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Cook Out (restaurant) facts for kids

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Cook Out
Private
Industry Restaurants
Genre Quick service restaurant
Founded 1989; 36 years ago (1989)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Founder Morris Reaves
Headquarters ,
U.S.
Number of locations
319+
Area served
Key people
Jeremy Reaves (CEO)
Products Hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, wraps, cheese curds, Carolina-style barbecue, and milkshakes
Revenue US$125 million
Owner Morris Reaves
Number of employees
13,000 as of May 2021

Cook Out is a popular American fast-food restaurant chain. It is owned by a private company, meaning its shares are not traded on a stock market. Cook Out started in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989. Since then, it has grown a lot. You can find Cook Out restaurants in many states across the Southeastern United States.

Most Cook Out restaurants have two drive-thru lanes. They also have a window where you can walk up and order. These locations usually do not have indoor seating. However, some newer Cook Out restaurants do have dining rooms inside. They also have a counter where you can order, just like other fast-food places. Cook Out is famous for its tasty hamburgers, amazing milkshakes, and special North Carolina-style pork barbecue.

Cook Out's Story

Cook Out, Cordele
Many Cook Out locations feature only two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window like this one in Cordele, Georgia.

Cook Out was started by Morris Reaves in 1989. He is still the owner of the company today. His son, Jeremy Reaves, is the CEO, which means he is the chief executive officer. He helps run the company every day.

The very first Cook Out restaurant opened in Greensboro, North Carolina. For a while, all the new Cook Out locations were in North Carolina. More than 50 restaurants opened there first. Then, Cook Out began to expand to other states. By November 2022, there were 326 Cook Out locations. These restaurants were operating in ten different states.

The first Cook Out outside North Carolina opened in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on July 30, 2010. More restaurants opened in South Carolina that year. In 2011, Cook Out expanded into Virginia. They opened restaurants in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Radford, Virginia. In 2013, Cook Out opened its first restaurants in Georgia. By 2014, they had plans for more Georgia locations, including one in Atlanta.

Cook Out continued to grow in the following years. In 2016, they opened stores in Mississippi. They also opened their first location in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. More Alabama locations followed, including in Huntsville and Birmingham. In November 2022, a new Cook Out opened in Manassas Park, Virginia. In January 2024, a restaurant opened in Newberry, South Carolina. On August 5, 2024, Cook Out announced plans for new restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 9, 2025, Cook Out opened its first Florida restaurant in Pensacola, Florida. Two more Florida locations are planned for Tampa, Florida.

What's on the Menu?

The Cook Out menu has many delicious choices. They mainly serve grilled hamburgers and cheeseburgers. You can also find hot dogs, different kinds of chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, and chicken fingers. They also offer North Carolina barbecue and quesadillas.

A very popular item is the Cook Out Tray. This special meal lets you pick an entree, two side dishes, and a drink. You can even choose a milkshake as your drink! Cook Out is famous for its huge selection of milkshakes. They have more than 40 different flavors to choose from. Another unique drink on their menu is Cheerwine. This is a cherry-flavored soda that is mostly sold in North Carolina and nearby states.

Cook Out and Sports

Cook Out also supports sports events. Since 2020, Cook Out has sponsored the Southern 500 race. This big race happens every year at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day. Cook Out also sponsors other NASCAR races. These include the Richmond Summer Race at Richmond Raceway since 2023. They also sponsor the Martinsville Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway since 2024.

In January 2025, Cook Out announced they would sponsor two more races. These are the Clash and the Madhouse Classic races. Both of these events take place at Bowman Gray Stadium. Jeremy Reaves' older son, Max Reaves, is also a racecar driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. He drives the No. 18 Toyota car for Joe Gibbs Racing.

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