TEMPLE TERRACE — The much-anticipated arrival of Cook Out in Temple Terrace, the first such location in the Tampa Bay area and the third in Florida, is finally here, with the restaurant quietly flipping on the lights for a soft opening July 16, ahead of its grand opening the next day.
The first customers began rolling in at 4 p.m., despite any lack of a formal announcement. One minute it was closed; the next, it was open.
Employees in reflective vests monitored the incoming traffic, which quickly wrapped around the building at 5501 E. Fowler Ave. On one of the city’s busiest corners, the madness was just beginning.
“Friendly faces. People that have never been here. People that have heard about us from other states,” said district manager Brennan Perkins. “It’s always fun opening a new store.”
If early interest is any indication, the first-day crowds may stick around for a while for the North Carolina-based chain. The new location has generated a lot of excitement since the company bought the former site of Boston Market more than two years ago. As the signs have started going up, the curiosity intensified — Perkins says they have seen 100-plus people a day stopping by in recent weeks, knocking on the door and asking when the area’s newest fast-casual restaurant is opening.
“This is expected to maybe be the biggest grand opening ever in all our towns,” Perkins said. “Tallahassee, when we opened it, that was the biggest … but we’re expecting to do more here.”
The drive-thru traffic wrapped around the building. Families filled the inside, after ordering from the small front counter.
The chargrilled burgers are the star of the show, and to its credit, the ones we tried certainly tasted as if they were fresh off a backyard grill.
“Everything is cooked to order,” Perkins said. “Hot, fresh, fresh beef, seven days a week. It’s top of the line.”
Cook Out also has hot dogs, corn dogs, quesadillas and chicken sandwiches, with all the fried sides you would expect, and dozens of different milkshake flavors.
“I’ve driven by it a few times, but it was never open,” said Eric Drew, a Tampa resident. “Today, I saw cars in the drive-thru, so I had to stop in.”
Drew said he had dinner plans, so he only ordered a small burger to be a part of the experience. But as a previous customer at one of the Georgia locations, he already knew what the fuss was about.
“I think it’s cool for the area,” he said.
The restaurant was slated to hold its official grand opening the following day, on Friday. Perkins said nothing special had been planned, no giveaways to the first customers or day one discounts. Just the flick of a switch.
The doors opened at 11 a.m., and closed at 4 a.m., the same as every day of the week.
With such late hours, Cook Out expects to capture much of the USF crowd and anyone else needing some hot food after a late night.
Perkins said the chain’s value-driven menu separates itself from the local competition.
“Nowhere else can you go get a burger, a quesadilla and a full corn dog and drink for $8.99 and tax,” Perkins said. “The choices, the value, you can’t get that anywhere else.”
Cook Out is planning two other locations in Tampa Bay. It is taking over former Boston Market locations in Carrollwood and St. Petersburg.
For more information, visit CookOut.com.