Own Your Own announces two new restaurants following split with winner

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Weeks after the winner of the Own Your Own restaurant competition decided not to follow through on the deal, the event’s organizers have announced two new restaurants will be opened in Burgaw by several people who took part in the competition.

Vincent Mangual, who finished second, will open a marketplace deli on Fremont Street, while Khristen Hunter will open a restaurant at the originally planned Own Your Own location on West Courthouse Avenue.

Hunter is from Wilmington and will work in the front of the house for the restaurant, while Own Your Own organizers are in talks to get a chef who took part to work the back of the same restaurant.

Mangual is from New York City, where he operates several food trucks.

He said he’s excited to be opening his own deli.

“Originally, the concept was nothing like this but opening up a market and a deli, it was kind of something I’ve always kind of dreamed about doing,” Mangual said. “I’ve always worked in delis, one of my first jobs was in a deli making sandwiches and I think it’s something that’s super approachable to people, so yeah.”

Mangual said the deli could be open as soon as later this year, but an exact date of when each restaurant will open is not known at this time.