Burger chain comes to New Market

Kamryn Gaines, Reporter

BurgerFi is the newest restaurant chain to make its way into Wichita. Its focus is toward younger generations and bringing newer and healthier options when it comes to eating out.

With vegetarian and vegan options paired with freshly made fries and shakes, BurgerFi aims to be the perfect after-game meal.

The restaurant chain started off in Lauderdale-by-the-sea, Florida, in 2011 and has been expanding ever since. The chain now has 106 restaurants across the U.S., Panama, Kuwait and Mexico.

“[Our chain is] currently pushing into the Midwest and one of the top places for restaurants is Wichita,” general manager Alex Jones said.

BurgerFi’s goal is to change the way people eat out and give a better and healthier solution.   

“Burgerfication of the nation, we are changing the way people perceive burgers,”Jones said. “We use the top percent of what other restaurants use. We have vegetarian options and vegan options.”

Not only is BurgerFi trying to change the ways of fast food, the chain also focuses on making the best experience possible for their staff and customers by providing the best customer service.

“It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle,” Jones said. “A happy employee makes happy food makes happy people. You’re gonna get what you paid for. It’s not fast food; it’s fast casual.”

A great guest experience is not the only thing BurgerFi focuses on. The restaurant also uses recycled furniture in unique ways around their store.

“We are an old-fashion, urban-style restaurant; 80 percent of the furniture is recycled,” Jones said. “Chairs are parts of airplane, renewable pine wood, all of the paper you see here is 100 percent recycled. Some of the chairs are made from old Coca-Cola bottles, edison bulbs.”

This restaurant chain has received multiple awards for its work over the years.

“During our opening, we were No. 2 in the nation,” Jones said. “We are bearable now as we’re getting settled down. We’ve only been opened for seven years, but so far a new store has been opening up once a month.”

Sophomore Tadi Vaughn is one of the students who has visited the restaurant.

“It was pretty good, a little overpriced.” she said. “The workers are really nice and some are past Maize students.”

“Come out just to change your mind; it’s not your average burger,” Jones said. “This is what high schoolers are looking for. We are looking to get younger generations incoming. We’re trying to get into the younger generation, and that’s really all it’s about.