Cook-Out restaurant chain expands to Chattanooga

Two ready to open, 8 to 10 likely in local market

Signs are posted Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at the new Cook Out location on Highway 153.
Signs are posted Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at the new Cook Out location on Highway 153.
photo Signs are posted Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at the new Cook Out location on Highway 153.

About Cook Out

' Founded: 1989 in Greensboro, N.C. ' Headquarters: Thomasville, N.C. ' Key people: Morris Reaves (owner), Jeremy Reaves (CEO) ' Locations: More than 100 drive-throughs in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, including two planned in Chattanooga and one open in Rome, Ga. ' Concept: Fast food, double drive-thru restaurants as well as restaurants that feature dining rooms and patios. ' Menu: Entrees include char-grilled burgers, hot dogs, Carolina-style BBQ, chicken, BLTs, quesadillas.

Local fans of the North Carolina-based Cook Out restaurant chain finally have something to celebrate: Chattanooga is getting two Cook Out restaurants in the next couple of months.

One is located at 5390 Highway 153, where Verizon Wireless was formerly located, and is slated to open to the public in the next four weeks.

The other is located at 5001 E. Brainerd Rd., and is scheduled to open in the next nine weeks.

Both locations are currently hiring.

In fact, said Alex Coppaken, Cook Out's chattanooga district manager, Cook Out hopes to hire 100 new employees to staff the two restaurants in the next three weeks.

Last week, Coppaken took applications under a red pop-up tent out front of the new Highway 153 store. He said Chattanooga has been on Cook Out's radar for at least a year-and-a-half.

The nearest Cook Out to downtown Chattanooga right now is in Rome, Ga., 54 miles away.

Cook Out's model is slightly different than most quick-service restaurants. Customers are presented a menu with over 30 food items that can be purchased individually or mix-and-matched.

Cook Out offers "Cook Out Tray" combinations, featuring several main items (like a barbecue sandwich or hot dogs), several side items (like fries, onion rings or slaw) and several drink options, sold together.

Coppaken said in its simplest terms, Cook Out offers "fresh, char-grilled food," cooked and presented in an outdoor style, like you might eat at a cook out.

"That's kind of our thing," he said.

And while many Cook Out locations offer Lexington style barbecue, Coppaken said many Tennessee stores offer pulled pork barbecue instead. Cook Out is also known for its hand-spun milkshakes.

Both the Highway 153 and East Brainerd Road stores are hiring around 50 new employees, for all positions. The Highway 153 store is taking applications on-site Monday through Wednesday.

The East Brainerd Road store is taking applications on-site Monday and Thursday.

Previous quick service experience is preferred, but not required.

Coppaken said many Cook Out employees earn more than others in the restaurant industry - partly, he said, because there is no cap on hours.

"You can work 70 hours a week," he said. "We may pay about the same, but you can make a whole lot more money with us."

Cook Out also offers its full-time employees health benefits.

Coppaken said Cook Out typically steers away from grand openings.

"We just open one day," he said.

The company hopes to open eight to 10 stores in the greater-Chattanooga area - including northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia and southeast Tennessee - in the next three years.

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.

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