A new burger joint has opened in Spartanburg — the first of many it hopes to open in the Upstate during the next few years.
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries opened its doors Monday in a 2,400-square-foot space in the shopping center beside the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Cedar Springs.
J.R. Cottle, a master franchisee for the North Carolina-based family-dining chain, said the 104-seat restaurant has created 55 new jobs. The company will soon begin opening restaurants in Greenville, Anderson and Greer, he said.
“Everything has been good so far,” said Cottle, who began working for the company as a fry cook after graduating from high school. “We’re very excited about this location and look forward to continuing our growth throughout the Upstate.”
Cottle said the company, which was founded in a shopping mall in Goldsboro, N.C., as Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers in 1991, has 130 stores in 10 states, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.
It has sold the rights to franchisees that could propel its growth tenfold during the next decade. That means the company could have more than 1,000 stores by 2026.
“It’s really neat to see,” Cottle said. “When I started, we had 30 stores. We’re one of the few companies where anyone can literally start at the bottom and work their way up to owning their own restaurant.”
The Spartanburg store is owned by franchisee Alcides Ferreira.
Cottle said the store is still hiring and the company is looking for more franchisees in the region.
Tom Stanley, vice president of operations for Hwy 55, was busy flipping burgers at the Cedar Springs location Tuesday.
Stanley, a native of Massachusetts, said he began his career with the company in Texas in 2003 after retiring from the U.S. Army.
“I was looking for something to do and [a Hwy 55] opened around the corner from my house,” Stanley said. “I started working there part-time. I was a little older [than my coworkers], so I picked things up quicker. I learned everything I could about the business … It’s been very rewarding. I’ve traveled all across the country helping to open restaurants.”
Cottle said the company’s focus is on customer service, quality and value. The company’s mantra is, “Love your neighbor,” he said.
He said the company was attracted to the space in Cedar Springs because of its proximity to local sports complexes and potential growth of the community.
“We considered several sites,” Cottle said. “We liked this one because it isn’t overcrowded. We wanted to be in on the ground floor of what’s happening here.”
The Spartanburg restaurant has a full wait staff, Cottle said. Burgers are cooked with 100 percent beef and each meal is made-to-order.
The store will operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, visit www.hwy55.com.
