Owning and running a restaurant is not for the faint of heart. It’s financially risky, the hours are long, and it’s just plain hard work.

Corbett Shope, owner of Corbett’s Burgers & Soda Bar in Cary knows you have to be nimble and you have to take care of your loyal customers. To accomplish both of those goals, Corbett’s has started offering pantry staples like uncooked ground beef, eggs and chicken in addition to its regular menu of burgers, fries and specialty sodas.

“In an effort to keep things rolling here and to help out folks needing beef, we are going to be selling our burger patties and buns if you need them,” Shope wrote in a March 19 Facebook post. “Hope this helps out some in a crunch.”

The restaurant’s supply of goods changes daily, so visit the Facebook page to find out what is in stock.

And if you’re hungry for more information about this local entrepreneur, keep reading.

Burgers, from the beginning

As a former general manager at a popular fried-chicken fast-food restaurant, Corbett Shope stepped out on faith to forge his own path. In 2013, he opened his eponymous eatery that specializes in fresh burgers, hot dogs and eclectic sodas.

Why burgers? Shope traveled to Siler City to examine Johnson’s Drive-In, an iconic burger joint.

At Corbett’s, the meat is ground daily for the dozen burgers on the menu. They often come with homemade condiments including barbecue sauces made with A&W Root Beer or Cheerwine.

“I figured if the owner could make a living being open a short time each day, surely I could do something similar. Plus, opening my own place allowed me to be closed on Sundays,” he said.

Shope stocks more than 240 varieties of bottled soda, including Sun Drop, Cheerwine, NeHi Grape and more than 40 brands of root beer. He also has Coca-Cola and Pepsi for the traditionalists.

Business has increased every year at Corbett’s. Folks continue to discover the charming haven for juicy burgers, crispy waffle fries and more than 240 varieties of bottled sodas.

“We have loyal regular customers, but new people come in every day,” said Shope, a Harnett County native who now lives in Apex with his wife and four children.

Nestled in the back corner of an older strip shopping center, Corbett’s has survived and thrived thanks largely to positive word of mouth. A 2014 spread in Our State magazine also didn’t hurt.

“The first six months we were open was tough, so the Our State piece helped get people talking and online reviews churning,” Shope said. “We’re among the highest-rated burger places in Cary on Trip Advisor, and Google and Yelp have us ranked at four-and-a-half stars [out of five].”

Shope added that social media can be a help and hindrance to local restaurants.

“I respond to every review,” he said. “If someone makes a negative comment, it gives me the opportunity to either set the record straight or apologize when we make a mistake.”

Whenever you go to Corbett’s, you’re likely to find Shope flipping burgers over an open-flame grill. His daughters, Lindsey and Sarah, serve alongside him as managers.

“We are committed to getting better each day, and we truly enjoy serving all our customers,” he said.

126 Kilmayne Drive, Cary
(919) 466-0055
corbettsburgers.com