This new burger restaurant could replace long-time Mexican food spot in Rock Hill
A long-time Rock Hill restaurant on Cherry Road could be ready for a change.
The restaurant space at 1109 Cherry Road comes up for a zoning board review Tuesday night. If approved, the change could allow a new drive-thru burger restaurant.
The 3,400-square-foot building was constructed in 1978. It served as a Hardees. The site has in more recent years been Mexican restaurants, most recently Tequila Family Mexican Restaurant.
Site plans submitted to the city show a proposed Back Yard Burgers. The Mississippi-born company now based in Tennessee serves an array of burgers, sandwiches, salads and milkshakes. The company has more than 40 locations in nine states. Nearest locations are in Gastonia and Harrisburg, N.C.
Herald archives show there were prior Back Yard Burgers sites in Rock Hill and Fort Mill, that opened as far back as 2005. Both closed in 2008.
Though initially designed to have one, the restaurant for years hasn’t had a drive-thru and thus needs zoning board approval. Site plans show one rather than the current two access points off Cherry Road. The site would retain access off John Street. The remodeled building would be slightly smaller than the existing one, to allow the new traffic pattern.
Plans show both indoor and outdoor patio seating.
There are neighboring residential properties. There have been concerns from neighbors about noise, odor and light impacting their properties. One Richmond Drive homeowner emailed city leaders that a restaurant without a drive-thru is preferable to one that allows one. There is a buffer area proposed between the restaurant and neighboring properties.
