Cook-Out files Hershberger Road building permit
The Roanoke Times l File photo
The long-awaited confirmation that a Cook-Out restaurant is coming to Roanoke appears to have come this morning in the form of a building permit filed with the city of Roanoke.
The permit is for construction at 1423 Hershberger Road NW, which is the block between Eden Drive and Bean Street (roughly, across the street from Taco Bell near K-Mart and McDonald’s). It states that it is for a “new 3800 sq ft fast-food ‘sit down’ restaurant with drive – thru service” and estimates the cost of the work at $569,000. The permit is currently under review.
I put in a call to Cook-Out corporate headquarters and the spokesperson there said they don’t have any specific opening date available at the moment. I’ve made another call and will update this blog entry with any new information I receive.
Cook-Out is a family-owned restaurant chain based in North Carolina, with restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It has recently been expanding into Southwest Virginia — locations opened in Blacksburg and Fairlawn within the past year.
August 21, 2012 - 10:18 AM
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Wasn’t some other chain supposed to locate there. I cannot for the life of me remember the name but I didn’t recall it being CookOut. I am excited about CookOut! They have fabulous shakes!
http://blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/2012/06/steak-n-shake-franchisee-i-can-assure-you-were-coming/
Found it–Steak N Shake is what I was thinking of. Where is CookOut in relation to the possible Steak N Shake?
Last week we stopped in Harrissonburg to eat lunch at Chili’s and a new Cookout had opened a block away. All I could think Roanoke: no Chili’s, no Cookout. So glad to hear this news.
JT, Steak ‘n Shake is going in the next block up, on the same side of the road, at 1309 Hershberger Road. That’s in the same block as McDonald’s.
The Cook-Out permit is for the 1400 block.
Here are GIS maps of each site:
Steak ‘n Shake: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=1309+hershberger+road&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x884d0e6723513f81:0xe7bebd0153116e2c,1309+Hershberger+Rd+NW,+Roanoke,+VA+24012&gl=us&sa=X&ei=wq8zULTnMuGI6AHrsoAQ&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA
Cook-Out: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=1423+hershberger+road&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x884d0e60d61b3b1f:0x5e22c81530b34e8d,1423+Hershberger+Rd+NW,+Roanoke,+VA+24012&gl=us&sa=X&ei=YLAzUMOdB-Ws6QH0-oDIBw&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA
Looking at their website, they remind me of Fuddruckers. That could be a good thing!
Somehow I feel that Cook Out will open it’s doors before the first brick is set in place for Steak n’ Shake.
Looking forward to Cook Out as I’ve heard good things.
Was on Steak n’ Shake. But what a year past the date they were said to start building I have given up on them.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Personally, I think all these rumored burger joints are just a ploy to distract us from the alarming number of pizza joints opening downtown, and the inexplicable spread of frozen yogurt throughout the Valley.
Finally! Bring on the trays and milkshakes!
I’ll bet with Cook Out coming to the same area (and McDonald’s already there) Steak n’Shake will never happen. Cook Out has much better shakes, anyway.
Similar to Fuddruckers?!? Not at all!! If you want to fill your gut for under 5$ CookOut is the place for you. But honestly, a better burger can be found at just about any fast food place. They do have things like corn dogs and bbq sandwiches that aren’t on typical fast food menus, but don’t mistake this for a fast-casual restaurant like Fuddruckers.
Cook Out is soooo much better than Steak n’ Shake, in my opinion (and pretty much everyone else I know who lives near both of them). The milkshakes are awesome, grilled chicken sandwiches and burgers are both good for fast food, and my personal favorite is the wide variety of sides. Hush puppies, onion rings, even corn dogs are available. It’s greasy and not healthy, but sometimes that’s what I crave.
Thanks Lindsey–got it. I am excited for both places to open. I am willing to try both as long as their prices are reasonable and the food and service are good. If they have coupons, even better lol!
Ho hum, another chain restaurant. I don’t get the appeal. For a great burger/hot dog joint in this area, Richee Freeze on Williamson Road is the best!
Great Milkshakes, but the Burgers are a step above Burger King and a step below Hardees Thickburgers.
And for some reason ours plays terrible music extremely loudly.
Cook-Out burgers are very good for the price, much better than the big chains. I also like that they have more options besides just burgers. I hope the Roanoke store is better planned than mine here in SC as far as parking and seating though. Both Cook-Out and Steak n Shake should be good additions to Roanoke.
I have heard of Cook Out mostly on this blog over the years. On the way to Steppin’ Out last month we stopped at the one in B’Burg. Not so much! Burgers, dogs, and fries same as any fast food. One of us tried the BBQ sandwich and that was good. Did notice that they have some diff things on the menu and would go again to give them another try. But first opinion is only so so…
Is Cook-Out a totally “corporate owned” chain, or a franchise operation?
Cook-Out is a family-owned restaurant chain. It is owned by the Reaves family. There are no franchisees.
Order of completion:
1. Five Guys at Tanglewood Mall.
2. Cook Out on Hershberger.
3. Steak ‘N Shake on Hershberger.
Have you actually confirmed with Rke permit office that two separate permits at different locations and by different companies exist? I do not trust simple “Block Numbers” as you seem to have done. As other commenters imply, it seems unlikely two such similar fast-food establishments would locate so close.
@ Eddiy, if you click the permit links I provided above you’ll see that the permits are for 1309 Hershberger Road and 1423 Hershberger Road.
Went to cook out in blacksburg last Friday – shake was good, the rest was ok, can now say been there. It’s cheap.
Lindsey, I followed up further regarding my question and your response, and did some online investigation into Roanoke Building Permits. Good learning experience. I found the Stake&Shake Permit B110731 for 1309 Hershberger Rd has Expired. IAW Roanoke’s Online Permits Center definitions “Expired” means no activity in over 6 months. Last date entered was 2011/07/06; unclear if that was application date or last activity date. Perhaps my guess/query that Stake&Shake construction is no longer being pursued is correct.
@Eddiy, I just got back from vacation and put in a call to Steak ‘n’ Shake to see if I can get an update.
I talked to Steak ‘n’ Shake spokesman Lee Garvin today. He said they got an extension on their building permit and are looking to start putting the project out for bids soon.
He was not able to tell me exactly when that process will begin.
the permit for Cook-out has been issued!!! check the Permit link!!! it will def be up b4 Steak ‘n Shake
Yep, the status has been updated to “Issued.” I would put my money on Cook-Out going up before Steak ‘n’ Shake, as well.
they have broken ground as of today in the location of Cook-Out!!!
I am so disappointed to hear about the Cook-out going on Hershberger. Steak n Shake is exponentially better and will probably elect to not pursue a permit and leave the area. ugh!
Glad to hear about Cookout coming to an area on our side of town. The burgers are very good and so are the onion rings. Be sure to get a spoon with your milk shake & something thinner to wash your food down while yopu eat.
I m in love with steak n shakes frisco burger omg I cant wait for this to open!