Black Box Sandwiches owners hope to open by early October

Wearing clothes with a few dots of paint here and there, Claire and Shawn Mull can be found hard at work in the location of their soon-to-be new restaurant Blackbox Sandwiches on South Sterling Street.

With the majority of plumbing done and equipment installed, the Mulls had hoped to be open by now. However, after discovering another plumbing issue that requires pipes to be replaced, they are now aiming for an early October opening.

The two have been working on construction since March. The unit at 510-A S. Sterling St. was formerly home to a commissary for a food truck, which has different guidelines than a restaurant, Shawn said. “All the preexisting plumbing that we were planning on piping into, we were told by plumbers would not work.”

A completely new plumbing system had to be installed, which Shawn said was the largest part of the construction work. Claire added that the electrical work has also been completed and that they’ve already hired six new staff members.

All of the employees are “food people,” Shawn and Claire said. “Which is a cool thing, because that creates the environment where everybody can contribute and has input and creativity to add to what’s going on and just makes things even better than we thought,” Shawn said.

The opening menu is finalized, Claire said, featuring sandwiches like slow-roasted short rib and roasted chicken, along with robust vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Signature sauces will include spicy, garlic, and herb-infused flavors.

The restaurant will primarily operate to-go style with only limited seating inside. The Mulls plan to add outdoor seating after opening.

“I don’t think we can overstate how excited we are,” Claire said.

BECK’S COUNTRY KITCHEN

What was formerly known as Kim’s Seafood Shack is now Beck’s Country Kitchen, owned by Reid and Kaitlyn Beck. The restaurant, at 2000 John’s River Loop, Morganton, will offer homestyle cooking with seafood, steaks, burgers, and more.

According to a social media post, the couple began the process of purchasing the restaurant in May. Reid, according to the post, has five years of restaurant experience, from dishwasher to general manager. He also serves on the Burke County Board of Education. His wife, Kaitlyn, is a medical assistant at a cancer center.

“Together we’re passionate about serving our community,” the couple stated. The restaurant is also seeking new kitchen staff who have open availability. Anyone interested can message Beck’s Country Kitchen on Facebook.

BURGER KING

The Burger King on South Sterling Street is undergoing a remodel and is expected to reopen by the fall, according to the company’s public relations team.

City of Morganton officials said some of the changes in the remodel are repairs to existing materials, which don’t require a zoning permit. Construction started on the remodel in late August.