Epic Burger Opens First Restaurant
“The Quest for the Perfect Burger”
Arrives in the South Loop Chicago

CHICAGO (May, 2008)—The quest for the perfect burger has just been answered. The first Epic Burger restaurant will introduce a “more mindful burger” to Chicago’s South Loop. This contemporary version of the classic American burger joint was designed for the time-starved, convenience-craving customer who is on the hunt for a delicious, natural alternative to the over-processed mystery food that lines fast food row. Imagine: an all-natural burger, freshly baked bun, farm fresh vegetables and flavors designed by a seasoned chef. It’s a bigger, better burger reality…and it’s Epic!

HOW THE EPIC IDEA WAS BORN:
The Epic Burger concept was born when renowned Chef, David Friedman, found himself on a roadtrip with a massive craving for a burger.  After considering his options – the king, the clown or the red-headed stepchild, he thought, there really ought to be something better.  David went to work on creating the better burger experience.  Drawing on his culinary roots, he kept it simple and went back to the basics, creating a concept which uses only the best ingredients.  He wants to satiate America’s annual $59 billion burger cravings by providing them with the same farm-raised, fresh ingredients that he has always used, given his high standards as a chef. By applying these standards to a fast casual food concept and integrating his classical culinary training, the “epic” idea has been born.

The Epic Burger menu features 100% all natural, never frozen, hand-packed beef and turkey burgers, all-natural chicken breasts and portabella mushroom burgers all cooked fresh to order and topped with hand-crafted Wisconsin cheeses.  Epic Burger buns are baked fresh daily and have no preservatives or artificial ingredients.  Fries are made with fresh, hand cut potatoes cooked with zero trans fats and seasoned with pure sea salt.  Epic Burger also features shakes and smoothies made with all natural ice cream and fat free frozen yogurt.  In a time when people are seeking authenticity and value among their choices, Epic Burger promises to deliver by offering a better burger experience.   

Founder, David Friedman, is excited to introduce Chicago to a “more mindful burger.”  Friedman says, “I am proud to serve burgers and fries the way they used to taste before the industrialization of restaurants and farms.  No drugs, artificial ingredients or preservatives are used.  We offer opportunity and accessibility to all people to taste unadulterated food in its simplest and most humble form.”  In addition, “Epic Burger is a premium, fast-casual burger concept offering a better tasting, all natural burger to be enjoyed in, or carried out of, a location with a fun modern design and an eye towards being environmentally conscious.  No petroleum-based packaging will be used. We recycle, and all equipment is energy star rated,” says Constance Freedman of the Cue Ball Group, who is assisting with the Epic Burger launch. 

Epic Burger occupies approximately 2,400 square feet of prime real estate in Chicago’s burgeoning South Loop neighborhood at 517 State Street, adjacent to the Columbia College campus and many premier Chicago businesses.  Epic Burger opens everyday at 11:00 AM and stays open until 10:00PM Monday – Thursday, 12:00AM on Fridays and Saturdays and 9:00PM on Sundays.  The average cost of a burger is $5.99.

ABOUT EPIC BURGER:
David Friedman, the brainchild of this chef-driven burger concept, has an impressive resume boasting over 25 years in the restaurant industry.  After attending the Culinary Institute of America in New York, he served as Owner and Operator of Chicago’s Elbo Room, Director of New Product Development for Boston Market and has traveled as a culinary consultant to food service chains and manufacturers around the world.  Once Friedman decided to move forward with his vision of a contemporary version of the classic American Burger joint, he tapped a best-in-class design team, VSA Partners to develop the brand, internationally renowned Garofalo Architects to create the space, and the premier venture capital firm focused on consumer and lifestyle concepts, Cue Ball, to turn his vision into reality.  Collectively, the team has gathered advisors who are top executives of some of the nation’s leading restaurants and consumer brands to hone in on just the perfect offering.  The flagship Epic Burger restaurant will be the first of many more in Chicago – and if the team has their way, they will soon be serving up Epic goodness everywhere.  For more information, visit www.epicburger.com

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