After closing more than six years ago, Phat Burrito is getting ready to return to the Charlotte market with a new location in South End at 3542 Dewitt Lane.
Original owner Stephen Justice opened the restaurant in July 1998 but closed the business in 2017. Now, Charlotte native Michael Cox has bought Phat Burrito’s trademark and recipes and hopes to retain the vibe of the original restaurant, according to the Charlotte Business Journal. While construction on the space is wrapping up shortly, the restaurant is expected to start its hiring process this week and hopes to open it mid-to-late August 2023.
Cox contacted Justice about acquiring the businesses, and it took nearly a year to work out a deal. The new 2,600-square-foot restaurant will have the same flooring, steps to the counter, and comic-book column. While most of the restaurant will be preserved to its original style, Cox plans to bring pieces that capture Phat Burrito’s quirky vibe. The menu will focus on a la carte burritos and tacos but will also have salads, quesadillas, and other Mexican classics.
“As we’ve seen the progression and growth, we’ve lost countless Charlotte staples that really were the heart of Charlotte,” Cox tells Charlotte Business Journal, “I don’t want to bring Phat Burrito back and change it. We’re trying really hard to give people what they loved and remembered. Here we are bringing it back with the idea that it’s for the city and it’s for nostalgia purposes. I’ve put my absolute heart into this project. Hopefully, when people walk in, they understand that it’s shinier because it’s new.”
