Cincinnati-based restaurant Tom+Chee will open its first North Carolina location in Carrboro on May 15, 2015. The 54-seat, 2,000-square-foot restaurant, which also offers additional outdoor seating, is located at 370 E. Main Street, Suite 140, Carrboro, NC 27510. The Carrboro location will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:15 a.m. on May 15.

Specializing in tomato soup and grilled cheese, Tom+Chee is known for its fresh ingredients and quirky takes on comfort food classics. From the vegetarian Hippy+Chee to the offbeat Grilled Cheese Donut, Tom+Chee offers 20-plus grilled cheese sandwiches, plus fresh salads, three versions of tomato soup, and an endless array of specials. The entire menu is made fresh, with no fryers, freezers, or microwaves, and offers a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

“When I saw Tom+Chee on Shark Tank, I knew this was the business I wanted to own, because I loved the concept,” says co-owner Craig McDavid who, along with his wife and daughter, are opening the first Tom+Chee in North Carolina. “When we went to Cincinnati, met the founders and tasted the food, I loved it. I won’t sell food I don’t love. I feel like I was born to do this!”

Originally started as a food tent in Cincinnati, Tom+Chee has enjoyed explosive growth since the founders pitched their business on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in May 2013. The Tom+Chee franchise is rapidly growing and has 170 stores under contract in 20 states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, and Georgia.  

The Carrboro Tom+Chee will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.