Rise changing name, concept to focus on award-winning biscuits

Rise Biscuits and Donuts is changing its name and logo.

Owners announced Tuesday that the business, which was founded in 2012 in Durham, is changing its name to Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken.

“We’ve learned a lot as we have grown, including how different markets react to our food, what it takes to run a profitable Rise location and where our future lies,” Rise CEO Tom Ferguson said. “We’re committed to being the best at what we do and focusing on what we do best. That’s biscuits. They are and always have been the soul of Rise.”

Rise now has 15 locations throughout the Southeast, with locations in Columbia, Maryland and Asheville opening in the coming months.

Rise has been awarded the WRAL.com Voters' Choice Award for best biscuits for the past two years.

The new concept will focus on Rise's biscuits and "Righteous Chicken," which is tenderized and brined in buttermilk before being fried to a golden brown. Their popular jumbo cheddar tots and Counter Culture Coffee will remain on the menu.

The menu has been evolving with the recent addition of cheddar and sweet potato specialty biscuits and biscuits and gravy topped with everything from crispy pork belly to veggie sausage and mushrooms.

The new pivot to biscuits, means a shake up for the sweet menu. Items will include a glazed blueberry biscuit, a flaky strawberry biscuit and cinnamon pecan biscuit rolls.

Rebranding will begin this fall with renovations to the Carrboro and Durham locations.