Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries, the highly and widely celebrated retro family-friendly diner and the Official Restaurant of National Hamburger Day, is ready to make company history on that day – Sunday, May 28, 2017 – with $.55 Lil’ Hamburgers in hopes of setting a record for most hamburgers sold by Hwy 55 in a single day.
Hwy 55 will feature the $.55 fresh, never-frozen hand pattied burgers with its secret seasonings from 5 pm to close at all Hwy 55 restaurants. The Lil’ Hamburger, which can be topped at no additional cost with 13 toppings, including mustard, onions, slaw, chili, mayonnaise, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles, jalapeño peppers, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions and grilled bell peppers, is normally priced at $2.99. The offer is for dine-in only and there is a limit of two per guest.
The idea was the brainchild of Hwy 55 president Kenney Moore, who 26 years ago decided to put his commitment to authentic hospitality and the world’s best burgers under one roof. Moore originally named his restaurant after his son, calling it Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers, and he even flipped every burger himself for the first two years.
“I founded Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries to provide something that I felt was missing: great food, friendly service and honest value at the same place,” says Hwy 55 president Kenney Moore, who documented his journey in the book Behind the Drive, which details his journey from growing up poor to now running one of America’s fastest-growing burger companies. “Hwy 55 is a true American success story and we are looking forward to celebrating National Hamburger Day with our wonderful fans and friends as they feast on our incredible hamburgers. We hope to set a company record on this special day.”
Once a well-kept secret in tiny but vibrant Mount Olive, North Carolina, Hwy 55 now operates 132 restaurants and has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations around the world. Hwy 55 has also signed franchise area agreements for Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky and southern Indiana and Virginia in the past year. The brand plans to open approximately 25 more locations in 2017.
Hwy 55 will also host the Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries World Hamburger Eating Championship, the only hamburger eating competition recognized by All Pro Eating, in 2017. It will be held at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 20, 2017 at noon. It is the company’s first national foray into full-on competitive eating although the brand daily for years has featured the 55 Challenge.
In the 55 Challenge, guests receive a 55-ounce burger with seven patties and at least four trimmings, fries and 24-ounce drink. If guests can consume it all in 30 minutes, it’s free and Hwy 55 will put the guests name on their website for bragging rights. If a guest is unable to finish the meal in 30 minutes, it costs $29.99.
