BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A popular fast-food establishment — with roots in North Carolina and centered on the South’s most beloved culinary staple, biscuits — is opening its first store in Brunswick County toward the end of February.
Biscuitville will officially cut its ribbon in Shallotte on Feb. 23 at 2:15 p.m. The fast, casual eatery, which got its start in Danville, Virginia, in 1975 but is headquartered in Greensboro today, will be located at 4425 Main St. next to Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes and Fries.
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In the last decade or so, the restaurant rebranded to Biscuitville Fresh Southern and has tripled revenue to $150 million. Around 85 stores operate in North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia, and employ more than 2,000 people.
Shallotte’s location is the first store to open in southeastern North Carolina coastal communities; the closest restaurant launched in 2025 in Jacksonville, located north in Onslow County.
“Biscuitville is continuing to grow its presence in eastern NC with the opening of the Shallotte location in Brunswick County,” according to company spokesperson Lucy Allen.
While confirming expansions are ongoing into the three states, Allen wouldn’t answer if other locations are opening in the greater Wilmington area, including New Hanover and Pender counties. Instead, she deferred to the restaurant’s website listing upcoming grand openings, which lists another Biscuitville is coming to 5059 Southport-Supply Road in summer 2026.
The Shallotte eatery is around 2,800 square feet and seats a little more than 55 people. It’s outfitted with a drive-through as well and opens daily at 5 a.m., closing by 2 p.m.
Biscuitville got its start more than 50 years ago, after Irma Rue “Nanny” Bass who, on her deathbed, offered grandsons R.B. and Maurice Jennings a choice on what they could inherit: a small Tennessee farm or her secret biscuit recipe. R.B. chose the farm, while his older brother, Maurice — who already operated two bread and milk stores in Burlington, North Carolina, in 1966, and eventually changed the business model to become Pizzaville restaurants — went with Nanny’s recipe.
Maurice launched Biscuitville to pad early morning hours with revenue as Pizzaville focused on customers who ordered later in the day. However, Biscuitville became more of a success and so he transformed the to-go pizzerias into breakfast restaurants instead.
The restaurant remains family-focused and -operated in 2026 and doesn’t franchise restaurants.
Maurice’s son, Burney Jennings, took over Biscuitville operations in the late 1990s and stepped down in 2021 (his father passed away in 2019). Burney then passed the baton to CEO Kathie Niven, who came from executive roles at Krispy Kreme, Arby’s and Burger King, and began working at Biscuitville as a brand officer in the 2010s. She is behind the Biscuitville Fresh Southern name rebrand and brought in varied menu items, while executing efficient processes.
Burney continues to serve as chair of the executive board and his son, Blake Jennings, is chief development officer leading expansion into communities.
Nanny’s recipe remains at the heart of Biscuitville’s success, made from three ingredients: locally milled flour, fresh buttermilk, and shortening. The biscuits are made from scratch every 15 minutes, ensuring they remain fresh. In-store diners can even see the dough rolled out, cut and cooked through the restaurant’s biscuit-making window.
The restaurant group prides itself on sourcing fresh, local ingredients for all of its menu items. This includes around 25 biscuit sandwiches — plain, topped with egg, cheese, sausage, bacon, ham, steak, chicken or pork, or a combination of multiple items. The most popular selection, according to Allen, is the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit.
Biscuitville also serves breakfast platters and seasonal selections that rotate in and out annually. They’re complimented by a menu of sweets (pancakes, muffins), sides — don’t skip the hashbrown casserole — and specialty drinks, including sodas, teas and coffee.
The fast food has won numerous awards throughout the years, including USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice poll, which pulls 20 contenders in varied categories nationwide. Biscuitville won for Best Fast Food Breakfast in 2025, was second place in Best Regional Fast Food and a runnerup for its coffee.
In honor of the Shallotte restaurant’s opening, diners can sign up to win free breakfast for a year. Ten winners will be randomly selected and given 52 combo coupons; sign up is here and limited to one entry per person.
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