Local Burger

It's all about connections (and good food)

Local 360 in Belltown has a big menu, yet the best selling item on the menu is the Grind House Burger. Customers ask if they'll add more burgers, but that isn't where owners Marcus Charles and Josh Groff want the restaurant to go.

Josh felt they could do something on a smaller scale, sticking with their 360 mile radius, and creating a great local burger house. "There's a white space to be filled," says Josh. "You have people like John Howie doing a great high-end burger, and then it goes to Red Robin. We wanted to offer a great burger with the local angle." Marcus was in, but with his various business interests, just didn't have time. He is an owner, but Josh holds the day-to-day reins.

Josh Groff

"We do comfort food that's familiar while stretching peoples' expectations, with interesting spins on different types of burgers as well as doing familiar burgers really well. We offer rotating specialty burgers like the Seoul Burger with fresh kimchi and made-in-house Korean barbecue sauce; or the Emmelina Oregon water buffalo burger with ginger/cucumber slaw and umami sauce; or the Wunderburger for Oktoberfest with a beef and pork patty, roasted kraut, and a pretzel bun. If something goes over big, we'll add it to the menu, otherwise, we just like to have fun doing seasonal things or creating unexpected fusions." They also have vegetarian options like their Palouse Lentil burger made with roasted vegetables, spices, pickled red onion, lettuce and a garlic beet spread. "I don't brag about a lot of things, but I really love this burger and eat it about three times a week. It's so fantastic." Chef Josh Holmes spent a year at Local 360 before moving to Local Burger.

Connections drive this concept: the restaurant to the local community, guests to local farmers and producers so they know where their food and alcohol comes from, providing a larger meaning than just being a great place to eat and hang out (also their goal). "We want people to have those connections-they can make our food at home because they can get it themselves," says Josh. "Supporting the community is a big thing to us, and it resonates with people. We've had great support from younger people and families. Kids want cheeseburgers and parents want them to eat good quality food as well as being able to enjoy the evening out themselves with more adventuresome food and beverages. Our beef is 100% never frozen grass fed and we use local, sustainably farmed/produced products, organic whenever possible. We're a scratch kitchen with lots of prep time built into our model."

Connections to farmers have been built over the five years Local 360 has been in operation and are being expanded at Local Burger. Their Farmhouse burger has a foie gras torchon on top of the patty. The foie gras comes from a farmer outside Puyallup. Josh's wife is Vietnamese and her mother makes a lemongrass marinade that Josh wanted to use for a Banh Mi burger. They get fresh lemongrass from the Olympic Peninsula. All beer (24 taps), wine and spirits are local, no national brands. "I think we might be more militant on the alcohol than on the food," laughs Josh. "There is so much to choose from locally."

They're located in the old Salute restaurant on Main Street. "We like that it's a bustling community. Plus there are 1000 new apartment units within three blocks of us to be finalized within 12-14 months. We feel we're well positioned to offer them what they want-that local angle and comfortable feel."

Josh has been working in the industry in some way since he was 16 (click here to see his background). "I love the hustle and energy in the hospitality industry. My wife and I are the kind of people who eat out every meal." While looking for a bar to buy, he met Marcus and they became friends, eventually opening Local 360 in January 2011.

The big surprise to Josh in opening Local Burger was that he expected to be a better operator out of the gate. "You hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Our permits came through on July 3, 2014, so I told everyone, 'we're opening tomorrow, July 4' and we went for it. It was mayhem. We didn't execute well. We were crushed with business but not ready. We took a lot of lumps and I made so many apology calls and emails. We didn't have standards and structure in place and had to find the balance of cost control without sacrificing quality. It would have been even worse without Marcus involved--he was my sounding board and consultant."

They've worked hard on training staff to ensure their concept and what makes them different is shared with customers. Fun events are offered, like Dyne, where Chef Josh will create different themes for 3-4 months. Brewer Nights have a local brewer on hand to talk to customers, Tuesday trivia nights are for Geeks who Drink, and Beer Monday has specially priced growlers and discounted beer with burgers.

Local Burgers offers a family-friendly atmosphere that makes all family members happy.

Local Burger
10134 Main Street
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-454-8559

www.localburger.org

Photos courtesy of Local Burger

Connie Adams/July 2015