BURLINGTON, NC (WGHP) – It’s a fun concept that you see in big cities like Raleigh and Charlotte and now you can add Burlington to that list.
We are talking about the growing trend of food halls.
The Burlington Food Hall and Commissary Kitchen already have three restaurants and a fully stocked bar.
Some who live in the city said that this place and other improvements to the city have reiterated the potential that the city has.
“I’m really supporting Burlington,” said Kadin Jones, who lives in Burlington. “For a long time, I didn’t know if it was going to happen and now all the evidence points to what is happening and that it will get more and more intense: growth.”
More growth in the city of Burlington is what this food hall represents. The space was once a grocery store cooperative.
“There really weren’t many options when it comes to food, but in six years here we have Burlington Beer Works, we have Tanners, we have Go Burrito !, the food hall,” Jones said.
“I think the food hall concept is really amazing because we have so many restaurants in one place,” said Meagan “Mick” Ivey, general manager of Go Burrito.
His restaurant was the first of three so far to open at this location on East Front Street.
“We’re just big with big burritos,” Ivey said.
While food is the focus here, fun is the attraction for a concept like this. There is a fully stocked bar.
“Our bar will have different nights like trivia nights, open mic nights, we also encourage local musicians,” said Ivey.
And it has something for everyone, even the health fanatic.
Darwing Murrietta started ordering from Crush last year when they were only making deliveries.
“This is my favorite place,” Murrieta said.
Now that they have their own brick and mortar inside the dining room, they stop by before work.
“It’s really amazing because I’ve been losing weight for a year and these people are helping me stay on track,” he said.
Casey’s Bistro opens on Wednesday. They will offer everything from turkey burgers, wraps and grilled cheese, to vegan options.
“We are giving another option for families to get together, have a drink at the bar across the street or just get together and break bread. The different genres of food will satisfy everyone’s taste buds, ”said owner Mary Casey.
He had a couple of restaurants in the Charlotte area. When the latter closed due to COVID-19, it began preparing meals for those who couldn’t make it themselves, calling it Stone Soup Menus.
They have been able to create more than 125,000 meals in Alamance County since the start of the pandemic.
This food hall gave Casey a new opportunity and a fresh start for her to continue to pass on her love of cooking to others.
A percentage of each sale will go back to Stone Soup Menus to continue providing hot meals to those in need in Alamance County.
This one-stop shop for food, fun and entertainment is something the people of Burlington hope will make their city competitive.
“I think we are on a very upward trajectory right now,” Jones said.
Oishi and Ni Armor’s are said to open in the coming weeks.
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