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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Don't be discouraged when you arrive at Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries and see a long line. Believe me, the line moves fast and you will be delighted with some of the best hamburgers and fries you have ever tasted. There are two outlets in the Salt Lake area, one on Fort Union Boulevard and the other on South Sandy Parkway.
Five Guys was founded in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia. In 2002 there were five locations in Northern Virginia run exclusively by Jane and Jerry Murrell and their sons, the "Five Guys." The concept was so successful that the Murrells decided to franchise it. There are now successful outlets all over the United States. The Utah franchises are operated by Burgermeister, LLC. The company has negotiated a 50-restaurant, seven-year development agreement with Five Guys for Utah, Idaho and Oklahoma.
Burgermeister has a strong management team. Steven Hawes, Darryl Neider and William Hawes have extensive experience in real estate, business operations and finance, while Michael Cummings' strength is in restaurant franchise operations.
Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries menu is restricted to just a few items, including the griddle-cooked hamburger. The regular burger consists of two beef patties totaling nearly a half pound of beef, while the "little burger" has a quarter-pound patty. Don't be fooled by the little burger name; it's large enough that I could barely finish it and the accompanying order of fries was large enough to feed three people.
Diners can choose from a selection of toppings at no additional cost, except bacon and American cheese, which come with a minor charge. Besides burgers, the restaurant's other main item is fresh-cut French fries, made in boardwalk-style (long, thick-cut potatoes that are crispy on the outside with the soft consistency of a baked potato on the inside) and fried in peanut oil.
As I said, the line moves fast because of the well-trained employees and the methods in place to facilitate great food at a great price in an expeditous manner.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
