Chapel Hill burger-lovers will soon be able to ring in the new year with another restaurant option in town.

Shake Shack, a chain known for its burgers, loaded fries and milkshakes, is set to open its doors on Thursday, December 22, according to reports. The new location is at Unit 40 in 1800 East Franklin Street — part of the Eastgate Crossing Shopping Center that has recently added several new businesses. CBS 17 first reported the opening date and ribbon-cutting ceremony details.

The restaurant is opening in space previously occupied by Zoe’s Kitchen before it closed in 2021. The building underwent significant renovation to fit with Shake Shack’s branding and to make space for more than a dozen outdoor dining tables.

The outdoor dining area for Chapel Hill’s first Shake Shack location.

As of December 15, the Shake Shack website does not include Chapel Hill among its restaurant locations. But the site is hiring workers and is reportedly set for an opening on December 22.

Once open, the Chapel Hill franchise will be one of the few Shake Shacks in North Carolina. Most of the restaurants’ locations in the state are around Charlotte. There’s just one true Shake Shack restaurant in the Triangle in Cary, while PNC Arena in Raleigh has a Shake Shack concessions station for visitors to games and events.

Shake Shack hours for most locations are 11 a.m. through 10 p.m. daily. According to reports, the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new business before it opens to the public. The first 100 customers to the Eastgate restaurant will received a special Shake Shack prize and a local artist DJ Nevy will be playing music as part of the grand opening. Additionally, CBS 17 says Shake Shack will donate $1 for every sandwich purchased on December 22 to PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro — a local nonprofit aiming to end hunger and food insecurity.

The Chapel Hill franchise has several open positions for hire, according to the Shake Shack careers website.

Some of the other recent additions to Eastgate Crossing Shopping Center include a new Aldi grocery store and a Rise Righteous Biscuits & Chicken franchise. The East Franklin Street mall’s ownership changed in December 2020, as Kite Realty Group purchased the property.

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