Babalu Tacos & Tapas is opening a new location at Eastgate Crossing in Chapel Hill.
Babalu has or will have locations across the Southeast in cities such as Charlotte, Atlanta and Knoxville.
Ben Miller, director of operations for Babalu’s parent company, Eat Here Brands, said that Chapel Hill fits just what the company looks for when deciding on a new location.
“This is the exact type of market they look for, exactly the type of food scene,” he said.
Chief Operating Officer for Eat Here Brands, Stan Stout, said that the company considered three main factors in deciding to come to Chapel Hill.
“We look at a lot of demographic data, we look at our customer base and we look at the real estate available,” he said.
Miller and Stout said Babalu is searching to hire chefs with local credibility and culinary training to prepare all the food in-house.
“You won’t find one can in the kitchen,” Stout said. “Nothing pre-made comes in. We pride ourselves on really high-quality food, and the same with beer, liquor and wine. Nothing is pre-mixed.”
Stout said that there are a lot of variables which could impact when the Chapel Hill Babalu location will be open, but that the company is hoping for mid-to-late July.
