Firehouse Subs, Chipotle to open by early 2017
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on December 14, 2016 9:57 AM
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News-Argus/SETH COMBS
Edward Starkey, right, and James Oder of Landscape Design unload redbud trees Monday that will line the front parking lot of the shops at 501 N. Berkeley Blvd.
Development of a new multi-tenant building on North Berkeley Boulevard is nearly complete with early 2017 openings planned for Chipotle Mexican Grill and Firehouse Subs.
Other businesses planned to open in the center include Sport Clips Haircuts, Sleepy's mattress store, Kay Jewelers and the Vitamin Shoppe, said Jay Hagerman, leasing agent with The Providence Group. The property, at 501 N. Berkeley Blvd., is near Cashwell Drive.
"The anticipation is to open in Goldsboro," said John Best, Firehouse Subs franchise owner. "The anticipated date is Dec. 22 when we're supposed to get the space from the landlord. It'll include an eight- to 10-week upfit, so we're looking at possibly late February or early March to have an opening date to the public."
Construction of the center has taken shape over the past seven months and the property is close to having its final inspection, said Allen Anderson Jr., Goldsboro chief building inspector.
Crews started laying asphalt for the parking lot, one of the final legs of the project.
"I would have thought everything would be done before Christmas, but we'll see," Anderson said.
The Sleepy's mattress store, which will be centered in the building's largest 5,000-square-foot tenant space, is expected to open first since the interior upfit was completed during the overall building construction, Anderson said.
"As soon as the building's done, they'll probably be open," Anderson said.
Sleepy's, which was bought by Mattress Firm in a late 2015 acquisition agreement at $780 million, is expected to take on the Mattress Firm name, said Rudy Cepeda, spokesman with the Houston-based company. The company is rebranding its more than 1,000 Sleepy's stores to Mattress Firm by early January, Cepeda said.
No plans have been announced on whether either of the two Mattress Firm stores in Goldsboro, also along North Berkeley Boulevard, will relocate into the new center, Cepeda said.
Kay Jewelers is planned to move from the Berkeley Mall into the center, a corporate official with the Akron, Ohio-based company confirmed.
With the exception of the mattress store, the interiors of the other tenant spaces will need to be developed and equipment added prior to opening.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is planned to open during the first quarter of 2017 and will be located at the end of the building, alongside Cashwell Drive.
The interior of Firehouse Subs will also take shape during the next couple months, and the inside walls will be decorated with firefighter equipment as well as law enforcement and military items, Best said.
The Goldsboro, New Hope and Rosewood fire departments have already donated expired gear to the restaurant.
"Anything that is donated to us, whether it's police, the sheriff's department or the military that is expired, we will display," said Best, a native of the Rosewood community. "I would love for every fire department in Wayne County to be represented in the store, and the only way to do that is through expired gear. It can be anything."
The inside of all Firehouse Subs restaurants have a painted mural dedicated to the local community.
"I think everybody who sees this mural will be able to relate in some way to the mural," he said.
Best, the franchise owner of two Firehouse Subs restaurants in Greenville and a third in New Bern, has had his sights on opening a Goldsboro location for years.
"It's something I wanted when I bought into the franchise system in 2012," Best said. "I always wanted to include my hometown in that process. I'm very, very excited to finally get the store open. It's been a long time coming."
The restaurant will start hiring employees about three weeks prior to opening, with applications being accepted onsite or by emailing Best at jp.best@firehousesubs.com.
Patrice Pittman, also a Wayne County native, will be the general manager of the Goldsboro restaurant. Pittman currently works as a shift leader at Firehouse Subs in Greenville.
The company is also involved in supporting the local community through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which offers grants to area service agencies.
The future eight-tenant center along North Berkeley Boulevard is nearing full occupancy, with two remaining tenant sites available for lease. The property is being developed by the Syracuse, New York-based Hart-Lyman Cos.
City staff have received inquiries from a tropical smoothie and chicken-wing restaurant, but no site or upfit plans have been submitted, said Cindy Motsko, plan reviewer in the Goldsboro inspections department. Hagerman said the possibility of a chicken-wing restaurant fell through after building and equipment modifications couldn't accommodate the business.
Hagerman said the available spaces could be good fit for a nail salon, eye doctor's office or other retail or office-based business.
"We've got two other spaces we're trying to lease," Hagerman said. "We're talking to someone right now, and one space is still available for lease. We get calls on the center all the time."