Fayetteville is hungry for The Cheesecake Factory. Could it thrive here?
Fayetteville residents have long pined for The Cheesecake Factory to open in the city.
The restaurant ranked No. 2 in a June 2023 poll that surveyed readers about the restaurants, cuisines and grocery stores they want the most. The top spot went to Trader Joe’s.
“When will Fayetteville get a Cheesecake Factory?” is one of the most frequently asked questions the Observer newsroom gets from readers.
So, what does the restaurant known for its extensive menu, large portions, bizarre decor and signature desserts say about a Fayetteville location? The Cheesecake Factory isn’t writing off the All-American City, but they’ve never announced plans to come here, either.
“Our restaurant development team is always on the lookout for premier sites to further grow The Cheesecake Factory brand presence, and all sites that fit our criteria for success will be seriously considered,” spokesperson Alethea Rowe said in an email last month.
It’s the same answer Rowe gave when the question arose in 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2013. But what would it take for the chain to seriously consider the ‘Ville?
The Cheesecake Factory keeps criteria for new sites under wraps
Every brand has different criteria for new sites, including population within a five-mile radius, income levels and percentage of college-educated residents.
The Cheesecake Factory, however, did not respond to questions about the parameters they use to evaluate potential locations last month, and it does not appear that the chain has ever publicly shared the criteria.
Many chains use feedback from their peers to find new places to develop, though, and Fayetteville is known for its appetite for chain restaurant food.
Chain restaurants tend to thrive in Fayetteville
Bahama Breeze is the most recent full-service chain restaurant to come to the city, and the Caribbean-inspired grill has been busy since it opened its doors in February.
Many chains have serious staying power in Fayetteville.
Outback Steakhouse set up shop in 1992, and Chili’s followed three years later.
Logan’s Roadhouse, On The Border and Texas Roadhouse opened here in the summer of 1998. Texas Roadhouse also opened the original location of the spin-off chain Bubba’s 33 in Fayetteville in 2013.
The 2010s also brought Cheddar’s, Cracker Barrel, World of Beer and Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar to the city.
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On the other hand, burger and chicken chain Jaggers was initially busy when it opened in March but was nearly empty on a recent weekday at lunch. Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux shuttered last month, and before that, Boston Market and Joe’s Crab Shack closed after decades in business.
Still, Fayetteville’s “restaurant row” along North McPherson Church Road and the Skibo Road commercial corridor remain attractive to chains looking to come here or expand their footprint — several have submitted plans to the city to open restaurants in those areas in the last two years.
Where is The Cheesecake Factory opening new locations?
Alas, The Cheesecake Factory is not among those. The restaurant is slated to open three or four new locations this year, Nation’s Restaurant News reported in February. The new locations seem to include Orem, Utah, and Coral Springs, Florida, restaurants to open this fall and a preleasing agreement for a development in Naperville, Illinois.
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But for now, Fayetteville foodies with a craving for The Cheesecake Factory will have to drive to Durham, Raleigh or Greensboro.
Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Will Fayetteville ever get a Cheesecake Factory?
