Smashburger restaurant opens in Butler County

Nick Daggy/Staff photographer Smashburger, a new burger joint in West Chester Twp., serves fresh to order burgers made with 100% Angus Beef.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Nick Daggy/Staff photographer Rebekah Dull serves customers their food at the new Smashburger Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, in West Chester Twp.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Nick Daggy/Staff photographer Smashburger, a new burger joint in West Chester Twp., serves fresh to order burgers made with 100% Angus Beef.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer 12:53 PM Tuesday, December 21, 2010

WEST CHESTER TWP. — There’s a new burger in town.

Just two days after Smashburger opened its doors off Cox Road across from the Voice of America shopping center, West Chester Twp. residents Gary and Gina Lavon were eating burgers there for the second time.

“They’re great burgers,” Gary Lavon said.

They are so great, he ranked them highest on his list of favorites ahead of In-N-Out Burger, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Quatman Cafe.

“It’s a better burger than you can ever imagine making at home,” he said.

Liberty Twp. residents Kurt and Margo Garver said the burgers were “really good,” but the smash fries also earned their taste buds’ affection.

“I like that they have such a variety,” Margo Garver said of the menu that includes chicken, hotdogs, salads and milk shakes.

Amy Kessling, operating partner for the franchise, said she fell in love with the restaurant after she and her business partner, Tom Rodenkirch, discovered it in Denver.

Together, they have 60 years of experience in the restaurant business, mainly with Wendy’s.

This is Kessling’s third Smashburger restaurant, with two in Dayton and a third coming soon to that area. The Smashburger Operator of the Year also expects to open a new location this Spring in Blue Ash.

“People have been very, very receptive and very excited about it,” she said.

The restaurant — located in a former flooring store — stands out, she said, because the food is made fresh to order, it is a good price and there is a wide variety from which to choose. Burgers are made with a special smash technique to ensure the 100 percent Angus beef is juicy. About 1,400 people walked through the doors Saturday and Sunday for the opening weekend, she said.

“It’s definitely exceeded our expectations for the opening.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.

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