Less than one year after opening Five Star Burgers, owner Steve Gontram is moving ahead with plans to open a second location. No. 2 will be in Kirkwood at 312 S. Kirkwood Road in the just-closed Culpepper’s space, as reported by St. Louis Magazine’s George Mahe. The target opening date is Dec. 15.
Gontram was actively looking for a space in the St. Louis metro area for the last six months, he told The Scoop. He said he settled on Kirkwood because “it really fits our concept,” explaining that the community “has a great demographic, is a family-oriented area, and there’re a lot of great local restaurants.”
The first Five Star Burgers location opened in Clayton in October 2012. And while No. 2 is in the works, Gontram may just be getting started. He said he is looking to open a third location, eyeing the Central West End, Chesterfield, the Highway 40/Clarkson areas or even downtown St. Louis, with the goal to have doors unlocked during Five Star’s third year in business in St. Louis. (The Five Star Burger concept was originated in New Mexico by Gontram’s father. It also has locations in Colorado.)
Gontram discussed the success of the Clayton location with The Scoop, saying the restaurant exceed his expectations, especially its popularity with families, the wide age range of its customer base and its “good energy.” With its signature 5 Star Burger and specialty Dad’s Green Chile Cheeseburger topping the popularity chart among menu offerings, Gontram has thus far achieved what he set out to do: “I didn’t want to open a bar. I wanted to open a restaurant.”
-Photo by Jonathan Gayman
This article appears in September 2013.