Major new-restaurant news out of 1,000 Friends of Waco briefing

I was running around in sports world today when the WacoFork wire buzzed. One of our best correspondents on the street sent me a text with some fantastic new-restaurant news.

By Venée Hummel

During today’s 1,000 Friends of Waco meeting at the Waco Chamber of Commerce, Bobby Horner with the City of Waco announced a list of businesses in the process of building in Waco. While many of the announcements were unrelated to restaurants or businesses we have already been aware of, there were some new dining-names announced.

Twisted Root Burger Co. is in the permit review phase for space along the I-35 corridor near Magic China. Twisted Root Burger Co. first opened in Deep Ellum in late 2005; the burger joint was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and has since grown. Learn more about them here.

Zoë’s Kitchen is also in the permit review phase for a location near Gander Mountain and Potbelly. Zoë’s Kitchen is a fast-casual chain with Mediterranean-inspired food. Their headquarters are in Plano, Texas although they were founded in Alabama. Check out Zoë’s Kitchen here.

When I was following up with Horner about these two restaurants, he stated that In-N-Out has decided on a location along the I-35 corridor. There has been ongoing speculation concerning whether In-N-Out would settle down where the Clarion once stood along I-35 or the former Richard Karr Motors lot on North Valley Mills. Lastly, Horner mentioned that a Whataburger will go in at the former Richard Karr Motor location instead (note that it was not specified what phase of the permit process these two establishments are in).

Although these restaurants are in the review phase, Horner said that he expects “things to get going” very soon.