Beaufort Wayback Burgers opening soon

Wayback Burgers will open soon in Beaufort.

The sit-down, “fast-casual,” restaurant could start serving by mid-April, owner David McElhaney said Monday. Operator Nathan Peaden began interviewing job candidates at a table set up outside the Boundary Street restaurant next to Starbucks on Monday and expects to be there all week.

“We want everybody to know we’re getting started,” said Peaden, who expects to hire 40 employees.

McElhaney has been in the area a few years and owned a stake in area Sonic Drive-Ins. As a franchisee, McElhaney said his agreement includes the possibility of future locations.

For now, he likes the spot on Boundary Street.

“Just look at the traffic,” McElhaney said, motioning to the street. “What’s happening to Beaufort is pretty exciting to me. It feels like there’s a lot of redevelopment going on, but Beaufort’s holding true to the vibe of Beaufort — the rich culture that you get here.”

The restaurant chain has locations on Hilton Head Island and in Savannah. Wayback’s menu includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and hand-dipped milkshakes.

The “Triple Triple” boasts nine patties and nine slices of cheese.

Customers will appreciate a good burger and made-to-order food, Peaden said.

“It’s definitely a brand that’s not recognizable right now,” Peaden said. “We’re going to kind of change that course as we get going here in the next couple months.”

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 9:21 AM with the headline "Beaufort Wayback Burgers opening soon."