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Big Boy, the iconic American burger concept that looks retro but really just dates to 1936, is recognizing that tastes, times and business models have changed. In mid-July, Big Boy will open @burger, an upscale fast-casual burger concept with beer and wine in Ann Arbor, Mich., with intentions of opening more. That doesn’t mean the [...]

Rare Bar & Grill is serving up a bit of history to honor National Hamburger Day. Today, customers at its new location in New York City’s Fashion 26 Wyndham hotel on West 26th Street can get the famous “Louis Lunch” burger or Rare’s signature cheeseburger with fries and a beer for $20.10. After that, Rare [...]

No longer just a regional chain with retro carhops, Sonic Drive-In establishes itself as an innovative, national QSR power with a new game plan outlined to Wall Street this week at “Analysts Day” meetings at its Oklahoma City headquarters. That strategic plan includes the menu introductions this year of a line of Loaded Burgers, a [...]

In Switzerland and Austria, where it is greatly outnumbered by rival McDonald’s, Burger King has called on a celebrity/fashion photographer to give its brand and its burgers some eye-catching style. Austrian Manfred Baumann is the photographer for Burger King’s “eMOTIVe” print campaign, and the portfolio on his site showcases his photos of such stars as [...]

With its smaller rivals already struggling to match its sales, McDonald’s Corp. today told analysts that it and its franchisees will spend heavily on an accelerated “reimaging” of its restaurants, an effort that it says boosts remodeled stores’ sales by 6% to 7%. CFO Peter Bensen said the company will be “investing on a scale that [...]

Fresh from this week’s victory in BurgerBusiness.com’s 2010 Burger Brackets, Blanc Burgers + Bottles isn’t resting on its laurels. In fact, Circle Restaurant Group Partners Ernesto Peralta Jr. and Josh Eans (also its chef) aren’t resting at all. They’re working hard to finish their new restaurant, scheduled to open at the end of the month. [...]

Here, some call it “Mickey D’s” or just “McD’s.” In Australia it’s “Macca’s” and in France it’s commonly “McDo.” But McDonald’s lately is choosing to position itself simply and stylishly as “M,” branding itself with a single letter that mimics its Golden Arches logo. The latest incarnation of the “M” persona is a new “Best [...]

► It was one year ago that Burgerville launched its series of seasonal limited-time menu specials, a succession of products that has given both chains and indie burger joints a lesson in what menu creativity means. Fittingly, tomorrow (2/2) Burgerville brings back the Yukon & White Bean Basil Burger (at left) that kicked off the [...]

McDonald’s reported some impressive sales gains for 2009, but did so with little help from U.S. restaurants in the 4th quarter. Globally, same-store sales were up 10% for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, but rose only +0.1% in the U.S. (up 1% in December). For full-year 2009, global comp sales rose 3.8% and were [...]

Starting today, you can read BurgerBusiness.com for free at 11,500 U.S. McDonald’s locations as the chain shifts from paid to free Wi-Fi connections. It’s a bit of a gamble since the chain took in respectable change in the past from charging $2.95 from two hours’ connection. But with Starbucks giving holders of an active Starbucks [...]

Burger King unveiled its Whopper Bar prototype in March at Orlando’s Universal CityWalk as a sleek dining environment of the future. But, so far, the concept is functioning more practically as a menu testing ground. Last month, Burger King moved the Bourbon Whopper from the Whopper Bar menu to its stores across Canada. Now, Funnel Cake Sticks—a powdered-sugar-coated side [...]

[12/1 Update: See announcement of McD's President Ralph Alvarez's impending retirement here.] McDonald’s redesigned midtown Manhattan restaurant, reimagined with what the Associated Press called “European style,” received an astonishing amount of wide-eyed coverage and surprisingly little analysis. French architect Philippe Avanzi’s interior is nice but it’s most important as a tangible indication of a significant shift in [...]

In 2007, Tom Ryan and partners purchased a Denver burger joint, rebranding it Smashburger for the way fresh hamburger is smashed on its hot griddle. More than three dozen locations have followed and the company says it has sold franchisee agreements that will open more than 200 over the next five years. Smashburger is the [...]

Burger King dreams big and confidently. Chairman-CEO John Chidsey announced plans to redecorate the chain’s 12,000 locations worldwide, making them look more sleek, more modern and more like the BK Whopper Bar concept it has opened in Orlando; Das Einstein, Germany; and Singapore. Never known for understated style in advertising or decor, BK’s design of the [...]

While insisting that its in-store McDonald’s Channel is only in limited test, the No. 1 quick-service chain also is signing up content producers for the entertainment and advertising medium. A McDonald’s spokesperson confirmed a report in License! Global magazine that the chain has inked a deal with Glendale, Calif.-based Renegade Animation. It will supply its [...]