Restaurant roundup: Cottonwood Development property, Chicken Salad Chick, and more

Burke County’s dining scene is growing this spring and summer, with new restaurants opening or expanding their options, but in Morganton, a prime downtown property still sits vacant as developers search for the right restaurant tenant.

Cottonwood Development, a custom home builder based out of Morganton, has been searching for a high-end restaurant tenant to go in Studio 7 at 117 E. Union St., which sits at the end of the lively block that is home to Brown Mountain Bottleworks, Merrill Mischief, Homer’s, The Olive of Morganton, and Benjamin’s & Libba’s.

The search began over a year ago, around the beginning of 2025, and it’s still on, according to Polly Leadbetter, license partner and adviser for Cottonwood Development’s sister company Engel & Völkers.

Last year, Cottonwood Development completed demolition of the building’s interior to create a clean slate for a new build-out once a tenant is selected. The space offers 5,600 square feet with the opportunity for 1,200-1,500 square feet of patio space.

The upper level will be converted into four, two-bedroom luxury apartments, but work won’t begin on those until a business tenant is found, according to Leadbetter.

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK & TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ

Work began last fall to bring Chicken Salad Chick and Tropical Smoothie Café to Morganton’s former Village Inn Pizza site on Burkemont Avenue. The buildings for the restaurants are up, along with some road signage.

Tropical Smoothie Café is anticipated to open sometime in mid-to-late May, according to Dustin Davis, CEO and president of DDI Construction, a Hickory-based general contractor handling the project. Chicken Salad Chick will likely open in June or July, he said.

MYRA’S BRINGS MORE BREAKFAST OPTIONS IN VALDESE

On Thursday, Myra’s Smashburgers and Creamery started serving full-service breakfast in Valdese. The restaurant will be serving breakfast from 6-10:30 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays, with lunch and dinner still counter service.

The breakfast menu features a variety of platters, from ribeye steak and eggs to the Smokey Mountain gravy platter. A variety of omelets, biscuits, and sides are also available.

THE UNION AMERICAN GRILL

Work at the future spot of The Union American Grill is chugging along, according to Cranford Hospitality’s Zack Cranford. Interior demolition of the building, at 112 W. Union St., the former location of Bella Vino.

Now, Cranford said their contractors are working on installing a new roof and upgrading rooftop refrigeration. In the near future, he said Cranford Hospitality plans on bringing in interior electrical and plumbing.

THE HONEY HOG

Over on Carbon City Road, anticipation is building as Tyler Jones, also owner of Bones Jones Burgers and Butchery, and his crews make finishing touches on The Honey Hog, a new farm-to-table barbecue restaurant.

While Jones did not return requests for comment, he has been flooded with comments on the restaurant’s social media pages, asking when opening day is. His response: “Soon. That’s all I can say,” adding that hiring will start in May.