Triangle and a national franchising effort well under way.
Today, there are eight Triangle locations, plus a ninth opening this year in Chapel Hill, as well as Rise locations in six other states. When Thousand Oaks, California gets its Rise later this year, that will make seven states.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 9:30 AM.
