The Cheesecake Factory is angling for a new spot at Concord Mills that would mark its third restaurant in the Charlotte area, with plans to convert a former retail space into roughly 6,925 square feet of dining space plus a covered patio. The buildout could top $7 million. The location is slated to open this winter, bringing the chain’s sprawling menu and bakery counter into the mall’s dining mix. Permitting documents and mall filings indicate a conversion of an existing storefront rather than ground-up construction.
Deal And Space Conversion
According to Charlotte Business Journal, The Cheesecake Factory would turn a former Kirkland’s Home store at Concord Mills into a roughly 6,925 square foot restaurant with a patio and could invest more than $7 million in the project. The outlet reports the new venue is targeted for a winter opening, although final lease paperwork has not yet been released.
Permits Filed And Company Comment
A building review plan for the project was filed March 30 with Cabarrus County, and the chain confirmed it is in talks with the mall’s owner, per The Charlotte Observer. “We are currently in discussions with (Concord Mills owner) Simon Properties regarding a location in Concord and look forward to signing our lease soon,” spokeswoman Alethea Rowe told the paper.
How The Concord Mills Deal Fits The Chain’s Growth
According to The Cheesecake Factory's 2025 SEC filing, the company has been rolling out new locations across its brands nationwide and laid out plans for a sizable number of additional restaurants this year. The filing also notes that the company frequently targets malls and lifestyle centers for new openings, which lines up with its pursuit of a Concord Mills site.
What It Could Mean For Concord Mills
Concord Mills is a large Simon Property mall that draws shoppers from around the region. Simon lists the property at 8111 Concord Mills Blvd and promotes entertainment anchors such as Sea Life and an AMC megaplex on its property page. Adding a full service Cheesecake Factory would sync with recent tenant moves aimed at boosting dining and entertainment traffic at the center.
Local Hiring And Recent Precedent
When The Cheesecake Factory opened its Huntersville/Birkdale Village location in 2023, that restaurant hired nearly 300 full and part time employees, giving a sense of the potential staffing impact a Concord Mills location could have, The Charlotte Observer reported. Exact job counts for the Concord restaurant will depend on the final size of the space and operating plans.
Construction timelines, staffing details and a formal lease are still pending, but the winter opening window remains the chain’s target, according to Charlotte Business Journal. This story will be updated when Simon or The Cheesecake Factory releases lease information or grand opening details.
