A veteran Delray Beach, Fla., restaurant operator has jumped into the already crowded better-burger fray with a new brand called BurgerFi.
Founder David Manero, who operates The Office and Vic and Angelo’s restaurants in South Florida, opened the first two locations of the fast-casual restaurant this year in Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach. Meanwhile, three franchisee-owned BurgerFi sites are under construction in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs.
Manero said the name BurgerFi is short for what he says is his goal of forging a “Burgerfication of the Nation.”
Prices range from $5.47 for a BurgerFi burger to $9.97 for the Ultimate Cheeseburger. Customers also can build a single burger for $3.97, a double burger for $5.97 and a triple for $6.97, adding more than available 50 toppings.
Craft beer and wine are available, along with naturally sweetened soda, custards and hot dogs. BurgerFi also offers a vegetarian option called a VegeFi quinoa burger for $6.77.
BurgerFi’s average per-person check is $9.25.
Customers place their order at a counter and are paged to pick up their food when it is ready.
Manero said sustainability is an important part of the BurgerFi concept, from the natural Angus beef used in the burgers to the recycled milk cartons that were crafted into outdoor chairs and tables. The restaurant’s interior is designed to have an urban, hip look, he added.
“The overall styling and design of our restaurants is very unique,” he said. “I saw the need to develop this type of restaurant concept for America. The American people are clamoring for a mid-price burger restaurant.”
Manero said he also has struck franchise deals for three BurgerFi restaurants in New York and one each in White Plains, N.Y., Los Angeles and Stamford, Conn.
While no locations have been open for a full year, Manero said he expects BurgerFi’s average unit volume will be in excess of $2.5 million.
The initial investment to open a BurgerFi franchise ranges from $313,750 to $627,083, which includes a franchise free of $37,500, according to the company website. Manero said there is also a 5.5-percent royalty fee.
All franchisees are required to attend a two-week training course at “BurgerFi University,” a 6,000-square-foot space in Palm Beach, Fla. A training team also goes to a franchisee’s store to instruct on BurgerFi cooking and service techniques.
Better burger chains have been proliferating in Florida. Tampa restaurant operator Bill Shumate launched Square 1 Burgers & Bar in the Tampa and Sarasota areas, and Tampa-based Front Burner Brands is expected to debut its second Burger 21 unit in the Tampa suburb of Carrollwood next Monday.
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In addition, Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan is opening a military-themed burger concept called Gyrene Hamburger in Naples, Fla., while South Florida-based Shula Burger — with corporate roots to legendary NFL coach Don Shula — aims to have 100 locations in the next five years.
Contact Alan Snel at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @AlanSnelNRN
