LSAClassOf2000

July 7th, 2014 at 6:31 PM ^

Here's a reprint of the story about Jerry Murrell that appeared in the Fall 2011 edition of Alumnus:

(LINK)

More than just a Michigan alum, he is an Alpena native. With regards to his campus experience, he said:

"I only applied to one school," he says. For a kid who had never been out of Michigan, university life-and the shocking array of on-campus brainpower-delivered a life-changing, soul-motivating lesson. "With all these scholars around me, I thought I was out of my league. It woke me up to the competition I was going to face in life and made me humble," Murrell says.

There is also some interesting tidbits about the founding of the business and his background in the article. 

sadeto

July 7th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^

My kids used to ask me to take them to Five Guys after hockey practice. Not impressed. I'd much rather walk into any Irish bar, chances are the burger will be bigger, better, and not much more expensive. 

sadeto

July 7th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^

Negbang me, but I proved the obvious tonight. Had a bacon cheeseburger with fries at my local Irish pub for $11 tonight, cheaper than Five Guys and light years better. Why anyone who lives anywhere near civilization walks into a chain to get a burger is incomprehensible. 

MaizeNBlu628

July 7th, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^

I grew up on 5 guys at the beach in MD, being from the east coast. I had no idea about the Michigan connection though! I love their fries, I could just get an order of fries for lunch, they give you a while brown bag full.

slama

July 7th, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^

Best Burger in AA. Ground rules 1. It has to be a place which predominately serves burgers or could be classified as a tavern or pub 2. No major national chains 3. High quality beef gets extra credit 4. Burgers should be judged only after consuming alcohol.

1. Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. Any list that does not start with Blimpy Burger should be automatically disqualified. The year hiatus has been difficult but hope is on the horizon.

2. Frita Batidos. A little Cuban flavor off of Main St. Well worth the wait.

3. Knight's Steakhouse. An AA classic, may break rule 1 a little but needs to be here. Order an Old Fashioned or Manhattan to wash it down.

4. Jolly Pumpkin. Great beer and fantastic burger. Highly recommended.

5. BurgerFi. New kid in town, prime location on University, tasty burgers and the onion rings are gigantic. Added bonus they serve beer and service is quick (technically a chain but who cares).

Bonus: Elevation Burger on Washtenaw, a small national chain serving organic grass fed beef and fries cooked in olive oil. No pink slime here.

cozy200

July 7th, 2014 at 9:09 PM ^

Five Guys is ok, love their theme. Burgatory a new small chain in Pittsburgh is amazing. Bison, wagyu, chicken, grass fed beef all the fixans. Check it out.

Wolverine In Iowa

July 7th, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^

I go to a Five Guys near my mom's house in Northern Virginia whenever I'm out there, but I haven't been to one anywhere else.  It's pretty good after a night of swilling beer.

Smashburger - disgusting.  It was like eating (and I ate about three bites) a block of salt.  Completely unacceptable, and I like salty food.

bostonsix

July 7th, 2014 at 11:37 PM ^

About the first time I had ever eaten at five guys, at my expense. I was a cabinet installer about 6 years ago, and had to go to Indiana for the job. We were there for a week at a mall complex, and we ate at five guys for the entire week. When we got back about a week later, the three co workers that went with me and 15 other employees were on break. Being from Dayton Ohio, at that time we did not have a five guys around. I was starving at about 9 a.m. And I looked over to one of the workers that went with me and said out loud," you know what sounds good right now? Five guys!" at that time the entire break room got silent. This is when I realized that everyone has heard me. That was a very difficult one to backtrack out of.

trueblueintexas

July 8th, 2014 at 12:06 AM ^

If you have had the benefit of living in Austin, TX you don't care about any of these arguments. It's Mighty Fine and Hopdoddy's all the way. They are not true fast food joints, more like medium food for Mighty Fine, and give it a while for Hopdoddy's. But after having a burger at those two joints I have not had a fast food burger since.
Now I'm kicking it in St. Paul, MN and I guess the Nook is my new place. Still doesn't top the two in Austin though.

MGoUberBlue

July 8th, 2014 at 6:18 AM ^

A really good article about Five Guys in Forbes magazine a few years ago, starting with Jerry Murrell at UM, the evolution of the company, the franchise years and now buying back some of the underperforming franchises.

BlueFordSoftTop

July 8th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

 
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co. is known for its pizza in a cup.  CPOG lines a ramekin with cheeses, dollops sauce and places the pizza crust over all.  The baked product is then brought to table resembling an over-sized muffin or mushroom.  The server wears oven mitts and uses spoons to expertly remove the ramekin from the pizza ensemble.  Presto digito - Cup O' Pizza.  I live two blocks away from CPOG and whenever the inlaws visit, like this past holiday weekend, they insist we take them there.  Just don't be put-off by the long lines, they move quickly.  Plus you have a direct view of the site where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre occurred, so photo op if you bring along your "Chicago Typewriter."  http://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/