Olive Garden awaits green light for Morganton build

The Italian restaurant Olive Garden has building plans for its Morganton location in City Hall but is awaiting approval until an official contractor comes forward.

“The zoning plans that were submitted in May 2024 for Olive Garden were approved back in October. The building plans are still sealed and pending approval,” Public Information Officer Jonelle Sigmon said. “A building permit has not been issued yet because we are waiting on information from their general contractor.”

The building plans were submitted to the City’s Development and Design Department on Nov. 18 and are pending their approval by city staff. The department does not have the name of the general contractor yet.

Until the building permit is approved, any work with Olive Garden is at a standstill, Sigmon confirmed.

The zoning permit looks into the use of the land and its requirements while the building permit focuses on how the building will be constructed.

The former Fatz building, at 2111 S. Sterling St., will be demolished to make way for a brand-new Olive Garden. The plans include a 6,327-square-foot restaurant and to seat around 150 people.

Here is where other restaurants/businesses stand at the close of 2024.

CHIPOTLE

The $3.4 million-priced Chipotle building is in need of a tenant, to run the first Burke County location of the Mexican grill. Construction workers with their vehicles can be seen on site, where the building has been painted and red trash bags are lined up along the front.

The former KFC restaurant is being converted into the new Chipotle, which will feature a Chipotlane drive-thru, an outdoor patio, and 48 parking spaces.

As the 1219 Burkemont Ave. building undergoes renovations, real estate partners Fisher James Capital and ParaSell Inc. are looking for someone to undertake a 15-year lease of the Chipotle Mexican Grill. The first year’s rent is $170,000 and will increase 10% every five years. The estimated rent commencement is set for March 2025.

The building is currently under the ownership of NLA Morganton, LLC which is based in Montgomery, Ala. The company purchased the building on Sept. 19 for $1 million but now has a total taxable value of $1.9 million.

External Communications official Annie Gradinger previously told the media that the grill will move into the building by next summer.

THE MADNESS

Interior remodeling at the former Root & Vine building — where the one-of-a-kind The Madness Sushi, Burger & Bar will be housed — has begun.

The 139 W. Union St. building has been undergoing restaurant upfitting. Back in September, restaurant owner Aaron Cheng said he expected The Madness to be open within four to six months as it undergoes its renovations.

Based in Asheville, The Madness promotes itself as an eatery “where fresh sushi, classic and creative burgers, and local taps and mixed drinks all meet under one roof,” according to its social media pages. “The Madness combines good food and drink with a good time.”

ICE CREAM SAMMIES

Viva la Vintage’s Rodney Vaughn has something sweet in store for downtown Morganton patrons: Ice Cream Sammies.

The little shop welcomed customers on Wednesday, Dec. 18, with Blue Bell Ice Cream cookie sandwiches. The location will also feature milkshakes, flavored lattes, and coffee.

A free pup cup is available with purchase.

The building is at 130 N. Sterling St. where the former Alison’s Custom Sewing used to be. They are open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CASA MEXICO

If you have missed this Mexican restaurant, you will be happy to know it will soon reopen in the former Zeko’s Village in the Magnolia Plaza.

After Hurricane Helene, Casa Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill on South Sterling Street was closed for five days.

Owner Luis Garcia saw this as an opportunity to move into 1243 Burkemont Ave. and left the Sterling Street location closed.

He hopes to open the location early in the new year. Exact timing will depend on the required health inspections and delivery of new tables and chairs that are being crafted in Mexico.

COTTONWOOD DEVELOPMENT

The 117 E. Union St. building, developed by Cottonwood Development, is now available for leasing.

The company is renovating the building at the corner of East Union and North Green streets, with plans for seven, one-bedroom apartments on the upper floor. The street level will house a restaurant. This space was placed on the market on Nov. 12, according to LoopNet.

The tenant would enter into a triple net lease where they would be obligated to pay the property expenses like utilities, rent, real estate taxes, building insurance, and maintenance. According to Burke County GIS, the property value is $297,274.

In August, the Morganton City Council approved an easement for utilities in the public alley behind the building.

SMOOTHIE KING

Smoothie lovers will have to find a new spot for their blended treat. Smoothie King in Morganton, at 179 Independence Blvd., is permanently closed.

The business is no longer listed on Google Maps, and mentions of the former Morganton location have been removed from the Smoothie King website. On their local Facebook page, it has been marked as “Permanently Closed.”

Smoothie King had previously submitted various building permits for interior renovations from the storm damages of Hurricane Helene.

SILVER CREEK RESTAURANT

Silver Creek Restaurant is making headway to repair Hurricane Helene’s damages, but no reopening date has been determined. The restaurant was flooded and required the interior to be gutted and completely renovated.

“We are under construction but very much looking forward to opening back up in the near future! We will update when we have an opening date,” the restaurant announced in October.

Silver Creek is at 908 W. Union St. in Morganton.

THE HONEY HOG

The Honey Hog Restaurant remains at a standstill since a building permit has yet to be submitted.

Public Information Officer Jonelle Sigmon said the City of Morganton has not received any new applications from the future restaurant. The BBQ restaurant will be located where the former Hursey’s Bar-B-Q operated before its closure in March 2023.

“The building permit for the restaurant at 300 Carbon City Road has been revoked, as the permit was for renovation of an existing structure without more than 50% of the structure remaining. The site has moved from renovation to full new construction of a new building,” Sigmon said.

The previous plans were designated for a renovation versus demolition which took place in September. The separate zoning permit for a restaurant, which was issued on Jan. 23, remains intact as long as they “build exactly what was previously approved,” Sigmon said.

If the proposed work has not commenced, that permit will expire on Jan. 23, 2025.

The restaurant will feature an indoor/outdoor bar patio and a fire pit. It will also have viewing windows into the smokehouse, new reverse-flow smokers, a full bar, and a whole hog barbecue from local farmers in the community.