Carbon City Grill needs new location, Five Below plans spring opening

Carbon City Grill owners are searching for a new location after the recent purchase of their building by Gamba, Inc. Restaurant owner Daphne Caldwell said the new company plans to repurpose the building into a tech store.

The new property owner proposed using the back portion of the building for the tech store, while keeping Carbon City Grill in front, but Caldwell said that would cut restaurant seating by 30 people. She added that her family considered purchasing the building at one point, but it would require repairs and maintenance that are too costly.

The restaurant’s last day of business at 710 Carbon City Road will be Feb. 1, but Caldwell said that while there’s no timeline to reopen, she hopes to have the restaurant open in a new location as soon as possible.

“It is with profound appreciation for the incredible journey we’ve shared that we will be closing this location, but we are excited for the new chapter ahead,” the owners said. “We are actively seeking an alternative location and are committed to finding a new site where we can continue to thrive.”

The restaurant served the community out of the location for the past five years. The owners expressed gratitude to local churches, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Glen Alpine Police Department, and many other regular patrons.

“We are committed to reemerging stronger, more resilient, and more determined than ever, and although we will miss seeing you all, we look forward to serving you at our new location in the near future.”

FIVE BELOW PLANS SPRING OPENING

Five Below, a chain that offers most of its products at $5 or less, is replacing the former JoAnn Fabrics in the Morganton Heights Shopping Center.

The store is expected to open in the spring, according to Andrew Tanneberger of The Providence Group, a retail real estate group out of Charlotte. The group helped secure the lease of the property for Five Below in October.

NEW CHINA DEMOLITION

The old New China Buffet building has been demolished, creating a blank slate for new development in a high-traffic area of Morganton.

A demolition permit for the building was issued on Sept. 19, 2025. DH Griffin Wrecking Co. demolished the former restaurant and is now working to clear the site of debris.

Located at 102 Sanford Drive, the property hasn’t changed ownership under Rama Dale and Stuart Dean Dale Revocable Trust since 2013, according to Burke County property records. The City of Morganton’s Development and Design Department has not received any plans or permits for the site, according to Director Wendy Smith.

The building was constructed in 1966, but had not received any major renovations since 1975. According to property records, the building was in poor condition.

The commercial property was previously listed with Century 21 American Homes for $575,000. The property’s lot size is about an acre, and it is located within the High Intensity District, allowing for a wide variety of civic, institutional, retail, service, and office uses.