Cook Out now stands as North Carolina’s top fast-food pick, pushing past McDonald’s in a fresh CouponBirds survey from Sept. 1. The study, which asked 3,263 Americans about their food choices, shows the chain winning hearts not just in its home state, but also leading in South Carolina and Tennessee.
The findings point to something striking: 12% of those asked said the local chain factored into their decision to stay put in North Carolina. “This loyalty goes beyond just liking a restaurant,” CouponBirds stated in its report, per The Charlotte Observer. “These chains become part of people’s identities and daily routines. They represent home in a way that national chains simply can’t replicate.”
While McDonald’s keeps its crown as the nation’s biggest burger seller with 13,400 spots, Cook Out has built its own strong following. Starting with one spot in Greensboro back in ’89, Morris Reaves started something big…