Cook Out History: Who Owns Cook Out and How It Grew

Cook Out is one of the South's best-loved burger chains, famous for cheap trays, late hours and dozens of milkshake flavors. Yet the company says very little about itself. This guide pulls together the verified facts of Cook Out history: who founded it, who owns it today, how it grew from one Greensboro drive-thru, and why it is still run by the family that started it.

When was Cook Out founded?

Cook Out opened in 1989. Founder Morris Reaves opened the very first restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Wikipedia records that it stood on Randleman Road. The format was simple from the start: a drive-thru menu of chargrilled burgers, hot dogs, North Carolina-style barbecue and milkshakes at low prices. Another Piedmont classic on the fountain is Cheerwine, made in Salisbury since 1917.

The Charlotte Observer, citing Cook Out's own website, reports that the first sit-down Cook Out restaurant opened in High Point seven years later, which puts it in 1996. Many locations are still mostly drive-thru, with double lanes and walk-up windows rather than big dining rooms.

Who owns Cook Out?

Cook Out is a private, family-owned company. Wikipedia lists Morris Reaves as the founder and owner and his son Jeremy Reaves as CEO. Slate's 2023 profile of the chain also described Jeremy Reaves as the CEO and son of the founder.

Because Cook Out is private, it does not publish annual reports, sales or profits. Any revenue figure you see online is an estimate by a research firm, not a number from the company.

Franchise or company-operated

Cook Out is not a franchise. RestaurantData's company profile describes Cook Out as company-operated, saying it runs its restaurants directly and does not franchise the brand. That is unusual for a chain of its size and is one reason the menu and pricing style feel consistent from one location to the next, even though prices still vary by state. Our state price notes explain why.

Where is Cook Out's headquarters?

Cook Out's headquarters is in Thomasville, North Carolina, between Greensboro and Charlotte. RestaurantData lists the office at 15 Laura Lane. Slate's reporter described it as a nondescript office park in central North Carolina and noted that the company rarely gives interviews.

How Cook Out grew

For its first two decades, Cook Out was almost entirely a North Carolina phenomenon. Wikipedia says more than 50 locations opened in North Carolina before the chain expanded out of state, and Slate dates that move to 2010.

Growth has continued in 2026. In October the Charlotte Observer reported two new restaurants planned for the Charlotte area, joining more than 25 existing Cook Out locations around the city. For how Cook Out stacks up against an older chain, see Cook Out vs Whataburger.

How many Cook Out locations are there?

The most recent count comes from the Charlotte Observer in October 2026, which reported that Cook Out "has more than 380 restaurants across the U.S." RestaurantData's index, reviewed in September 2026, also lists about 380 locations.

Wikipedia lists Cook Out restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. To check the nearest one, use our Cook Out hours page, and for the newest openings see Cook Out new locations in 2026.

What Cook Out is known for

Trays

The Cook Out Tray (a main item, two sides and a drink) is the chain's signature value. Our guide to the best Cook Out tray combinations ranks the most popular builds, and the tray builder lets you plan your own.

Milkshakes

The Charlotte Observer describes Cook Out as known for its "40-plus milkshake flavors". If you cannot decide, try our Cook Out milkshake ranking or mix your own with the milkshake mixer.

Burger styles

Cook Out's "styles" (Cook Out Style, Cheddar Style, Out West Style and more) change a burger's toppings rather than its size. Our explainer on Cook Out burger styles covers each one, and yesterday's guide to Cook Out sizes explains cups, burger patties and shakes.

Late hours

Many locations stay open late. USA Today 10Best, which voted Cook Out runner-up for Best Regional Fast Food in 2024 and 2025, highlighted that "many locations stay open into the wee hours". Hours vary by restaurant, so check our Cook Out hours guide or the holiday schedule before a late run.

Why Cook Out stays so quiet

Part of Cook Out's mystique is how little it says. Slate's reporter, writing in 2023, said Jeremy Reaves did not appear to have granted an in-depth interview since a 2007 parking-lot exchange with a Charlotte Observer reporter, in which he said, "We're known for our fresh hamburgers and our barbecue." The reporter's emails and calls to the company went unanswered.

That privacy fits the business model. A family-owned, company-operated chain does not need to court investors or franchisees, so it has little reason to advertise its numbers. For fans, it means most "facts" about Cook Out online are second-hand. We have linked every claim in this article to a named source so you can check it.

Cook Out's place in Southern fast food

Cook Out competes with national chains on price rather than advertising. A 2025 CouponBirds survey, reported by CharlotteFive, ranked it the top fast-food chain among North Carolinians, and the same poll showed it popular in South Carolina and Tennessee too. For a menu-by-menu comparison with bigger brands, read our Cook Out vs competitors value guide.

Cook Out's menu today

The 1989 formula (chargrilled burgers, hot dogs, barbecue and shakes) is still the backbone of the menu, but it has grown a lot. Today's menu covers:

• Burgers in several sizes and styles, from a regular hamburger to the Big Double; see our burger menu.
• North Carolina-style barbecue, served as a sandwich or a plate on the BBQ menu.
• Hot dogs, including the Cook Out Style dog, on the hot dog menu.
• Chicken: sandwiches, strips, nuggets and wraps, ranked in our chicken sandwich guide.
• Wraps and quesadillas, explained in the wraps and quesadillas guide.
• Sides such as hushpuppies, fries, onion rings and cheese bites.
• Milkshakes and floats, including the Cheerwine float, a nod to another North Carolina original.

If you have allergies or dietary needs, check the allergen menu guide before ordering.

Cook Out by the numbers

How we researched this article

Cook Out publishes very little about itself, so we did not rely on fan forums or copycat menu sites. Every fact above comes from a named source: the Charlotte Observer and CharlotteFive (October 2026), Wikipedia's Cook Out article, Slate's 2023 feature, and RestaurantData's company profile. Where those sources disagreed, we used the most recent report and said so. One example: Wikipedia's information box shows a location count far below every other source, so we used the Charlotte Observer's October 2026 figure instead. We did not include revenue estimates, because a private company's sales can only be guessed. If Cook Out publishes new information, we will update this page. You can read more about how we check facts in our editorial policy.

Common myths about Cook Out

• "Cook Out is a franchise you can buy into." RestaurantData says the company does not franchise.
• "Cook Out is a national chain." Its restaurants are concentrated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
• "Cook Out started as a sit-down restaurant." The first restaurant in 1989 came first; the first sit-down location opened seven years later.
• "Cook Out publishes its sales." As a private company, it does not.

Plan your next visit

Now that you know where it came from, plan the order. Browse the full Cook Out menu, compare Cook Out prices for your state, or check which payment methods Cook Out takes before you pull up to the window.

A few practical tips for first-timers: order a tray if you want the best value, because the main, two sides and a drink are bundled together. Decide on your shake flavor before you reach the speaker, since the list is long. And if you are heading out late, check the hours for that specific restaurant first, because they vary from location to location. Locals will tell you the same thing: it is worth the drive.