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The owners of a new burger spot coming to a busy corner in Chapel Hill want customers to know the food is going to be fresh, and the customer is always going to be right.
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Five Guys franchise owner Quintet Acquisitions LLC is upfitting a 2,253-square-foot space at Aura Booth Park, located at the corner of Estes Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
They don’t have an opening date yet, Quintet Chief Operating Officer Kevin Stokes said Thursday, but it could take about three months to finish the space, hire staff and open the doors.
“Chapel Hill is a unique niche in North Carolina, in the Triangle area,” but “the problem for us as we’ve been looking down there is finding the right spot,” Stokes said.
“Everybody says Franklin Street is the place to be … but there’s pros and cons of being on Franklin Street,” he added, noting in particular the high lease rates and seasonal slowdowns when UNC-Chapel Hill students are out of town.
Stokes found what they were looking for while driving by the construction site at Aura Booth Park, less than two miles from Franklin Street, on one of the most heavily traveled intersections in the state, he said. UNC’s future Carolina North campus could add thousands of apartments, students and businesses across the street.
There’s only one other commercial tenant so far — an ISI Elite Training fitness center — but Aura is actively marketing four or five more commercial spaces in two buildings. It also has over 400 apartments and townhomes, plus a large public lawn.
“It’s a multi-use spot there, and they have some lovely townhomes, apartments — upscale apartments — and those types of things in that area,” Stokes said. “And on a busy corner there, where we’re close enough to reach Carrboro a little bit there, the delivery and campus and everything.”
Beyond that, they want to partner with the community, whether it’s through helping local organizations and athletic teams or donating to food pantries, he said.
“It doesn’t have to be big things. It doesn’t have to be glamorous,” Stokes said. “We are a humble organization, but … you’re going to see that we’re doing those types of things. Things that make a difference in the community.”
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Five Guys, founded in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, specializes in made-to-order, customizable burgers, hand-cut fries, hotdogs, sandwiches and shakes, with more than 2,500 potential topping combinations. Nearly 2,000 locations are open in 25 countries.
Raleigh-based Quintet owns 24 franchises in North Carolina and South Carolina, including in Wake and Durham counties. A future Chatham County location is possible, Stokes said.
The Five Guys at Aura Booth Park will seat up to 60 diners from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, but also provide delivery through several phone-based food delivery apps. The restaurant is dedicated to making sure delivery orders are right, too, Stokes said.
Hiring is underway now to add up to 35 initial employees, depending on sales volume, Stokes said. Wages start around $15 an hour, plus tips, and employees are paid weekly. They also qualify for insurance, bonuses, and secret shopper incentives, he said.
The company has won national and international awards for being a great workplace, according to a news release
While the space is a little smaller than their usual restaurant, they are looking forward to growing with the neighborhood and delivering a quality dining experience, he said.
The food is prepared fresh each morning, from the hand-formed burgers to an array of toppings and fresh-cut fries, said Kevin Ferguson, Quintet’s chief of staff. The “fries are a labor of love,” and one of the most labor-intensive operations, Stokes added.
Russet potatoes by the 50-pound bag are cut, washed, and soaked in an ice bath to remove the starch. They are then partially cooked in non-hydrogenated peanut oil and allowed to rest before being fried to order, for a crispy exterior and a fluffy center.
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Pro tip: Ask for “well done” fries to get an even crispier exterior.
This story was originally published August 21, 2026 at 1:31 PM.