Tag Archives: New Business

There’s something new cooking inside one of downtown Fuquay-Varina’s favorite neighborhood hangouts – and this kitchen proudly refuses to fit into just one box. Sully’s Misfits Kitchen is now open inside The Brick at 213 Fayetteville Street, bringing Massachusetts-inspired comfort food, Portuguese favorites, late-night bites, and plenty of personality to the heart of downtown. Behind the new concept are Massachusetts natives Mike “Sully” Sullivan and his fiancée and business partner, Chelsea Vieira, along with kitchen manager Andrew Jablonski and a hardworking local team. From North Shore roast beef and South Shore bar pies to fried rice, linguiça, wings, skewers, and smash burgers, the menu may sound like an unlikely mix – but that is exactly the point.

A Kitchen Made for Misfits

The “Sully” behind the restaurant is owner Mike Sullivan, whose nickname comes from his last name and has followed him for most of his life. The original plan was to open Sully’s Sandwich Shop and Pizzeria, where Mike and Chelsea could introduce North Carolina to some of the foods they grew up eating in Massachusetts. When circumstances caused them to step away from the planned location, they weren’t ready to give up on the idea. That’s when The Brick owner Terry stepped in. Mike had known Terry for nearly 20 years, dating back to Mike’s 17 years working at a bar Terry regularly visited. When Terry learned the sandwich shop was no longer moving forward, he called Mike with an idea for the kitchen inside The Brick. By the end of that single conversation, Sully’s Misfits Kitchen had a name, a concept, and a brand-new partnership with Terry and Erin. The unexpected change allowed Mike and Chelsea to keep the Massachusetts specialties at the heart of their original plan while expanding the menu to better fit The Brick and downtown Fuquay-Varina. “The name represents the fact that neither our menu nor the people behind it fit neatly into one category,” Mike explained. “It is a kitchen for people who appreciate something a little different without needing it to fit into one specific box.”

From Massachusetts to Fuquay-Varina

Mike and Chelsea moved from Massachusetts to North Carolina in 2008 in search of a fresh start. They settled here, built their lives here, and watched the area grow and change around them. Their New England roots remain a major part of both the food and personality behind Sully’s Misfits Kitchen. The menu features dishes that were easy to find where they grew up but are much harder to come by in North Carolina, including North Shore roast beef sandwiches, South Shore bar pies, New Bedford-style stuffies, cacoila, and linguiça. “The food is hearty, straightforward, and full of flavor,” Mike said. “The personality is also very New England. It is casual, honest, a little different, and not overly polished or pretentious. We want to make good food, serve generous portions, and make people feel comfortable.” For Mike and Chelsea, serving these dishes isn’t about following a trend. It’s their way of bringing a piece of the everyday food culture they remember from Massachusetts to their home in Fuquay-Varina.

What Exactly Is a North Shore Roast Beef?

One of the menu’s biggest stars is the North Shore roast beef sandwich – and judging by the kitchen’s early sellouts, Fuquay was more than ready for it. A traditional North Shore roast beef served “Three Way” begins with American cheese on the bottom bun, followed by thinly sliced warm roast beef, mayonnaise, and a zesty barbecue sauce, all served on a toasted onion roll. The ingredients may sound simple, but the preparation matters. Sully’s cooks its roast beef in-house and even has some of its bread shipped directly from Massachusetts to get the sandwich as close to home as possible. Mike’s personal favorite is the Super Beef, while Chelsea’s top pick is the linguiça pizza. For a first-time visitor, Mike recommends ordering three things: the Super Beef, the fried rice, and the linguiça pizza. Together, they tell the story of the menu – the Super Beef represents Massachusetts’ North Shore, the pizza combines South Shore bar-pie tradition with Portuguese flavor, and the fried rice has quickly become one of the kitchen’s most unexpected hits.

The Fried Rice Surprise

The popularity of Sully’s fried rice has been one of the team’s biggest surprises. Mike and Chelsea added it because the Chinese food they grew up eating in the Northeast was noticeably different from what they typically found after moving south. “To us, fried rice is supposed to actually be fried, dark, and deeply seasoned – not yellow rice with peas and carrots,” Mike explained. They set out to recreate the style they remembered, and Fuquay customers responded even more enthusiastically than expected. Guests can also try a South Shore bar pie, a smaller, thin-crust pizza traditionally cooked in a seasoned pan. The sauce and cheese extend close to the edge, creating the crispy, caramelized crust associated with neighborhood bars across Massachusetts’ South Shore. Other menu standouts include New Bedford-style stuffies made with clams and Portuguese sausage, cacoila, linguiça dishes, steak tips, smash burgers, wings, skewers, loaded Portuguese fries, and several house-made sauces. Just don’t expect Sully to reveal the ingredients in the signature Misfit Sauce anytime soon.

A Natural Fit Inside The Brick

The Brick already had the relaxed neighborhood atmosphere Mike and Chelsea envisioned for Misfits Kitchen. The partnership gave them an opportunity to operate an independently owned kitchen inside an established downtown gathering place while bringing something entirely new to the space. During the day, families, downtown visitors, and lunch customers can stop in for a casual meal. Guests can dine inside The Brick or enjoy its outdoor area. As the evening gets livelier, customers can watch a game, play pool, meet friends, and order food well into the night. Offering late-night food was especially important to the team because there are limited options available in downtown Fuquay after many other kitchens close. Guests of The Brick, downtown visitors, and service-industry employees can order pizza, wings, and select appetizers without leaving the area. Late-night orders are also available for takeout or delivery. “It is good food in an atmosphere where people can relax and enjoy themselves,” Mike said.

A Long Road to Opening

The road to opening Sully’s Misfits Kitchen was anything but straightforward. After pivoting away from the original sandwich-shop location, the team still had to navigate permits, inspections, equipment, signage, and countless last-minute problems. Even after opening, they faced the gas being shut off and the need to replace a water heater. But every setback made finally serving their food feel more meaningful. “The biggest victory was simply getting the doors open and finally serving the food we had spent so much time talking about,” Mike said. Then came the roast beef sellouts. Sully’s was selling out almost daily when the kitchen first opened. The team has since adjusted its preparation to keep more available, but those early sellouts confirmed that Fuquay was hungry for something different. “Selling out of roast beef was definitely the moment when I realized we had something special,” Mike said. “It showed that people understood what we were trying to bring here and genuinely wanted it.”

Lunch Specials, Late Nights, and What’s Next

Sully’s recently introduced a weekday $10 lunch menu, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays feature free pool all day, along with 10 wings for $10 beginning at 8 p.m. Customers can dine in, order pickup directly through the Sully’s website, or request delivery through the website or DoorDash. Rotating specials, limited dishes, and recurring promotions are also planned. Because of the kitchen’s current size and shared preparation space, the team cannot confidently accommodate gluten-free requests at this time. Sully’s does not use peanuts in its kitchen and is continuing to add customization options to its online ordering system. Customers with specific dietary questions are encouraged to call or order at the counter so the team can provide honest guidance about what can be safely accommodated. Looking ahead, Mike and Chelsea are focused on becoming a consistent part of downtown Fuquay-Varina. They plan to continue growing their lunch, takeout, delivery, and late-night service while introducing more customers to the Massachusetts and Portuguese flavors they love. An upcoming kitchen expansion will also create more room to improve service and explore future menu options. “This is a small, locally owned business that was built through a lot of setbacks, long days, and hands-on work,” Mike said. “It is not a chain or a concept created in a corporate office. The menu reflects our backgrounds, the foods we grew up around, and things we genuinely care about sharing with the community.”

Come Hungry and Leave Full

Whether you’re craving a Super Beef for lunch, splitting a crispy South Shore bar pie with friends, or searching for a late-night meal that goes far beyond the usual bar food, Sully’s Misfits Kitchen is ready to welcome you. Because at Sully’s, everyone is invited to come as they are – and leave full.

Visit Sully’s Misfits Kitchen

Location: Inside The Brick, 213 Fayetteville Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Current posted hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
• Weekday Lunch Specials: 11am – 3pm

Hours and menu availability may change, so follow Sully’s Misfits Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram for specials, events, sellout announcements, and the latest updates. Customers can also view the menu and order online. At Front Porch Realty, we love introducing our neighbors to the people, flavors, and local businesses that make Fuquay-Varina feel like home. We’re excited to welcome Sully’s Misfits Kitchen to downtown – and we have a feeling plenty of Fuquay locals are about to discover a new favorite order.