Selma’s steak game just leveled up. LongHorn Steakhouse has opened a new casual outpost at the Eastfield mixed‑use development, marking the chain’s first restaurant in Johnston County. The Selma location sits on a highway‑facing pad near Interstate 95 and brings the brand’s familiar lineup of grilled steaks, sandwiches, ribs and kids’ meals to the area. Local officials say the dining room will create roughly 90 jobs as Eastfield continues to push retail and industrial development along the I‑95 corridor.
According to LongHorn Steakhouse, the Selma restaurant is listed at 151 St. Mark Ave and opened on Monday, Feb. 23. Johnston County’s business directory lists the same address and the restaurant’s phone number, backing up the corporate listing. The chain’s locations page shows Selma among several newly opened or upcoming LongHorn restaurants nationwide.
Local Leaders Call It a Milestone
AdVenture Development’s president, Kevin Dougherty, called the arrival a milestone and said he’s “happy to welcome LongHorn Steakhouse to Eastfield,” as reported by JoCo Report. Selma Mayor Byron McAllister and project leaders told the outlet the restaurant itself is expected to employ about 90 people and that Eastfield’s build‑out could generate thousands more jobs. The new LongHorn held a ribbon cutting in late February as the broader project moves into its retail phase.
Eastfield’s Retail Lineup Keeps Expanding
The mixed‑use Eastfield project is aiming to capture both interstate travelers and Triangle shoppers. The News & Observer reports LongHorn joins Panda Express and Olive Garden at Eastfield and that anchors planned or open include Old Navy, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Hobby Lobby, Ulta Beauty and Academy Sports & Outdoors, with a Target also expected. The News & Observer also listed sample menu prices at the Selma LongHorn: cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches around $14, entrees such as lamb chops, ribs or pork chops starting near $16, and steaks beginning in the high teens, giving local diners a sense of the price point.
What’s on the Menu
LongHorn’s corporate menu centers on fire‑grilled steaks, including ribeyes, sirloins and filets, alongside burgers, sandwiches, salads and shareable sides that the brand markets as family‑friendly and grill‑forward. LongHorn Steakhouse highlights lunch plates and signature steaks on its site, and hiring posts tied to the Selma location show the restaurant is already recruiting hosts, servers and kitchen staff. For diners, the Selma outpost offers the chain’s standard mix of weekday lunch options and full dinner entrees.
Chain Context and Local Impact
LongHorn is part of Darden Restaurants, the Orlando‑based parent company that also owns Olive Garden and other national chains. Darden has been opening dozens of new Olive Garden and LongHorn locations as the company expands. Fox Business reported on Darden’s recent growth plans, a national trend that helps explain why highway‑facing retail pads like Eastfield are attractive to the company. Developers say the Selma LongHorn is an early visible sign that Eastfield’s retail phase is taking shape and creating local jobs and tax revenue.
The Selma LongHorn gives local diners a sit‑down steak option outside Raleigh and adds another national name to the growing Eastfield roster. Developers and county leaders point to the hiring push and ribbon cutting as concrete economic wins for Johnston County. We’ll track further announcements about grand‑opening events or additional tenants as Eastfield continues to come online.
