Restaurant news: Multiple Whataburgers coming to Spartanburg, Chesnee lands first brewery
Beer, barbecue and burgers are just a few of the latest items on the menu in the Spartanburg food scene this summer.
"The new restaurant options we're seeing are a great reflection of the overall growth in Spartanburg," said Christopher George, communications and marketing manager at City of Spartanburg. "More folks are moving to our community every day, and that translates into a healthier customer base for new business owners and our existing businesses as well."
Residents can look forward to four possible locations of the Texas hamburger chain, Whataburger, coming to Spartanburg, Greer and Duncan.
And the award-winning, barbecue restaurant from Greenville, Smoking Butt Heads, is expected to open soon in the former Wild Wing Café building in Morgan Square.
Here are some of the changes happening to the food and dining scene in Spartanburg and throughout the county:
Whataburger introducing four possible locations in Spartanburg County
Popular fast-food chain Whataburger is making its way to Spartanburg County, possibly bringing four locations. Whataburger is an American fast-food chain based in San Antonio, Texas. The first location opened in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950.
There is one confirmed location for Spartanburg, 1510 W. O. Ezell Blvd., and a second one coming to Boiling Springs on Highway 9. In Duncan, a third burger chain will be at 1537 East Main St. A fourth restaurant is pending for East Main Street in Spartanburg but site plans are pending.
Smoking Butt Heads replaces Wild Wing Café
In February, residents of Spartanburg received the notice that Wild Wing Café, located at 111 W. Main St., had closed its doors permanently. Many people had wondered what would happen to the building due to its ideal location and space.
Todd Smith, founder of Smoking Butt Heads BBQ in Greenville, announced that he and Nate Tomforde, owner of Southernside Brewing Co. and Double Stamp Brewery, will bring Smoking Butt Heads BBQ to the old Wild Wing Café location.
"Competition-style barbecue is a different level," Smith said. "We want to bring a different level and style of barbecue that's not available in the area, to bring a good music venue and want to bring great paying jobs with a great economical impact on the community."
The restaurant is estimated to open this summer, but no official date has been set.
Outside Influence Brewery opens in Chesnee
Enjoy the summer with a beer at the newest brewery, located at 213 S. Alabama Ave. in Chesnee. Outside Influence Brewery hosted its grand opening on June 3 with food trucks, hand-crafted beers and live music.
The brewery has a spacious, indoor taproom with comfortable seating arrangements and a barrel standing area. There's also a flexible and fenced-in courtyard outside that offers customers a peaceful atmosphere, with picnic tables and yard games.
Big Guns Coffee opens at Bodega Noir
Bodega Noir recently moved to Landrum and is continuing to expand the franchise into a gathering spot and venue. On June 19, Bodega Noir welcomed Big Guns Coffee, created by Marine Corps veteran T. Shane Johnson and his daughter Charli, that features a special blend of coffee that they say is made with passion, resilience, and love.
A soft opening of the drive-thru café has already launched. It's open Monday through Sunday from 6 a. m. to noon. The estimated grand opening is planned for early or mid-July, and hours will change to 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Burrito Hub prepares to open a second location
A new development is set to open at 2601 E. Main St. in Spartanburg, featuring an outdoor courtyard, restaurants and a possible brewery. The development will also include a second location for Burrito Hub, which is set to open this summer.
"It's going to be a great experience, we're also getting other local restaurants in that area. We're local businesses coming together," said Hugo Montanez, owner of Burrito Hub and Burgär. "Spartanburg is doing nothing but growing, and there's a lot of opportunities for growth."
Montanez said residents of Spartanburg are what made him want to open a second location. He said it's wonderful how residents help in supporting local businesses.
One of the things my wife and I loved when we opened up a restaurant in Spartanburg was how people loved helping local businesses," Montanez said. "Our customers from the east (side) tell us they're so glad they don't have to drive down into downtown, but they tell their friends and we get customers from other areas. It's special and definitely what we love about Spartanburg."
The 26,000-square-foot, neighborhood center has not announced its official opening yet, however, Burrito Hub is expected to open this summer.
– Joanna Johnson covers the food & dining scene, along with trending stories and more for The Herald-Journal. Contact her with story ideas at JJohnson@shj.com.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Whataburger, Burrito Hub, BBQ eatery among new Spartanburg restaurants
