Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries

Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries is a fast-casual restaurant chain originating in North Carolina and operating primarily across the eastern United States. Kenney Moore founded the business in 1991 under the name Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers, opening its first restaurant in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The business began with very limited capital: Moore reportedly had only $500, arranged financing for equipment, and initially accumulated substantial obligations to a food-service distributor while acquiring additional closed restaurants. After adopting a servant-leadership approach and shifting toward a franchise-oriented model, the company expanded through eastern North Carolina. The business changed its name to Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries in February 2012. The rebrand supported expansion beyond North Carolina and helped distinguish the chain from restaurants with similar names. The new name references North Carolina Highway 55, and many North Carolina restaurants incorporated route-map murals into their interiors or exteriors. The brand’s visual identity is rooted in the American roadside diner: pink and teal accents, 1950s-inspired decoration, nostalgic furnishings, and open kitchens that let guests watch food being prepared on the grill. Its menu centers on hamburgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, salads, fries, hand-dipped ice cream, and milkshakes. The concept combines casual counter-service convenience with a themed dining environment, positioning the chain between traditional quick-service restaurants and more substantial casual dining. Franchise restaurants generally retain the brand’s retro design and open-kitchen format while serving local communities in smaller markets and suburban areas. Hwy 55 opened its first restaurant outside North Carolina in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in May 2012. International expansion followed in 2014 with restaurants in Abu Dhabi, although the Abu Dhabi location later closed. The chain was recognized by Franchise Business Review in 2013 as one of the leading food franchises in its ranking. Reported location counts vary by date and source: an earlier February 2022 account listed 49 United States locations, while a later February 2022 figure described 108 locations across nine states. That later count identified North Carolina as the core market, with additional restaurants in South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Montana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The company also operates a charitable platform. Kenney Moore established Andy’s Charitable Foundation in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) organization to support the common good in the communities served by the restaurants. It later became the Hwy 55 Foundation and reported raising more than $1.9 million for local charitable causes by 2021. Its activities have included support for the Miracle League of the Triangle, and a Miracle League field in Cary, North Carolina, bears the foundation’s name. On December 31, 2024, The Little Mint, Inc., the parent company associated with Hwy 55, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The available reference material states that restaurants were expected to remain open during the proceedings. The chain’s ultimate post-filing operating status, ownership position, and footprint are not established by the supplied sources.

Kenney Moore established the restaurant business in 1991 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, initially trading as Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers. The first restaurant operated in Berkeley Mall. Moore started with very little personal capital and arranged in-house equipment financing. He later acquired three additional closed restaurants, but the rapid early expansion left him approximately $30,000 in debt to a food-service distributor. Moore’s approach changed after he embraced Robert K. Greenleaf’s concept of servant leadership. The business subsequently moved toward a franchisee-based operating structure, allowing Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers to spread through eastern North Carolina without relying exclusively on company-operated growth. The concept differentiated itself through cheesesteaks, burgers, diner-style service, and an atmosphere influenced by mid-century American restaurants. In February 2012, the company announced that it would operate under the name Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries. The new name referenced North Carolina Highway 55 and was selected in part to reduce the risk of confusion or potential legal disputes with restaurants using similar names as the business prepared to enter new states. The brand identity developed around pink-and-teal colors, 1950s décor, roadside imagery, and murals depicting the route of Highway 55. Open kitchens became a characteristic feature, giving customers a view of cooks preparing food on the grill. The first restaurant outside North Carolina opened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in May 2012. The chain was included in Franchise Business Review’s 2013 list of leading food franchises. In 2014, the company extended the concept internationally with openings in Abu Dhabi, although that market was later exited. The chain’s domestic footprint continued to be concentrated in North Carolina while expanding into neighboring and other U.S. states. Published location figures differ according to the date and version of the source material. One February 2022 account reported 49 U.S. restaurants, including 47 in North Carolina and two elsewhere. Another February 2022 figure reported 108 locations across nine states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Montana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The later figure described North Carolina as containing 81 locations, with South Carolina accounting for 12 and Tennessee six; the remaining states had smaller numbers. Community involvement has been part of the company’s history. Moore founded Andy’s Charitable Foundation in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission focused on serving communities in the company’s hometowns. By 2021, the organization, then known as the Hwy 55 Foundation, had raised more than $1.9 million for local charities. It became a major sponsor of the Miracle League of the Triangle, and a field in Cary, North Carolina, was named for the foundation. On December 31, 2024, The Little Mint, Inc., the parent company of Hwy 55, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The supplied reference states that restaurant locations were expected to remain open during the proceedings. Further information about restructuring, ownership, closures, or the brand’s long-term status is not established here.

• 2024

  Parent company enters Chapter 11

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  The Little Mint, Inc. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 31, with locations expected to remain open during the proceedings.

• 2014

  International expansion begins

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  The brand opens restaurants in Abu Dhabi, marking its first international expansion; the Abu Dhabi location later closes.

• 2013

  Recognized as a leading food franchise

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  Hwy 55 is named among Franchise Business Review’s top food franchises.

• 2012

  Brand renamed Hwy 55

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts the Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries name and begins expansion beyond North Carolina.

• 2012

  First out-of-state restaurant opens

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  A franchised restaurant opens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the first location outside North Carolina.

• 2006

  Charitable foundation established

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  Kenney Moore creates Andy’s Charitable Foundation, later renamed the Hwy 55 Foundation, to support community causes.

• 1991

  First restaurant opens in Goldsboro

  [1]Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org

  Kenney Moore opens the first Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers restaurant in Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

A retro 1950s-themed American fast-casual and franchised restaurant concept offering burgers, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, frozen desserts, and an open-kitchen dining experience.

• Main dishes · 1991

  Burgers and cheeseburgers

  The chain’s core offering is a range of American-style hamburgers and cheeseburgers prepared in the restaurant’s open-kitchen environment. These products anchor the diner-inspired menu and are central to the brand name and positioning.

• Main dishes · 1991

  Cheesesteaks

  Cheesesteaks were part of the original Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers concept and remain one of the brand’s defining savory menu categories. They connect the original identity with the later Hwy 55 franchise format.

• Main dishes

  Sandwiches and salads

  The menu also includes non-burger sandwich choices and salads, providing alternatives to the chain’s burgers and cheesesteaks while preserving its casual American restaurant format.

• Desserts and beverages

  Hand-dipped ice cream and milkshakes

  Hand-dipped ice cream and milkshakes are signature frozen offerings that reinforce the brand’s nostalgic diner theme and complement its burger-and-fries menu.

• 2024

  Chapter 11 bankruptcy filingOther

  Background

  The parent company, The Little Mint, Inc., entered a court-supervised restructuring process.

  Action taken

  The parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 31, 2024.

  Aftermath

  Available reference material indicated that restaurants were expected to remain open during the procedure. The ultimate restructuring outcome is not specified.

  Source

• 2014

  International market entryStrategy

  Background

  After establishing a presence beyond North Carolina, Hwy 55 pursued international growth.

  Action taken

  The company opened locations in Abu Dhabi.

  Aftermath

  The Abu Dhabi location later closed; the supplied sources do not establish the reasons or timing of the exit.

  Source

• 2012

  Rebrand for interstate expansionStrategy

  Background

  The company wanted to expand outside North Carolina and faced the prospect of confusion or potential legal disputes with similarly named restaurants.

  Action taken

  It changed the name from Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers to Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries, using a name associated with North Carolina Highway 55.

  Aftermath

  The first out-of-state location opened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, later in 2012, and the brand subsequently entered additional U.S. states and briefly expanded internationally.

  Source

1. 1Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Friesen.wikipedia.org