Shaun Gillie
Zaxby's on Hillsborough St. is close to finishing its $600,000 renovation and plans to re-open in the next coming weeks.
After an unexpected shutdown in March, students and the campus community will find the doors of Zaxby’s re-opened in the coming weeks.
Ben Little, new owner of the Zaxby’s on Hillsborough Street, is excited that after putting $600,000 into renovations, customers will be well taken care of and students will be able to engage with the company.
“It’s insane, but we’re slowly and surely working through it [the renovations], but I’m hoping that this Friday we can submit the plans for a third time,” Little said. “That will be the last time we have to resubmit the plans.”
This location will utilize the same building and address as the last, 2901 Hillsborough Street. However, its management has completely changed. Little discussed why he believes the surprising closing of the popular restaurant happened in the first place.
“He [the former owner] just was not a good licensee, is about the nicest way I can put it,” Little said. “I don’t remember the exact date, but it was sometime toward the end of March of this year, and he didn’t tell anyone, he didn’t tell his employees, he didn’t tell his management, he just locked the doors and no one could get in the building. He just put up the sign that said ‘CLOSED.’”
After a revoking of the former owner’s licensee agreement, Little acquired the Zaxby’s for one dollar due to the shop’s condition.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that that store’s gonna live and die by how well we treat the student body of NC State and the campus and staff and everyone involved,” Little said.
Madison Johnson, a second-year studying political science, was unaware of the reopening, but said she was excited to hear the news.
“I really like Zaxby’s,” Johnson said. “They were pretty slow consistently, but once I got my food, it was great ─ it was just like any other Zaxby’s.”
Maggie Riley, a first-year studying textiles, did not know there had even been a Zaxby’s on Hillsborough Street.
“I would probably go there just to get Zax sauce,” Riley said, although she told Technician that her favorite food to get is the “Nibblerz.”
Lisa Greene, area marketing director for Zaxby’s, stressed the commitment that Zaxby’s makes to the community and subsequently, NC State students.
“We do fundraisers, catering; we support schools,” Greene said.
Little also reinforced this idea by introducing the possibility of Zaxby’s hosting NC State “Spirit Nights” for student organizations.
“As far as doing stuff for students and student groups, one of our favorite things to do is our ‘Spirit Nights,’” Little said. “It’s a pretty painless fundraiser for whatever group’s doing it, and all you’ve gotta do is promote it and get the people there, and at the end of the night we write you a nice little check.”
Overall, Little says that he wants Zaxby’s to please the community around NC State.
“[My job is] just trying to make people happy…just trying to make sure our guests our happy, making sure my team’s happy,” Little said. “Hopefully my happy team can make all the guests happy, and they can come back and eat more chicken, or salads if they’re vegetarians.”