I Love Five Guys!

I Love Five Guys!

Haha, No, I do not have Five boyfriends… Nor do I even have one!

This is one of those statements that could easily be taken slightly out of context from how I intend it.
Any way you wish to interpret this, have fun with it. Although I guess in all fairness, you could look at a guy, and think "Where's the Beef?" That is Not the kind of beef I seek. The Five Guys I happen to love is actually a Burger-Joint.

In 2005 when I ended –up in Charlottesville, Va, I found myself in a brand-new world. I was in a place where everything I ever found comfort in did not exist. I was starting all over. One of those challenges was to find a feel-good place to get a great burger.

When I found Five Guys, I was not exactly looking for a burger-place, but one found me! I was exploring a shopping-center to see what stores were around. I also was hoping to find a bite to eat at the same time. I stumbled upon The Five Guys, and instantly knew I had found what I needed. The Five Guys was not a front-and center feature in the shopping center. It was actually tucked into a fairly secluded and almost dark back corner. There was a brightness emerging from the windows of the otherwise hidden and dark nook. Above the windows was red block-letter sign that only said “FIVE GUYS Burgers and Fries”. There was nothing to say exactly what this place was, but the bright red and white décor was inviting, and felt energetic. Inside, I could see that is a busy, comfortable, relaxed, but not overly crowded place. I drove past two more times just to be sure. I was definitely drawn to this place… although I was still not sure what kind of food they served.



I parked, and walked toward the place. As I walked in, I could tell it was not some crappy burger-place. I also could tell I had found exactly what I needed. As I entered, I was immediately filled with feel-goods! The energy, sights, smells, and feel of the place was very positive, happy, energetic, friendly, and comfortable. The place was sparkling-clean, with vivid bright red, and stark-white tiles, lamp fixtures, and décor. As you enter, you see large open boxes of peanuts in shells, and a sign inviting you to take a handful, and even
throw the shells on the floor. (I would later discover the sign on the door that said “If you are allergic to peanuts, do not even bother to enter. We use peanut-oil, and have open peanuts all over the place.”)

Then you notice how the line for ordering is formed… stacks of huge sacks of fresh potatoes in the red and white Five-Guys labeling form a dividing “wall” between the line and the tables.

The menu-board shows they simply do only three items… Hamburgers, hotdogs, and fries. But you quickly realize there are endless possibilities and selections. They make every burger, hotdog and fry fresh-to-order, and make it exactly how you ask for it. They never have pre-determined toppings… it is the customer’s choice. Every employee greets each customer, and they happily cook your order right in front of you! There is nothing hidden, and that is part of the appeal that makes it so comfortable. They happily add each item you wish to have on your dog, or burger, and they always make them accurately.

The Burgers are always fresh, juicy and perfect! (The sign says, “We always cook all of our burgers well-done.”) The Hot Dogs are grilled, not steamed, and are done to perfection! The fries come in two choices… Regular, or Cajun. They are fresh-cut, complete with the skin, and fried in peanut oil… fresh hot, crispy, and delicious! (a “small” order is waaay larger than you might imagine.)
Once you place your order, you start to look around some more. You grab a handful of peanuts, throw the shells on the floor, and eat some while you watch all that is going on around you. You notice all the wall-decorations are copies of articles written about Five Guys!

One of hundreds of quotes, signs, or articles inside and about a Five Guys

There are food-magazines, travel-magazines, local newspaper reviews, ratings about where different food-establishments rank compared to their competitors. There published articles showcasing the history, growth, and story of how Five Guys started. There are letters written from the community. There is a cork-board where you can add your own index-card-comments, drawings, or other musings. There are pictures, stories, and wonderful feel-goods related to community involvement, and outreach. The place is focused on the positive. The employees actually seem to enjoy their jobs. The customers are happy. So, while you eat your peanuts, look at all the fun all around you, and listen to the people cooking your food, you hardly notice that any time at all has passed. It is easily five to ten minutes from when you order, until your food is done. This is not a bad thing. You see how each customer’s order is cooked fresh, and you even see all the work these employees put into the detail of adding each topping as ordered to each item. The atmosphere is hardly one where you feel like your time is wasted.

Some of the best things come in plain
brown bags!

Once you get your order, you have been soaking in all the wonderful feels about this place, and then the real joy begins! The food is handed to you in an over-flowing brown-bag. They place your burger, or dog, wrapped in foil in the bottom of the bag, then they add a cup of the fries you ordered. Then they pour tons of loose fries on top to over fill the bag. You take your food to your table, and it is almost as wonderful as Christmas!

As you unwrap, and dig-in to your treats, it is both satisfying, and fun! You know from the very first fry you gobble down that these are the best fries you have ever had! As you unwrap the foil around your meal, you see, and smell how fresh, juicy, and delicious it will be. Then you bite into it. You have just found burger-heaven!



After that first visit, I knew I had found the absolute perfect burger-joint!

The next day at work, of course, I told my coworkers about my joy. As the new-comer to town, I expected that I was spreading old news. Surprisingly, none of my coworkers knew what Five Guys was! I was mortified that they had not already explored this. I began to go to Five Guys often, and share my joy with everyone who would listen. It did not take long before the word got around, and my coworkers started going, too! Then I started working at more than one Dominos, and I shared this joy with those people, too. It was always the same story… they had seen it, but never knew what it was, or ever considered trying it. It never took long to get more people interested, and also for them to become regular customers.

Over the next two years in Virginia, I converted many people to Five Guys Lovers. I was also pleasantly surprised when my managers, or even the owners of the company started giving me Five Guys Gift Certificates! My love of Five Guys was well-known by any who were around me in Virginia.

As I enjoyed Five Guys, I also continued to learn about their history, and geography. They were an East-coast company. I enjoyed many different Five Guys locations as I traveled around various areas of the upper-east Coast region of The US. Then in 2007, I found myself in Oregon again. I really did not grasp how important Five Guys had become to me, until I realized there were none anywhere on the West Coast! Finally, over a year later, I discovered one had just opened in Beaverton, Oregon! That was October, 2008. I immediately went to see if it was the same Five Guys, or a completely different thing, which happened to have the same name. As soon as I entered, I knew it was the same Five Guys! It did not take long until I was spreading the word to those in the Portland metro area about my love of this place. In the next few years, they also opened several more around the Portland Metro area. Also, while in Oregon, I discovered many wonderful street-vendors who truly understood what made burgers and hotdogs great! So, I was never far from any decent place to get a great burger, or hot dog.

Bacon and Mushrooms seem to bulge out of a Five Guys Hot Dog Bun!

In February of 2011, I moved to Las Vegas. Once again, I found myself in a brand-new world, with none of my old-favorite comfortable, happy burger-spots, or hot dog spots. I was very disappointed that the Vegas scene really does not understand good burgers, or hot dogs. It seemed that everyone who mentioned any place they considered a good burger, or hot dog only confirmed that the Vegas people really had never had a great burger, or even a good hot dog. Everyone in Vegas wants to promote the Chicago, or New York Style… But not a single one understands good old-fashioned American Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. I found that in Vegas, you pay extremely high prices, but get lousy food, and even worse service. They seem to want to sell a name, or the real estate the place sits on, but do not feel that creating a wonderful meal is worth their effort. And food carts? Forget it! There are no real food carts in Vegas! (They need to visit Portland to see how it is done properly!) I tried every burger place and hot dog place I could find. I got sick of wasting twenty bucks for a lousy burger, or dog! I searched the web, the news papers, and the phonebooks to hopefully find someplace that understood what a good Dog, or Burger was all about, without the exorbitant price just for a location, and a lousy meal.

In March I did see a Five Guys in quick passing. I was driving Anita somewhere, and the destination we were headed to was the important mission of the day. I saw a sign for a Five Guys. The part of town I was in was totally unfamiliar to me, and I actually had no idea where I currently was, or how to find it again. After that day, I searched and searched to hopefully find it again. I knew I had seen it, but I could not find it listed anywhere, nor could I find anyone who knew about it. I had almost given up hope of finding a great burger in Vegas. Then in September, I saw a one-line mention of Five Guys in a neighborhood newspaper. There was a Five Guys “in my neighborhood” according to this paper. This newspaper listed different food establishments within the surrounding neighborhood. This paper only mentions the street the places are located on, but not actual addresses. This “surrounding neighborhood” mentioned encompasses about six-square miles, and the street named also happens to run the whole length of town, so it would be another challenge to find this supposed Five Guys. I looked online again, and in the phone-books. No place were any Five Guys listed in Vegas.

The Five Guys Sign is not exactly obvious...
But I spotted it from the moving bus!

Finally, in October, 2011, I stumbled upon that Five Guys tucked into a small strip mall! As I went past on the bus, I recognized the street name and at the same time caught a glimpse of the long-ago familiar sign that is Five Guys. I got off that bus, and walked back to it. It was definitely just like the original one I had discovered so long ago in Virginia. It was almost hidden, and just waiting to be discovered. As I went inside, I felt old-familiar feelings surrounding me! By this time, I had also given up hope of finding polite, happy people in Vegas. That stop at Five Guys changed that for me! No matter how rude the Vegas people are, somehow Five Guys managed to find kind, happy, considerate people. I decided that if I ever need to find a new job in Vegas, I would go work at Five Guys.



I had finally found the Five Guys again! While talking to the manager, I learned there are indeed two others in Vegas! There was actually one other in Vegas, and one in Henderson. That explained the one I had passed when driving Anita in March! We went through Henderson, and I had no idea it was not Vegas! Since October, I have visited Five Guys many times. I still try other burger, or hot dog places every time I find one that looks promising, but I am still always disappointed.

I guess my love for great Burgers and Hotdogs has made it so I am very picky about what I would consider worth my money and time. I was taught early in life to appreciate the things that make me happy, and at the same time, seek quality, and expect great service. But there are some things I refuse to compromise on. Food is one of those areas. I refuse to pay for crappy service, and lousy food. If I am gonna get that, I might as well go to a cheap casino, and get a 99-cent hot dog. At least there I am not ripped-off, and actually get better service than I would expect for a buck. But so many Vegas places want to charge beteween 12 and 20 bucks for a lousy burger, and the workers act like they can be rude, because they cater to so many tourists, they assume they will never see those customers again. (And sadly, that attitude guarantees the customer would never return.) It does make me sad that so many people in Vegas are willing to compromise quality for some supposed famous name, or piece of real estate, instead of actually seeking a quality meal, friendly service, and a wonderful value all at the same time. At Five Guys, you get Excellent Service, Wonderful Food, and a Great Value! A Loaded Burger, or hot dog, and an insane amount of fries will not even cost ten bucks ata Five Guys!

I am happy to have finally found the Five Guys again, and will let everyone who wishes to listen know how wonderful they are.

I am not at all ashamed to admit “I LOVE FIVE GUYS!”
I leave you with a close-up of the Five Guys Cajun Fries.... Please do not Drool on the picture. ~=:-)