Charlotte’s newest bodega passes the vibe check. Is the food good too?

On my way out of Surefire Market, I ran into its owner, Edric Lutuangu, and decided to ask the question that had lingered since I walked in: What was behind the name “Surefire”?

His answer immediately won me over.

“It means ‘certain to succeed,’” Lutuangu said with a smile. “We want to succeed in everything we do.”

Lutuangu has lived up to the name, building on past family ventures that have thrived and now adding Surefire Market to their growing list of successes.

His parents once owned a small convenience store on Charlotte’s west side, Jeman Express, where he and his brothers spent much of their childhood.

“We went from the womb, straight to the convenience store business,” Lutuangu joked.

Years later, the Lutuangus purchased a store in Rock Hill, the first Surefire location, which slowly began to transition from a convenience store to the town’s most sought-after spot for hot dogs.

“It got the attention of everyone in the city,” said Lutuangu. “It was crazy. The mayor stopped by the store. It was really cool to see people that you didn’t usually see in the neighborhood.”

In 2024, a kitchen fire at the Rock Hill restaurant forced the family to pivot. A food truck followed, setting up shop regularly outside Hopfly Brewing in South End. Business was uneven at first, but the Surefire name carried weight, and with the opening of a brick-and-mortar location at Camp North End, the crowds returned.

“It’s packed on the weekends,” he said, adding that the foot traffic from other businesses helps. “It gets pretty crazy.”

Here’s what you need to know about Surefire Market.

Surefire Market menu

The Surefire Market menu offers burgers, chicken sandwiches, sides and drinks, with prices ranging from $8-$13 for entrees and $3-$6 for sides.

Since the eatery doubles as bodega, it also has an assortment of convenience store items, such as snacks, drinks and toiletries.

Here’s everything I got for roughly $21 (before tax and tip):

• Honey Butta: A crispy, hormone-free, hand-breaded chicken breast dipped in luscious homemade honey butter sauce, served on a brioche bun ($12.99)
• Seasoned fries ($3.99)
• Pepsi ($3.86)

Honey Butta chicken sandwich

With a name like “Honey Butta,” I figured it was safe to not expect an average chicken sandwich — and I was right.

On the first bite, the sweetness hits first — rich and decadent — before a subtle heat sneaks in, giving the sandwich a kick that lingers just enough to keep each bite exciting. Nestled on a soft brioche bun, it’s a balance of comfort and indulgence, with seasoning that proves someone in the kitchen knows exactly what they’re doing.

At $12.99, the sandwich sits above the price point of fast-food favorites like Chick-fil-A or Bojangles, but the quality more than justifies the extra dollars. Think of it as the grown-up, elevated version of the chicken sandwich wars: less about drive-thru convenience, more about savoring a dish that feels thoughtfully made.

Surefire vibes

I’ve already told you about the food, but the vibes deserve just as much attention — unapologetically Black from the moment I walked in.

Two Black women greeted me at the counter, another was busy in the kitchen, and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” blasted so loud it made ordering a little tricky. Still, it was a small price to pay for food as unforgettable as Mariah’s iconic whistle.

The walls told their own story: a poster for the 1997 comedy “Good Burger” starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, a duo that typically goes by only their first names, and another celebrating former Charlotte Hornets star Larry Johnson. By the time Drake and Future’s “Life is Good” came on, it felt like the perfect soundtrack. Surefire is the kind of place where, if you’re familiar with any of those names, you’ll instantly feel at home.

When is Surefire Market open?

• Location: 301 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
• Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sundays
• Cuisine: Burgers and sandwiches
• Instagram: @surefiremarketco

This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.