Five Guys Burger and Fries located on South State Street opened its doors yesterday to students and Ann Arbor locals who streamed in to get their burger fix.
Originally set to open in November, the restaurant opened yesterday after construction delays and time taken to hire employees after winter break, Brian Adelman, co-owner of the Ann Arbor branch, said.
Adelman said this location is the first of the Five Guys restaurants he’s opened with lower-level seating in addition to the main floor. Adelman has opened two other locations — one in East Lansing and the other in Livonia, Mich. — within the past four months.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. yesterday, the line to the cash register had been consistently to the door.
“It might not stop,” Adelman said in the afternoon, adding that he’s experienced opening days that are busy from open to close.
During the wait, peanuts are available for customers to snack on in the dining area. There’s also a monitor that shows the lower floor so customers can check for open tables before going downstairs.
Adelman said he was unaware the opening fell on the same day as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day when he picked Jan. 17. He said opening on a Monday is preferable since it allows for a good buildup to the weekend, which tends to be the busiest business days for Five Guys.
Rackham students Tyler and Darcy Huismann, who went to Five Guys yesterday, said they thought the holiday could even increase business because students have extra time to go out to eat since there weren’t any classes.
They also expressed how much they like Five Guys, saying that they limit the condiments they put on their burgers “because the burger itself is so good,” Darcy said.
All of the toppings — such as lettuce, tomato, pickles and mushrooms — are included in the price of each burger. Five Guys “regular” burgers at $4.99 all have two patties while their “little” burgers have one, priced at $3.69.
LSA junior Jacob Van Oosterhout, who ate at the restaurant yesterday, said he’d been to a Five Guys previously and enjoyed the “exceptionally high-quality” food.
“I can foresee spending a lot of money here,” Van Oosterhout said.
Engineering sophomore Stephen Cprek said he’d never been to a Five Guys before yesterday but decided to come with some friends to try the food.
“(It is) much better than the Shaman Drum Bookshop,” Cprek joked, referring to the bookstore that previously occupied the space.
Ann Arbor resident Ted Hughes said he planned ahead to come opening day. He said he travels all over the country for business and is already a loyal customer to the chain.
“For me, it’s the only fast food burger that’s as good as In-N-Out Burger,” Hughes said.