The Cheesecake Factory Plans Third Charlotte-Area Restaurant at Concord Mills
The new restaurant will land at Concord Mills mall, where the chain is negotiating a lease with Simon Properties.
The Cheesecake Factory submitted a building review plan on March 30. This marks their third spot in the Charlotte region. The new restaurant will land at Concord Mills mall, where the chain is negotiating a lease with Simon Properties.
"We are in discussions with Simon Properties regarding a location in Concord and look forward to signing our lease soon," said Alethea Rowe, a spokeswoman for the company, to The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.
An existing retail space will transform into a full-service restaurant. Plans show a commercial kitchen, bar, and bakery service counter, according to documents filed by the Indianapolis-based mall operator. A new mall entry tower will rise alongside a covered patio.
The California-based chain serves more than 250 menu items and over 30 cheesecake varieties. Their first regional outpost opened in 2002 at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road.
A second area restaurant opened in 2023 at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, stretching across 9,500 square feet and bringing nearly 300 full- and part-time workers on board.
Simon owns SouthPark mall and Charlotte Premium Outlets in Steele Creek as well. Simon officials didn't respond to a request for comment.
Concord Mills debuted in 1999. It spans 1.4 million square feet. There are 190 stores offering retail, dining, and entertainment, such as the Sea Life Charlotte-Concord aquarium and AMC Theatres. The mall also hosts events like LuminoCity Dino Safari, an immersive walk-thru experience opening May 6.
The company expects to open as many as 26 restaurants this year, which breaks down to six locations under its main brand, six to seven North Italia locations, six to seven Flower Child locations, and as many as eight Fox Restaurant Concepts restaurants.
Total sale revenue last year hit $3.8 billion, climbing from $3.6 billion in 2024, the company reported during its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 annual earnings call on Feb. 18.
The Cheesecake Factory Inc. runs 371 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada under brands like North Italia, Flower Child, and Fox Restaurant Concepts. Other locations exist in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, and Greenville, S.C.
