Bae’s Burgers Goes From Food Truck to Second Location in Concord |
The locally grown smashburger business is celebrating its new Concord location Aug. 22, with free burger meals for the first 200 people through the door. |
Bae’s Burgers has officially added another address to its love story.
The locally owned smashburger restaurant is celebrating the grand opening of its second location at The District Exchange in downtown Concord on Saturday, Aug. 22, marking the latest step in a journey that started with a food truck and grew into a multi-location restaurant business.
The new Bae’s Burgers is located at 22 Union St. N. in Concord, with the grand opening celebration kicking off at 11 a.m.
🍔 GET THERE EARLY The first 200 people at the grand opening will receive a free meal featuring a Double Bae Burger, fries and a drink, according to Downtown Concord.
The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but with only 200 free meals available, this probably isn’t the day to make Bae’s a late lunch.
FROM A FOOD TRUCK TO TWO LOCATIONS
The Concord location is a significant milestone for owners Fabian Elmes and Claire Connelly.
The husband-and-wife team launched Bae’s as a food truck in 2018. According to the Bae’s Burgers story, the concept originally got its start in Miami before the couple eventually brought the business to the Charlotte area.
That move helped the smashburger concept find its audience.
Bae’s eventually went from serving customers out of a truck to opening its first permanent restaurant at 246 N. Main St. in downtown Mooresville.
Now, Concord is location No. 2.
🍔 WHAT’S A BAE’S BURGER? Bae’s keeps the formula pretty simple: smashburgers made with a fresh blend of chuck, short rib and brisket, served on a Martin’s potato bun, according to the Bae’s Burgers website. The menu also includes chicken sandwiches, a patty melt, a veggie burger and sides such as garlic parmesan fries.
THE OPENING COMPLETES THE DISTRICT EXCHANGE
There’s another milestone happening here beyond Bae’s.
The opening completes the business lineup at The District Exchange, the two-level dining, shopping and entertainment destination in the heart of downtown Concord.
With Bae’s in place, all 17 businesses at The District Exchange are now part of the lineup, according to the Explore Cabarrus event listing.
That means Saturday isn’t just a burger grand opening.
The District Exchange is turning Aug. 22 into a larger Grand Celebration, with businesses throughout the building offering one-day specials, discounts, giveaways and prizes.
🏙️ WHY THIS MATTERS Bae’s is another example of a locally grown food business making the jump from mobile concept to permanent storefronts, while its arrival also helps complete a larger small-business destination in downtown Concord.
Visitors can grab coffee, browse shops throughout the building, stop at Bae’s for a burger and stick around later in the day for drinks and entertainment.
🎶 THE PARTY KEEPS GOING
The celebration extends beyond the first 200 burger meals.
Businesses throughout The District Exchange are expected to run their own promotions during the event, with specials and giveaways planned throughout the building.
The celebration also includes live music from Shane Key in the evening, according to the event listing from Explore Cabarrus.
For Bae’s, though, the weekend represents another chapter in a pretty classic local-business growth story: start with a food truck, find your audience, open a restaurant and eventually take the concept into another community.
Concord is next.
📍 BAE’S BURGERS GRAND OPENING When: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where: 22 Union St. N., Concord, NC 28025 Freebie: Double Bae Burger, fries and a drink for the first 200 people More info: View the Downtown Concord event listing →
Sources: Bae’s Burgers · The District Exchange · Downtown Concord · Explore Cabarrus |
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