Burger drive-thru to open across from Winthrop

By Matt Garfield - The Herald

A pair of fast-food industry veterans have teamed up to launch a new restaurant chain that will soon make its debut in Rock Hill.

University Char Grill opens next month on Cherry Road across from Winthrop University, in a spot that has sat empty since Taco Bueno closed last year.

Burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and 20 flavors of milkshakes highlight a menu that aims for a middle ground between straight-up fast-food and formal restaurants, says co-owner Bill Hamilton.

Hamilton and co-founder Ken Starnes plan to open three other University Char Grills near schools in Charleston, Charlotte and Davidson, N.C.. Their longer-term plan calls for 30 stores over the next five years.

The business plan: Tap into America's burger craze -- while offering more choices than the competition.

Customers can mix and match burger, chicken and fish sliders, and pair them with fries, onion rings or soup. Average combo meals will go for $7. The dining room will also have a make-your-own baked potato bar.

One item not on the menu is booze. Hamilton said there are no plans to serve beer at any of their restaurants.

Long line of drive-thrus

In choosing the Cherry Road spot, Hamilton and Starnes are taking a risk that hasn't worked out for others. Taco Bueno dumped big-time dollars into a massive renovation but closed after a few months. Before that, Church's Chicken (2000-2005), Calabash Brothers (1998) and Taco Mayo (1996-1997) failed to make it.

Hamilton said he and Starnes struck a creative lease deal with the property owner, Kuester Real Estate Services, that calls for a 10-year lease with a 5-year option. He declined to go into specifics, but said the agreement makes the risk more manageable.

Hamilton got his start manning the grill at the original Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. He worked for legendary Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, and said he babysat a few times for Dave's daughter, Wendy.

By the time he left the Wendy's chain, Hamilton had risen to the level of regional vice president. He now lives in Davidson.

Starnes ascended the corporate ranks at McDonald's, where he also became a regional vice president before leaving to start his own business.

The owners plan to paint University Char Grill in garnet and gold to match the school colors at Winthrop. Students can bring their laptops to use free Wi-Fi Internet service.

The goal, Hamilton said, is to open by the second week of August, leaving enough time to prepare for the start of a new school year.

For more, read tomorrow's Herald.