Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Continuing Organic Growth, Farm Burger to Open Next in Berkeley...California

Farm Burger is going to California for its latest location.



Atlanta-based Farm Burger will open its fifth overall location, and first out of the southeast, later this year in Berkeley, California.  The healthy burger concept started in Decatur in 2010 and has since grown to include additional locations in Buckhead and Dunwoody as well one in Asheville, North Carolina

George Frangos, together with business partner Jason Mann, will open the new Farm Burger in West Berkeley.

The Farm Burger will open in a  renovated and renamed shopping center anchored by a relatively new Whole Foods Market as well as upcoming Road Runner Sports.  Formerly known as Gilman Village, the center's new name is Gilman Crossings and features a number of new tenants and center enhancements.

Jason Mann is a 2000 graduate of the University of California-Berkeley, and had been living in San Diego for over a year.  Mann was a founding partner of Farm 255 (in Athens) which in turn sprouted the first Farm Burger in Decatur. With many of the founding partners involved in other endeavors, Farm 255 closed last year, after eight years in business.   Seizing the opportunity to open an outpost of Farm Burger in an area that Mann is not only familiar with, but also credits with growing him as a farmer and restaurateur, the pieces came together for a Farm Burger in Berkeley.

While rumors of this planned opening have been circulating for over a month, only this week was I able to get confirmation of an executed lease and expected opening from Frangos, who will remain in Atlanta. Frangos also shared that while there are no deals far enough along to speak of, there are always "coals in the fire," and the group does have a "wish list" of southern cities they see as ideal for their concept.

The Berkeley location of Farm Burger is expected to open "later summer / early fall."

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