Five Guys
 | |
| Company type | Hamburger Chain |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fast Food Restaurants |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Lorton, Virginia , USA |
| Products | Hamburgers, french fries, hot dogs, soft drinks |
| Website | http://www.fiveguys.com |
Five Guys is a fast casual restaurant chain that originated in Arlington, Virginia within the Washington Metropolitan Area. The chain sells mainly hamburgers and french fries.
History
Five Guys was founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrell and their four sons (with Jerry and the sons being the original "Five Guys").[1][2] Jerry and Janie had a fifth son two years after opening their first restaurant; all five sons, the current "Five Guys", are now involved in the business.[2] The first location, which no longer exists, was in the Westmont Shopping Center at the corner of South Glebe Road and Columbia Pike. Buns were baked by Brenner's Bakery of Arlington Inc., which was owned and operated by Gino E. Pellegrino and located in the same shopping center. Brenner's Bakery made all the rolls by hand until 2001, when Five Guys started to franchise their business.
In 2002, there were five locations in Northern Virginia run by the family. The restaurants had gained popularity among locals, and the Murrells decided to franchise the stores. The Murrells began franchising their concept with the help of Fransmart, a franchise sales organization started by Dan Rowe, located in Alexandria, Virginia. Former Washington Redskins kicker Mark Moseley, who had gone to work for Fransmart after his football career, played a key role in the sales of franchises, and went on to become Five Guys' director of franchise development after the Murrells ended their business relationship with Fransmart.[2]
As of May 2009[update], there are more than 400 locations along the East Coast from Florida to Massachusetts. Additional locations are in California, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Washington, DC, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Reception
Five Guys has received numerous awards in Washington area publications, including "Number 1 Burger" by Washingtonian Magazine for seven years. The Pitt News named Five Guys "Best Hamburger" in Pittsburgh in 2007.[3]
Since franchising, it has also received awards in other cities, including Annapolis, Charlotte, Richmond, Charlottesville, Johnstown, State College, Philadelphia,[4] Virginia Beach,[5] and Jacksonville.[6]
Menu
The Five Guys' menu is centered on hamburgers, with several other options available. The hamburgers are divided into a "regular" burger, which consists of two beef patties, and a "little" burger that has only one patty. Both burgers are offered with American cheese, bacon, and a combination of the two for an additional charge. All other toppings are free.
The menu also includes kosher-style hot dogs, available with cheese and bacon, and grilled cheese and vegetable sandwiches. There is only one side item, fresh-cut French fries served boardwalk-style and fried in pure peanut oil. The French fries come in two sizes and two varieties, regular "Five Guys style" or "Cajun" style. Most locations offer free in-the-shell peanuts for patrons to eat while they wait for their food to be cooked.
The location at Washington Dulles International Airport also sells breakfast, consisting of egg sandwiches on Five Guys' buns.
References
- ^ "The Washington Post, "Five Guys, Taking a Bigger Bite: Chain Ramps Up Expansion While Trying to Hang On to Family Charm"". Retrieved 2008-03-10.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|publication date=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Number 1 with a Burger" (PDF). Restaurant Business. 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ The Best Food - Best Of 2007
- ^ "Five Guys Homepage". Retrieved 2006-04-17.
- ^ "Virginia Beach Best Food & Dining". Retrieved 2007-06-26.
- ^ "Jacksonville Magazine's The Best of Jacksonville 2007" (PDF).