Smashburger Replacing Part of Former La Grange Borders
The burger chain will open its 11th Chicagoland location in the northwestern part of the former bookstore, which has been closed since last year.
The first new business in the former Borders in the heart of downtown La Grange (Hillgrove Avenue and La Grange Road) will be the 11th Chicagoland location of the Smashburger restaurant chain, slated to open later in November.
Founded in 2007 by fast-food chain veteran Tom Ryan, Smashburger has quickly grown to 178 locations nationwide. Its name refers to its burger-cooking style: dropping never-frozen beef meatballs onto a flat grill, then using a specialized tool to “smash” the meat into a patty, a process that the restaurant says lets the meat retain its juices and promotes a more evenly-cooked and better-tasting burger.
“We find that [La Grange] has got a great demographic population; it’s got a mix of residential as well as business,” said Smashburger spokeswoman Stacie Lange. “People love burgers, and they need a better burger restaurant like Smashburger in La Grange.”
The chain offers varying sizes of burger for varying sizes of appetite, on five different types of buns. It rounds out its menu with grilled and crispy chicken, salads, veggie burgers and hot dogs, along with unique sides like oil-and-rosemary-garnished fries, fried pickles, sweet-potato fries and very lightly crisped carrots and green beans. (Check out the Elmhurst location’s menu here.)
Some of its offerings are region-specific; for instance, Chicagoland stops get the option of a pretzel-roll bun, the Windy City burger with cheddar, onions, lettuce, tomato and mustard, and Goose Island on the beer list.
Yes, they also have a beer list.
“The alcohol allows us to be appropriate for a variety of occasions,” Lange said. “People who are looking for just a quick bite to eat at lunch, they can come in and get exactly that; people who are looking to, say, celebrate a guys’ night out or a girls’ night out or a big win after a game, we offer ourselves to that occasion as well.”
The restaurant will take up about 2,000 sq. ft. of the former Borders and have eat-in seating for 60.
Borders vacated the property after the chain declared bankruptcy in 2011.
Susan French
8:11 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
YEAH!!! Like we need another restaurant in La Grange! Seriously?
Vegasdog.
8:53 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Hey Susan...we do! Not to be a jerk but what would you prefer? Another bead store? Let me say it agian-does anyone remember what downtown was like even in the 90's? it was the dead zone. Like it or not, business brings money and people to the town. I personally, to be frank, dont want to die old here. I want to be able to sell my house for a nice price some day. Haveing a vibrant downtown will aid me in that endeavor! So I say-bring it!
Cynthia Weller
9:22 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Smashburger is awesome! Can't wait for it to open.
Andrew
10:06 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Thank you Anthony! I remember downtown in the 80's and 90's, there were so many empty storefronts a downtown revitalization group had to decorate the windows so it looked better. Yes we have many resteraunts downtown, but guess what, every Friday and Saturday night they're packed. Any new business in downtown La Grange is good for La Grange
Vegasdog.
11:39 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I'm with ya Andrew! I'll be the first to tell you sometimes it's hard to park downtown, the tweens are obnoxious, etc. But when it's crowded-it's commerce-which is good for all of us! Dont forget-it's employment too. I know a lot of people who are desperate for work and would gladly take a job at a burger joint with no questions asked! What bums me out is the long time townies who poo-poo everthing yet never bother to go out and enjoy what the town has to offer! Come on, grab a glove and get in the game(ie life)! Put the remote down and take a walk into town. Your supporting local business and helping employ your neighbors!
prairiemoon
12:48 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I thought Barnes & Noble would have been a natural choice to take Borders' place.
Susan R.
2:07 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I'm sure Smashburger will be nice, but I fear what may happen to Back Alley Burger when another high quality burger place move in 1/2 block away. Especially when the new guy has parking and more seating. Then again, if we can support roughly a dozen Italian restaurants and that many Mexican, maybe Smashburger and BAB can co-exist.
Darren McRoy
4:56 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Thanks for all the great comments, guys!!
Mouse
6:46 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Meh. More mediocre food, bad service and low-wage jobs. Just what we need.
David Pittman
7:44 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Sad to see this coming in. We already have great options for burgers at Back Alley Burger, Nickson's and Palmer's, all within 3 blocks south. I'd love to see a true Greek restaurant to rival Greektown. More variety, less chains!
4lici4
6:00 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I'm with David: more variety, less chains! If there has to be competition for small business owners, it should be with other small businesses & not big boxes.
Velma Johnson
7:18 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I think Smashburger will be a asset to Lagrange. I just hope it won't be a hangout place. GREAT LOCATION!
Oscar Madison
9:55 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Amazing. A new business is opening in an abandoned store, and people complain.
Mouse
6:03 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I'll remember your comment the next time that pawn shop applies for a business license.
Kate Gilmartin
12:16 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Any idea what is going in at the old 7 eleven by the post office? The building is looking nice with the facelift.
Darren McRoy
12:44 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Thanks for the heads-up! I'll check it out.
Cheryl P
5:34 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
At least it's not another bank.
Darren McRoy
5:36 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Went to downtown La Grange today to get laundry quarters. I do like having three or four choices for where to change my $20. :-)
Susan French
7:07 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I so would have hoped that the old Borders space would have been taken over by Barnes and Noble also, prairiemoon. And yes, Anthony P., I WOULD prefer another bead store.
Alvarez
11:57 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
I would have preferred a Barnes and Noble store as well. I even sent them an "invitation" to come to La Grange! Their response was..."We will get back to you after the Holiday Season." :( It seems it will be too late, if Smashburger opens up. I MISS Borders!
Jeannie
5:13 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Everyone misses Borders. It's my understanding that restaurants bring in the most tax dollars to the Village. I'm for anything that will bring down our taxes.
Darren McRoy
5:57 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Or at the very least, keep them from going up.
Deb Rn
9:54 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
The 7-11 is being remodeled for Little People's expansion
Andrea
3:51 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
I do think we have a lot of burger and pizza places but we do need to get more business in! Regardless of what type of business it is its better then an empty store front! Ideal would be a Buffalo Wild Wings next door!