Named as Ireland’s best burger in 2019, Handsome Burger have been adapting their business since they started as a pop up over three years ago. 2020 was the same for the burger boys business as every other hospitality owner in the country, they had to close, then reimagine how their business would reopen and would now work for where the world is at now.
Throughout the lockdown, the company which employs 22 people was now back to the founders only, from 22 to 3, this in itself was hard to comprehend when all the plans for 2020 and beyond were of expansion. Handsome Burger reimagined was all about the do it yourself at home burger box, creating Handsome at Home kept the business afloat, it allowed them to bring back staff and it ensured that the brand they had worked on was still relevant.
Bit by bit the Handsome operation expanded, the HQ on Dominick Street which they opened in 2019, was now a collection point and take away only. As restrictions lifted, “We felt we could safely open again. We had the lads in that helped us kit out the restaurant back to fit it out to all the requirements and then had to change this again once we were ready to open for sit in customers. It’s a big expense back on the business but we wanted our customers back in those doors and not to forget what we do best. We expanded our covered outdoor eating area as well, so as to have more space and more options to eat with us,” explained Rory McCormack Owner of Handsome Burger.
Handsome Burger Popped up in Athlone earlier this year at Maisies and it was a very successful bringing the burgers and their buzz to the Midlands. From here other locations were sought and now Handsome Burger is popping up in Limerick at Flannerys and in Westport at Henehans Bar. The collaboration with pubs has allowed Handsome to expand their customer base whilst their ethos and overall food style remains absolutely true to their providence as a market stall on day one. Local meat, freshly baked buns, Irish cheese, spuds and all the signature sauces and cooking methods go everywhere they set up.
Now the Handsome Burger business has taken back on their 22 staff and are operational across three counties, the Handsome at Home burger DIY kits have been shipped to every county in Ireland and they are now launching their own cocktail bar at the HQ. Oh and not to mention they have just launched their own beer brew, the Handsome which is a Helles Style lager available in house in Galways westend.
Talking on Handsome Burger as of now Rory remarked, “Its been an absolutely roller-coaster year. It has been so challenging just trying to get your head around a pandemic, one that affects every aspect of your life. Our business is personal, it’s our absolute life and letting go our staff was one of the hardest days we have had. But perseverance, hard work as well as staying positive and adapting has meant we now have the Handsome team back and we are growing. Each day we take at a time and we are grateful that we have such incredible customers and our Galway home and base has been one of the best things for us to realise out of all this.”
Enjoy the Handsome classic the BOB, The Roost, Loaded fries and of course those traditional triple cooked rosemary fries in Galway, Limerick and Mayo or enjoy a Handsome at home. For more check out Handsome Burger across social channels and at https://handsomeburger.com/.
