Rival chicken chain coming to Chapel Hill in 2025, and more stores opening, closing
A well-known chain opening on East Franklin Street next year could ignite the war of chicken fingers and special sauces.
Although work hasn’t started yet, the town has issued renovation permits for 127 E. Franklin St. to create a 2,140-square-foot Zaxby’s restaurant. A company spokeswoman said Wednesday that the restaurant could open in early 2025.
Official details about the grand opening are not available yet, she said.
Chapel Hill’s first Waffle House occupied the storefront from 2013 until it closed in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop briefly followed, from July 2023 to March 2024. The space has since remained vacant.
County records show Parrot Cay LLC paid $823,000 for the building in December 2023.
Zaxby’s will open about 250 feet east of Raising Cane’s, where the line stretched around the building last year on opening day and included at least one customer who camped out the night before, donning a chicken suit for the event.
Zaxby’s also has a loyal fan following and a special Zax sauce for dipping its chicken fingers, but the menu is more extensive than Raising Cane’s, including sandwiches, salads and other items.
Most Zaxby’s are owned and operated by franchisees, but the company will own the Franklin Street location, the spokeswoman said.
Operating hours will be from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, and the renovated restaurant will have 54 seats, a new counter area and an array of other upgrades, according to the permit.
An online search shows the Chapel Hill store is hiring employees now.
Other Orange, Chatham business news
▪ The Meantime Coffee Co., a nonprofit, student-run cafe, is open at the Innovate Carolina Junction, 136 E. Rosemary St. in Chapel Hill. It’s the second location for The Meantime Coffee, which started in UNC’s Campus Y with sustainable, locally sourced products, including Carrboro Coffee Roasters beans. Open 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.
▪ Ay Por Dios closed after just over a year at 431 W. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. The Mexican bistro opened in September 2023 to fanfare for its vibrant, modern decor and authentic Mexican dishes, but also faced some backlash for upscale prices and the owner’s sometime snarky responses to online reviews. The News & Observer’s attempts to reach owner Edy Barahona were unsuccessful.
▪ Hillsborough resident Francesca Morgan has opened Vesta, a boutique in historic downtown Hillsborough offering design services and a curated selection of women’s clothing and sustainable home decor products. The store is located at 116 S. Churton St., between Hillsborough Wine Co. and Hillsborough Yarn Shop. It’s open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
▪ Jeremiah’s Italian Ice opened in mid-November in the Northwood Landing shopping center, at 65 Ramseur Road near Chatham Park in Pittsboro. A special treat is the “Jelati,” with layers of Italian ice, soft ice cream and a variety of mix-in ingredients. Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is open from noon-10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 12:44 PM.
