Burger Jones [MSP]

[Latinpig]

Has it opened yet?

[pgokey]

The sign in the window says May 17 (or is it 19?). I am excited to try this place out - I love a good burger.

[MayrMN]

Where is this place?

[salvage7]

Punch Pizza shopping plaza by Lake Calhoun.

[faith]

It is part of the shopping center on Minnetonka Blvd across the road from Whole Foods
Calhoun store, located next to Tryg's restaurant- there's a huge sign you can't miss if you drive by on Minnetonka. Punch pizza and Little Tel Aviv are in the same shopping center.

[MplsM ary]

It's a good thing they moved in. That strip mall is looking a little vacant now that MGM Liquor moved across the street (next to Whole Foods) and Calhoun Grill moved downtown.

Just a reminder there is parking behind the strip mall. I expect both front lots will be jammed when Burger Jones first opens. Oh, and the SW commuter path runs behind the mall too if you want to walk or bike there.

I wish them good luck. And I am hoping against hope there will be a vegetarian something on the menu, else to me it'll be like Applebees never left.

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Burger Jones
3200 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55416

[chefsuthers]

I am the chef for the upcoming Burger Jones. We are planning to open in mid-May.
Look forward to seeing you there

[Latinpig]

Did my own research

Though the menu at Burger Jones will have a higher price point than Smashburger, Roberts has confidence that his “witty,” table-service burger bar, also scheduled to open in May, will follow the success of the other Parasole restaurants, such as Chino Latino, Salut and Figlio, which have been performing well despite the dampened economy.

[Enso]

Burger Jones? Smashburger? Never heard of 'em.

Regale us with a bit more info...

[BigE]

Burger joints (national chains specifically) are blowing up. Smashburger and Five Guys are chains that are starting to swoop into the MSP area.

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx
http://www.mysmashburger.com/

For some reason, I think there is another national chain opening around here too (not Sonic), but I can't think of what it is.

Burger Jones is an upscale burger joint run by a local group.

[Enso]

From Five Guys website: "Zero Gluten, except for our buns"

???

I also looked at their menu. Lame. They project an upscale sense to me.

Smashburger looks like an A&W without the fun ordering from your car.

For either, if someone's already a fan, my power to 'em; otherwise it's hardly a culinary high.

[kevin47]

I'm a bit mystified by the buzz here, too. There are plenty of places to get a cheap burger, and many of them have cheap beer & wine as well. If I can get a burger and two beers for $14 at Vincent or Blue Door (or the Nook, or Matt's or 5-8 or McCoys or the Bulldog, or...) , what do I need Smashburger for? What niche are they filling, here?

[getgot211]

agreed.

they aren't locally owned and there's a very slim chance they'll be putting out burgers better than the above places. so whats the draw? something new I guess? great.

I guess if I'm in the area and really jonesin' for a burger...

[AnneInMpls]

Me, too, either. I don't understand why this thread hasn't been moved to the Chains board. Zzzzzzzzzzz.....

Anne

[MplsM ary]

[The first] Burger Jones hasn't opened yet so how can it be a chain?

[faith]

It does seem like we must be kind of needing excitement in a bad way if every new burger place gets a huge drumroll....I guess that's why they call us....Chowhounds.

[The Dairy Queen]

I don't have a problem with people getting excited about burgers if they are great. I love the burgers at the Nook and I still think I can be a chowhound.

~TDQ

[MSPD]

Amen TDQ. First, Burger Jones shouldn't be lumped in with the chains (Five Guys, Smashburger). Do I think the chains will supplant my burger favorites? Doubt it. But I'm all about giving everyone a fair shake.