Hwy 55 Burgers Stretching Into Atlanta

Atlanta's restaurant scene is about to get even more meaty.

Yet another burger chain has cast its sights on metro Atlanta's fast-casual dining consumer. At this year's International Council of Shopping Center's Southeast conference this past week at the Cobb Galleria, Southern Kitchens Restaurant Group was showcasing Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries concept to real estate pros.

And Southern Kitchens' John Greene tells us they're looking to establish up to 10 locations in metro Atlanta. That is, when they find a franchisee. (Southern Kitchens is the master franchiser for Georgia.) John says until a franchisee is selected, it's unable to move forward with an expansion into Atlanta.

Hwy 55—founded in North Carolina in 1991—takes a '50s diner concept by look and also uses only fresh meat instead of frozen patties, John says. And it would be the latest entry into a quickly crowding gourmet burger chain category.

Fast food mainstays like Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's and higher-end burger chains like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Bobby's Cheeseburgers, Flip Burger, Yeah! Burger, Smashburger, Burger 21 and Shake Shack are already here, and the past few months alone have spurred news of other players eyeing Atlanta, including Bad Daddy Burger Bars and Burgerim. 

According to company info, Hwy 55 is seeking to be inline on major shopping centers in highly concentrated areas with a population of 5,000 or more within two miles, with a median household income of $35k/year.

That could include grocery-anchored centers, movie theater centers and some malls, officials say. The chain has entered Georgia already with a site in Brunswick and one headed to Waycross, John says.