Popular Charlotte restaurant Cuzzo’s Cuisine to open third location in the city

A popular Charlotte restaurant known for its Southern fare and comfort foods is expanding into Steele Creek.

Cuzzo’s Cuisine will open its third shop in early September at Charlotte Premium Outlets’ food court.

Cuzzo’s has been parking its food truck for three years every Saturday at the shopping center, DJ Blocker, general manager of Cuzzo’s University store said.

“It’s a great opportunity to reach more customers,” Blocker said. He’ll help train the about 12 to 16 full- and part-time employees at the new store.

Expect to see favorite menu items such as lobster mac and cheese, cauliflower bites, collard greens and red velvet waffles.

Charlotte Premium Outlets at 5404 New Fashion Way is an open-air shopping center that opened in 2015. The shopping center has 104 stores, according to the Simon-owned property’s website.

More about Cuzzo’s

Cuzzo’s started as a food truck in 2014 by cousins Andarrio Johnson and Anglee Brown. The restaurant draws from the cousins’ roots in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

In 2016, the first Cuzzo’s restaurant opened in Enderly Park. The store at 3418 Tuckaseegee Road is temporarily closed after a fire in May.

In 2021, Cuzzo’s opened a second location at 906 N. Tryon St. in University City.

When both stores are open, Cuzzo’s has up to 50 full- and part-time workers, Blocker said.