Raleigh’s burger and fried chicken scene is about to get a little louder. Nash & Smashed, a fast-casual chain that pairs smash burgers with Nashville-style fried chicken, is opening its first North Carolina location in northeast Raleigh. The restaurant is taking over the former Fat Tuesday space at Poyner Village near Triangle Town Center, with construction on the storefront already underway. Early peeks at the menu show budget-friendly pricing, with a classic burger around $7 and chicken sandwiches starting near $8.
Where the Raleigh location will be
According to The News & Observer, Nash & Smashed has signed a 10-year lease for roughly 1,575 square feet at Poyner Village and is renovating the space with a new kitchen hood and other upgrades. The paper reports that the chain is officially taking over the former Fat Tuesday storefront, and notes that company representatives called the Raleigh restaurant “one of many” Nash & Smashed locations planned for North Carolina in a press release.
Menu, sourcing and brand footprint
The company highlights halal and locally sourced ingredients and is leaning on a franchising model to grow beyond its Manassas roots, according to Nash & Smashed materials. The franchise brochure lays out training, sourcing standards and an ambition to expand into new markets, all built around a compact menu of smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and classic sides.
Prices and what to expect
As reported by The News & Observer, menu pricing for the Raleigh outpost is set to include a classic burger at about $7, a turkey-bacon option near $11, crispy chicken sandwiches starting around $8, tenders and wings from about $9, and sides in the $3 to $7 range. Combo plates and wallet-conscious items are expected to be a big draw for shoppers from the nearby mall and the surrounding daytime crowd.
Why Poyner Village?
Poyner Village sits just off Triangle Town Center, giving the brand a built-in stream of shoppers and commuters. A listing for the unit is posted on CityFeet, highlighting the center’s visibility and access. The Raleigh signing follows a wave of openings and planned locations across the mid-Atlantic, including a recent Silver Spring spot, signaling a steady regional push for the chain, as covered by Source of the Spring.
