Editor’s Note: The opening of Burger Lounge has moved a few days later – to Thursday, July 17th this week, and our story has been altered to include the new opening date.
Not many would think that opening a burger restaurant in a location where another burger joint, Hamburger Hamlet just failed, would be a good idea. But La Jolla-based Burger Lounge, billed as the “burger you feel good about eating” believes Larchmont Village is going to work for their organic grass-fed beef burgers. Burger Lounge is set to open July 17, 2014.
“Taking over the old hamburger hamlet location, our biggest design challenge was to make the small store front facade seem interesting and inviting,” Melissa Young, Studio MY ID designer of the space told the Buzz. “We pushed back the existing storefront about 15 feet to make more of a patio space so guests could sit outside, watch the street scene and even bring their dogs for some grass fed love. In order to create more of a connection with the interior and exterior space we used a large glass storefront with divided light windows and steel mullions.”
The core of the Burger Lounge success is using organic ingredients sourced locally. “Establishing great partnerships with grass-fed beef suppliers has been part of our model since the beginning” J. Dean Loring, co-founder of Burger Lounge, was quoted in a press release. “We work closely with our growers. We source from two family ranches that have been around for a very long time. We know a lot about these animals including where and how they are raised, what they eat and how they are treated. It is a humane process and we think that matters.”
Burger Lounge will not have a medical marijuana facility renting space one floor above: Canto Diem found a way to get out of its lease after business owners, local residents, the City Attorney and Councilman Tom LaBonge made it clear that Larchmont Village was not going to be the home of the dispensary. There are currently “For Lease” signs on the second floor of the building.
The front facade will be repainted, and Burger Lounge and is working with the day spa on the second floor to update their signage to better integrate with the property’s new look.
Hours of operation will be 10:30 am to 10 pm daily. Burger Lounge does not accept reservations but will offer walk-in, take-out and online ordering.
Editor’s Note: The opening date was earlier incorrectly published as July 25, but has been changed to the correct date of July 15, 2014.
We are grateful for the Buzz and want to let everyone know our opening date is actually July 15th.
Thank you, see you then!