Wilmington-based Charlie Graingers announces big franchising plans

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington-based restaurant says it has big plans to expand its reach.

Charlie Graingers World Famous Hot Dogs says it has signed franchise agreements for new restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and  Mississippi. In a news release the company says during its first 10 months of franchising it secured commitments for 126 new locations, with plans to open 40 locations in 2016.

The restaurant traces its roots to Wilmington’s old Peacock Alley drive-in that Charlie Grainger and his wife ran for 40 years until retiring in the 1980s. Louis North purchased the site at S. 17th and Queen streets in 2012 with a goal to restore the location to its former glory while remaining true to its hometown roots.

Charlie Graingers says it plans to continue its expansion in the southeast through 2016 and begin to grow into the neighboring states in 2016 and 2017.