Industry Restaurants Website www.hwy55burgers.com Founded 1991 Type of business Private | Genre Fast casual restaurant Founder Kenny Moore Number of locations 135 (2017) | |
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Area served United States, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates Key people Kenney Moore, CEO and Founder
Neal Dennis, COO Products Hamburgers, Frozen custard, French fries, Cheesesteaks Headquarters Mount Olive, North Carolina, United States Profiles | ||
Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries is a fast casual restaurant chain that operates primarily on the East Coast of the United States. Formerly known as Andy's Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers, the first location opened in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1991. It now has 135 restaurants in the United States, United Arab Emirates and Denmark.
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History
Kenney Moore began the business in 1991 by opening a defunct restaurant in Goldsboro, North Carolina's Berkeley Mall. He asked the owners of his equipment to in-house finance his operation as he only had $500 to his name. Moore quickly acquired three more closed restaurants and found himself $30,000 in debt to his foodservice distributor. After adapting Robert K. Greenleaf's philosophy of servant leadership, his fortunes turned. Moore switched to a franchisee style of ownership and Andy's Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers expanded throughout Eastern North Carolina.
In February 2012, Andy's announced that it had changed its name to Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries, an homage to North Carolina Highway 55, which runs across the state. The company's decor, always influenced by 1950s-era diners, also took on a pink-and-teal color scheme. In May, the company opened a franchised store in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the first location outside the state of North Carolina. The first international locations followed in 2014 with openings in Abu Dhabi. In 2012, Moore said that he hopes to open 500 restaurants globally in the next seven years.
In 2013, Hwy 55 was named a top-40 food franchise by the Franchise Business Review.
Menu
Hwy 55 is known for its fresh made burger, which was named the best in the industry by BurgerBusiness.com in 2012. Southeastern radio personalities John Boy & Billy lend their names to two sandwiches, which use the duo's "Grillin' Sauce." Other items include frozen custard, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, and French fries. Kids' meals come served in a cardboard car, normally styled after a '50s or '60s muscle car.
Restaurants
A Hwy 55 restaurant usually has a 1950s theme, with pink-and-teal color accents and '50s decor mounted on the walls. Kitchens are open, and customers can watch cooks grill their food from the bar area. Customers order at their table from a waiter or waitress.
Charity
In 2006, Hwy 55 created the Andy's Charitable Foundation, Inc. as a 501(C)3 corporation with the "mission to serve the common good of all people in our hometowns." To date, it has raised over $1,400,000 for local charities, including the Miracle League of the Triangle, of which it is a major sponsor. A Miracle League field in Cary, North Carolina is named after the foundation.