NYC burger chains: Where the out-of-towners came from
As we await the arrival of the next one, Wahlburgers, set to head from Boston down to Coney Island this May, let's take a look at the chains we've already adopted-- and find out exactly where they came from, anyway.
Five Guys Burgers & Fries: Arlington, VA
Credit: Heather Walsh
The Murrell family opened the first Five Guys in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986, making a name for themselves by serving up hand-formed burgers and fresh-cut fries cooked in peanut oil.
They started franchising in 2003, and now have more than 1,000 locations across the United States, including in every borough of NYC.
Umami Burger: Los Angeles, CA
Adam Fleischman opened the first Umami Burger in Los Angeles, California in 2009, centering around the concept of "umami," a distinct type of savory taste. To enhance this flavor, burgers are sprinkled with umami master sauce and umami dust, which contain Japanese ingredients.
The first Manhattan location, which offers waiter service and a fall bar, opened in Greenwich Village in 2013.Smashburger: Denver, CO
Credit: Smashburger
Opened in Denver, Colorado in 2007 by Rick Schaden, Smashburger literally smashes, sears and seasons its handcrafted burgers, which it claims makes them juicier and more flavorful.
The fast-growing chain first opened in NYC in 2014, and now has locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
BurgerFi: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Credit: Yana Paskova
John Rosatti opened the first BurgerFi in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2011, offering a fast-casual, eco-friendly setting and natural ingredients. It has since expanded all the way to the West Coast, and boasts a NYC location on the Upper East Side.
Burger King: Miami, FL
Business partners James McLamore and David Edgerton opened the pioneer Burger King in Miami, Florida in 1954, and by 1958 it was the famous "Home of the Whopper." By the 1970s, Burger King had a presence in New York, throughout the United States and abroad.
Wendy's: Columbus, OH
Dave Thomas, the white-haired businessman whose face anyone who watched TV between 1989 and 2002 knows well, opened the first Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. In 1975 it expanded to Canada, and by 1980, there were 2,000 Wendy's restaurants. A few months later, Wendy's was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, helping the company to continue on its fast track to success.
White Castle: Wichita, KS
Credit: Newsday / Rebecca Cooney
Walt A. Anderson and Edgar Waldo A. Ingram combined their skills (food and finance) to open the first White Castle in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, starting what is widely credited with being the first American fast food chain with five cent sliders.
Today, there is actually not a single White Castle restaurant in the state of Kansas, but there are locations in all five boroughs.
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