Highway 55 expanding in Charlotte

Highway 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries, a '50s-style restaurant chain famous throughout eastern North Carolina for its delicious cheeseburgers and excellent customer service, has signed a development agreement to open 75 locations across the western part of the state in the next 7-10 years, the first opening at University Pointe in Charlotte. The restaurant chain, formerly known as Andy's Burgers Shakes & Fries, officially rebranded as Highway 55 as of Feb. 24, 2012, marking the beginning of its expansion across the southeastern United States.

Father and son team Terrell and Brett Rhye will be developing the new locations. They plan an estimated 23 restaurants in the Charlotte Metro area, 7 in the Asheville area, 16 in the Piedmont Triad and 9 in the Unifour, as well as restaurants in smaller markets like Boone and Highlands. Terrell, a native of Mooresville, N.C., is the founder of successful real estate firm InterSouth. He and son Brett, age 26, had been looking for a concept to invest in for several years when they happened upon Hwy 55.

"We wanted a proven concept with a vibrant and inspiring corporate culture," said Brett. "When we met Kenny and saw his passion for making others successful, we knew we'd found the right people."

Kenny Moore, founder and president of Mount Olive, N.C.-based Highway 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries, has used the philosophy of servant leadership—meeting the needs of others before one's own—to grow the business he originally opened in 1991 with $500 to his name to systemwide sales of approximately $50 million in 2010.

Highway 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries is all about the American classics that people know and love, with a background of old-time rock n' roll music and '50s diner décor setting the stage for a mouth-watering menu that features Highway 55's famous hand pattied cheeseburgers, fresh-made frozen custard, mouthwatering cheesesteak sandwiches, shrimp burgers and much more. Highway 55 currently has 100 locations, mostly in the eastern part of North Carolina, and currently has 325 locations in development throughout the Southeast. Area development agreements are in the works to open 100 locations in Florida—with the first location to open in Palm City—75 locations in western North Carolina, and 50 locations in South Carolina, Ohio and Virginia each.
By the end of 2017, Highway 55 envisions up to 500 locations across the country.

Dutchmans Furniture Opens at Merinos Complex in Mooresville

Charlotte-area fans of creative, eclectic furniture don't have to drive hours away to find one-of-a-kind pieces they'll love.

Dutchmans, known for its colorful furniture and custom designs, has opened a 18,000-square-foot showroom in the Merinos complex at 500 S. Main Street in Mooresville. This is the third Dutchmans store, joining locations in Highlands, North Carolina and St. Simons, Georgia.

Reflecting the tastes of its owner, furniture designer Stephanie Nieuwendijk, Dutchmans features furniture, accessories and lighting for casual living, with a focus on flair and originality. "Our goal is for people to get real enjoyment from their furniture and to create rooms they love to be in," she says.

Signature lines include hand-crafted mahogany tables, dressers, desks and other pieces from The Bramble Company, for which Nieuwendijk is the designer. Celebrity fans of The Bramble Company include Kenney Chesney and Kirstie Alley.

Shoppers who enjoy "classic with a twist" style will like Nieuwendijk's designs for her new label, Bloom. Bloom features repurposed items, including light fixtures made from woks, planters made from tires, and rustic metal tabletops made from tin roofs.

Other offerings at Dutchmans include hand-painted furniture from Steven Shell and upholstery, sofas and chairs from Rowe Furniture and Robin Bruce. The Bramble, Bloom and Steven Shell lines are all produced at The Bramble Company's production facility in Indonesia, giving shoppers the ability to customize their purchases by color and style. The furniture is crafted , painted and screen printed all by hand.

Nieuwendijk, born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, came to the United States in 1998 with $450 in her bank account. She showed her flower and furniture crafts at shows and earned enough to open a tiny Highlands shop in March 2000. That shop later moved to a much bigger space, and the St. Simons store opened in 2008.

Nieuwendijk draws her inspiration from her parents, who both love color in their everyday lives. Her dad was a painter and builder who also restored antiques.

Browse www.dutchmansdesigns.com to enjoy highlights of what Dutchmans offers. Environmentally conscious since its founding, The Bramble co has planted more than 500,000 trees over the past five years to replace trees used in its furniture.