A Michelin-starred chef's big Franklin Street bet
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173 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios
Brandon Sharp, the acclaimed chef behind Chapel Hill favorites Bluebird and Hawthorne & Wood, will open a tapas-style restaurant called Próximo this fall on East Franklin Street, next to the post office and near Henderson Street.
Why it matters: Sharp is helping cement Chapel Hill as a food destination. Now, he and his wife, Elizabeth, want to bring fresh energy into a stretch of the college town that isn't currently considered a destination — especially among non-students.
What they're saying: "We want to see a renaissance of that stretch of Franklin because it's still the nerve center of Chapel Hill. It's important to us and it's important that it be a thriving, bustling, fun destination for both locals and prospective students," Sharp told Axios.
Dig in: Próximo will be at 173 E. Franklin, the 1,450-square-foot space formerly occupied by Ye Olde Waffle Shoppe. The breakfast classic closed in December 2020 after nearly five decades in business because of challenges stemming from the pandemic.
- Próximo will have Spanish-style tapas inspired by the Sharp's travels to places throughout Spain like Hondarribia, Laguardia and San Sebastián.
- The intimate dining room will have seating for about 40 customers, per Sharp.
- Neal Benefield (of Bluebird and Hawthorne & Wood) will oversee Próximo's beverage program. George Colom (also of Hawthorne & Wood) will be its chef, writer Ross Martin first reported.
- Próximo has a double meaning, Sharp says. It's the Spanish word for "next" (his next restaurant), and its a nod to the business's proximity to UNC's campus.
Between the lines: The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is "very excited" that a unique business like Próximo is filling a vacancy in the 100 block of Franklin Street, says Stephanie Cobert, the group's director of marketing and engagement.
Catch up quick: Sharp grew up in Greensboro and graduated from UNC in 1997. After college, he worked in renowned kitchens across the country, including Restaurant Gary Danko and The French Laundry.
- Under Sharp's leadership at Solage Calistoga, the California resort's restaurant received seven consecutive Michelin stars. In 2016, he and his family moved back to Chapel Hill to revamp and oversee the culinary program at Crossroads, the restaurant at the Carolina Inn.
- He opened Hawthorne & Wood in 2019, and Bluebird in 2022.
The big picture: Franklin Street has grappled with its post-pandemic recovery. High rents, more on-campus dining options plus food delivery, and limited parking, have compounded the area's ongoing challenges of operating as a nine-month economy, as the Triangle Business Journal reported.
- New development aims to modernize the town's main stretch by making it more attractive to young professionals through projects like the Innovation District.
The bottom line: "We really hope to be part of a resurgence down there. We believe it's possible and have spoken to enough interested locals to share a similar vision," Sharp said.
