FARE Opens in South End: What the Chicago Scratch Kitchen Means for Charlotte Restaurant Jobs

CHARLOTTE, NC — FARE, the Chicago fast-casual spot built around scratch cooking and produce, is now open at Queensbridge Collective on South Tryon Street. It is the company's first restaurant outside Illinois, and the founder already has a second Charlotte location in her sights for Plaza Midwood. For anyone looking for restaurant work between Uptown and South End, that is a new door on one of the busiest blocks in the city.

A small room serving three meals a day, plus a catering business, plus a second store on the way. FARE has not announced a headcount, but this is a brand planning to grow here.

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📍 Business at a Glance

Business	FARE
Opened	Early November 2026
Address	Queensbridge Collective, 1111 S. Tryon St., Charlotte (inside the Vivian tower)
Size	About 1,500 square feet, with indoor seating and a patio along Tryon Street
Concept	Fast casual: scratch-made bowls, sandwiches and seasonal plates for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus catering and to-go meal packs
Founder	Kasia Bednarz, founder and CEO
Industry	Restaurant / food service
New jobs	Not announced

🏆 A Chicago Brand Picks Charlotte First

FARE runs about 10 restaurants in the Chicago area, and Charlotte is where it chose to expand first. Axios Charlotte reported the opening on November 4, after a build-out the Charlotte Business Journal described this summer. Local reporting put the investment in the South Tryon store at more than $1 million.

The location matters. Queensbridge Collective sits right where Uptown runs into South End, with office towers and new apartments stacked on top of each other. A breakfast-to-dinner menu there means early openers, an office lunch rush and an evening crowd from the apartments upstairs.

💼 What a Room Like This Needs

FARE has not published a hiring announcement or a job count, so we are not going to make one up. What we can describe is how a fast-casual kitchen serving three meals a day usually staffs up.

Expect counter and cashier staff, prep and line cooks working a scratch kitchen, shift leads who can open and close, and a general manager. Catering is roughly a quarter of FARE's business, according to WhatNow Charlotte, which points to kitchen and driver or delivery roles that run on a different clock than the dining room. WhatNow also reported the company offers health care, bereavement leave, parental leave and profit-sharing. Ask about each of those when you interview, since details vary by role and hours.

New restaurants often adjust their crews in the first two or three months, once they see what real traffic looks like. If the first round is already filled, the second round is usually not far behind.

🗺️ Plaza Midwood Is Next

Bednarz is pursuing a second Charlotte restaurant in Plaza Midwood, with an early 2027 opening as the target. No address or date has been confirmed. Getting hired at South Tryon now could put you first in line when the Plaza Midwood crew is being built, since new stores commonly pull trainers and shift leads from the original location.

🔎 Search South End Restaurant Jobs Now

How to Get Noticed at a New Restaurant

Stop in between rushes. Mid-afternoon on a weekday is when a manager has a minute. Never at noon.
Lead with your availability. A place open for breakfast needs people who can start early, and weekend coverage is always in demand.
Follow the restaurant on social media. New spots often post openings there before anywhere else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is FARE in Charlotte?

At Queensbridge Collective, 1111 S. Tryon St., inside the Vivian residential tower between Uptown and South End.

Is FARE hiring in Charlotte?

The company has not announced a headcount or a hiring event. A new restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a catering business needs a full crew, so get your resume ready and watch for postings.

What kind of food does FARE serve?

Scratch-made, produce-driven fast casual: bowls, sandwiches and seasonal dishes, plus family meals and to-go meal packs.

Is FARE opening another Charlotte location?

Yes, a second location in Plaza Midwood is being pursued with an early 2027 target. No address or opening date has been confirmed.

Line Up Your Next Restaurant Job

Create a free LocalJobPage account and set alerts for restaurant and food service jobs in Charlotte so new openings reach you the day they post. Explore the Charlotte Career Center for role guides and career paths.

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