As restaurants nationwide cautiously navigate the first quarter of 2026, operators face a challenging business climate marked by lingering inflation, mercurial customer traffic, and rising operating costs impacting profitability. Many longstanding restaurants and chains have closed their doors, unable to adapt; but Flavor Hills, a Black-owned franchise in North Carolina, is thriving and scaling.
With three locations – Raleigh, Myrtle Beach, and a newly opened restaurant in Durham – Flavor Hills has achieved high marks for it’s food, customer service, and community impact. It is a hub for the 25-45 professional demographic seeking an environment where intellectualism meets aesthetics, cuisine, artistic expression, curated events, and social responsibility.
Led by a core of United States Marine Corps veterans: Andre Truss (CEO), Tellers Pollard III (COO), Eric Johnson (CMO), and chef extraordinaire, Morgan Teianne’ (Culinary Director), Flavor Hills is poised for even greater expansion. But, what is behind their success? According to Pollard III, it’s much bigger than food…