Now That His Burgers Are Nationally Famous, Al Bowers Looks Back on the Shack That Almost Wasn’t

Posted Jul 3, 2019
With lines that regularly stretch out the front door, down the two-step staircase, and along the West Franklin Street sidewalk in Chapel Hill, students, locals, and visitors have known for years what review aggregator TripAdvisor announced: Al's Burger Shack slings the best burger in America, specifically its sloppy, delicious Bobo Chili Cheeseburger. (Indy Week)

Related: Campus Connections

Surplus Sid's has closed in Carrboro. What's next for its owner, Barry Keith.
Barry Keith may be the "Emperor of Carrboro" - but to the people who know him, he's just "Sid." Keith, 70, hung up the...
Fri Dec 26, 2025

UNC student creates new way to rank NBA coaches
Win-loss records and championship rings usually define the best NBA coaches, but UNC-Chapel Hill student Shane Faberman looked at different data to see which coaches...
Thu Dec 25, 2025

Memorable Carolina moments, stories and achievements from 2025
At the Carolina Center for Public Service’s award presentation in April, UNC honored two dearly missed Tar Heels. The new Montross Award, in honor of...
Wed Dec 24, 2025

Christmas 1970: James Taylor and Joni Mitchell in Chapel Hill
On Christmas Eve 1970 I had just turned twenty-one and was managing the Record and Tape Center at 456 West Franklin Street. As I was...
Sun Dec 21, 2025