Which restaurant should replace Brio at Raleigh’s Crabtree Mall? Tell us
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Brio and Uncle Julio’s close Crabtree Valley Mall locations.
- Mall owner Macerich has not announced new restaurant tenants.
- The News & Observer invites readers to share which restaurants they want to see at the mall.
Earlier this year, Brio Italian Grille quietly closed its Crabtree Valley Mall location, after more than 15 years in business.
That was the second big restaurant tenant to shut down at Crabtree this year, following the Mexican chain Uncle Julio’s.
Both restaurants had faced financial challenges. Brio’s parent company Bravo Brio Restaurants filed for bankruptcy, and Uncle Julio’s was sold to the multi-brand franchise organization Sun Holdings in a foreclosure auction.
What is taking Brio’s place at Crabtree mall?
No new tenant has been announced for either of the mall spaces. And Crabtree’s new owner, Macerich, isn’t sharing any details.
In an emailed statement to The News & Observer, Eric Bunyan, Macerich’s senior vice president for leasing, said the leasing team is “seeing significant excitement from restaurants eager to introduce new dining concepts that will further enhance the overall dining and shopping experience for our guests and the community.”
Macerich owns about three dozen shopping centers across the country, and several dining options they house are found in multiple properties, including Crabtree — Auntie Anne’s, Starbucks, The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s, to name a few.
But several Macerich properties offer restaurants that Crabtree doesn’t, such as Olive Garden, Red Robin and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse.
New restaurants at Crabtree
The N&O has no control over Macerich’s leasing decisions, but we want to hear from readers: What should replace Brio and Uncle Julio’s at Crabtree mall?
Let us know by filling out the Google Form. On Friday, Oct. 10, we’ll share the results.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Which restaurant should replace Brio at Raleigh’s Crabtree Mall? Tell us."
