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Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries facts for kids
Logo used since February of 2019.
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Genre | Fast casual restaurant |
| Founded |
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| Founder | Kenney Moore |
| Headquarters | 102 Commercial Ave Mount Olive, North Carolina, United States |
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Number of locations
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108 (2022) |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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| Products | |
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries is a popular restaurant chain. It serves tasty burgers, milkshakes, and fries. Most of its restaurants are in North Carolina. You can also find them in other states along the East Coast of the United States.
The company started in 1991. It was founded by Kenney Moore in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Back then, it was called Andy's Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers. In 2012, the company changed its name to Hwy 55. This helped it grow and open restaurants outside North Carolina. By February 2022, there were 108 locations across the United States.
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How Hwy 55 Started and Grew
Kenney Moore opened his first restaurant in 1991. He started with very little money, only $500. He even had to get help to pay for his kitchen equipment. Soon, he opened three more restaurants. This led to him owing money to his food suppliers.
Things changed when Moore learned about "servant leadership." This idea means you focus on helping others first. After this, his business started to do much better. Moore decided to let other people open restaurants using his brand. This is called a "franchisee" style of ownership. This helped Andy's Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers grow across Eastern North Carolina.
Why the Name Changed
In February 2012, Andy's changed its name. It became Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries. This change happened because the company wanted to expand. They also wanted to avoid problems with other restaurants that had similar names. The name "Hwy 55" is a tribute to a road in North Carolina called Highway 55. Many restaurants in the state even had maps of this highway painted on their walls.
The restaurants always had a 1950s diner look. After the name change, they added pink and teal colors to their decor. In May 2012, the first Hwy 55 outside North Carolina opened. It was a franchised store in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The company even tried opening restaurants in Abu Dhabi in 2014, but those locations later closed.
In 2013, Hwy 55 was recognized as a top food franchise. This was by a group called the Franchise Business Review.
Where You Can Find Hwy 55
By February 2022, Hwy 55 had 108 locations. Most of them were in North Carolina (81). There were also 12 in South Carolina. Other states with Hwy 55 restaurants included Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Montana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
On December 31, 2024, the company that owns Hwy 55 faced some money problems. They filed for something called "Chapter 11 bankruptcy." This is a legal process that helps a company reorganize its money. It allows them to keep their businesses open while they work to solve their financial issues. So, the restaurants were expected to stay open during this time.
What the Restaurants Look Like
Hwy 55 restaurants usually have a fun 1950s theme. You'll see pink and teal colors everywhere. There are also decorations from the 1950s on the walls. A cool thing about these restaurants is their open kitchens. This means you can watch the cooks prepare your food right in front of you!
Helping the Community
In 2006, Kenney Moore started a charity. It was first called the Andy's Charitable Foundation. Now, it's known as the Hwy 55 Foundation. Its goal is to help people in the towns where the restaurants are located.
By 2021, the foundation had raised over $1,900,000 for local charities. One of the main groups they support is the Miracle League of the Triangle. This organization helps children with special needs play baseball. There's even a Miracle League baseball field in Cary, North Carolina, named after the Hwy 55 Foundation.