Five Guys

Five Guys was founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrell. Jerry and the couple's sons Jim, Matt, Chad, and Ben were the original "Five Guys".{{cite news|title=Five Guys, Taking a Bigger Bite

|newspaper=The Washington Post

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/02/AR2006040200723.html

|date=April 3, 2006

|access-date=March 10, 2008

|first=Michael S.

|last=Rosenwald}}{{cite web|title=Number 1 with a Burger

|work=Restaurant Business

|date=August 2006

|url=http://www.fiveguys.com/Images/Restaurant%20Biz%20Magazine%20August%202006.pdf

|access-date=September 13, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726162843/http://www.fiveguys.com/Images/Restaurant%20Biz%20Magazine%20August%202006.pdf

|archive-date=July 26, 2007

}} The Murrells had a fifth son, Tyler, two years later. Today, all five sons, the current "Five Guys", are involved in the business: Matt and Jim travel the United States visiting stores, Chad oversees training, Ben selects the franchisees, and Tyler runs the bakery.{{cite journal|title=How I Did It: Jerry Murrell, Five Guys Burgers and Fries |author=Liz Welch |journal=Inc. |publisher=Mansueto Ventures LLC |date=April 1, 2010 |url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100401/jerry-murrell-five-guys-burgers-and-fries.html |access-date=April 10, 2010}}

The first Five Guys was in Arlington's Westmont Shopping Center. Buns were baked in the same center by Brenner's Bakery. This location closed, in favor of another in Alexandria, Virginia, at the intersection of King and North Beauregard Streets, which closed on September 21, 2013.{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2013 |title=Five Guys West End Location Closes |url=https://patch.com/virginia/westendalexandria/five-guys-west-end-location-closes |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=West End Alexandria, VA Patch |language=en}}

File:Five Guys country map.svg

More followed in Old Town Alexandria and Springfield, Virginia, making five locations open by 2001. Their success encouraged the Murrells to franchise their concept the following year, engaging Fransmart, a franchise sales organization. Former American football player Mark Moseley, who had gone to work for Fransmart after his football career, played a key role in Five Guys' expansion and went on to become the company's director of franchise development after it ended its business relationship with Fransmart.{{cite journal|title=Behind Five Guys' Beloved Burgers |journal=BusinessWeek |author=Karen Weise |date=August 11, 2011 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/behind-five-guys-beloved-burgers-08112011.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911003036/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/behind-five-guys-beloved-burgers-08112011.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2011}} In early 2003, the chain began franchising, opening the doors to rapid expansion which caught the attention of national restaurant trade organizations and the national press. The expansion started in Virginia and Maryland, and by the end of 2004, over 300 units were in development through the Northeast. Over the next few years, the chain rapidly expanded across the entire United States and into Canada, reaching over 1,000 locations by 2012.{{update inline|date=April 2018}}{{Cn|date=April 2023}}

The first location outside of North America opened in the United Kingdom on July 4th, 2013, in London on Long Acre in Covent Garden.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/restaurants/five-guys-v-shake-shack--restaurant-review-8702527.html|title=Five Guys v Shake Shack - restaurant review|work=The Evening Standard|date=August 19, 2014 }} The chain now has more than 170 restaurants in the UK. In 2023 they celebrated their 10th Anniversary in the United Kingdom. {{cite web |url=https://jobs.fiveguys.co.uk/jobs/five-guys-story/#:~:text=2023,more%20new%20openings%20to%20come. |date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=November 11, 2024 |title= 2023}}

Five Guys also has locations in the Middle East and has continued to expand in Europe. In late 2017, Five Guys opened its first restaurants in Germany, with a branch in Frankfurt and another in Essen.{{cite web |url=https://ngin-food.com/artikel/five-guys-berlin-muenchen/ |first=Thorsten |last=Mumme |date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |title=Five Guys öffnet noch 2018 Filialen in Berlin und München |work=NGIN Food |publisher=Vertical Media GmbH |language=de |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180755/https://ngin-food.com/artikel/five-guys-berlin-muenchen/ |url-status=dead }}

Five Guys opened its first Korean store in Gangnam, Seoul, at 11 a.m. on June 26, 2023, with a countdown shout. As of 2024, there are a total of four branches in Seoul.{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2023 |title=[현장] 한화 김동선의 첫작품 '파이브가이즈' 한국1호점 강남에 오픈 |url=http://www.newsian.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=61361 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=뉴시안 |language=ko}}

Five Guys Enterprises has several affiliated companies that are not part of a consolidated group, but are under common ownership. Five Guys Operations was founded in 2012, and {{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/1452870D:US-five-guys-operations-llc|title=Five Guys Operations LLC: Company Profile|website=Bloomberg}} Five Guys Holdings was founded in 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=237395360|title=Five Guys Holdings, Inc: Private Company Information|website=Bloomberg}} Five Guys Foods UK Limited was incorporated on March 12, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.endole.co.uk/company/08440785/five-guys-foods-uk-limited|title=Five Guys Foods UK Limited|website=Endole}} FGE International,{{cite web|url=https://drimble.nl/bedrijf/amsterdam/30445825/fge-international-bv.html|title=Five Guys International BV|website=drimble.nl}} FGO International BV, and FG Coöperatief U.A.{{cite web|url=https://company.info/org/613337000000/fg-cooperatief-u-a|title=FG Coöperatief U.A.|website=company.info|access-date=June 11, 2018}} are based in Amsterdam. FGH International C.V. is located in Bermuda.{{cite web|url=https://orbisdirectory.bvdinfo.com/directory-OJMJGIBIDIFIIIBIFIAI.urk|title=FGH International C.V.|website=Orvis Directory|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140440/https://orbisdirectory.bvdinfo.com/directory-OJMJGIBIDIFIIIBIFIAI.urk|url-status=dead}}

Five Guys had a {{convert|39,900|sqft|adj=on}} headquarters in Lorton, Virginia, overlooking the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, that was specially designed to convey the corporate brand. According to the architect, "The lobby mimics the typical Five Guys restaurant with red and white tile, tall tables, Freestyle Coke machine and signature peanut boxes."{{cite web|url=http://www.rwmurray.com/portfolio/five-guys-corporate-headquarters-at-gunston-commerce-center-building-3|title=Five Guys Corporate Headquarters at Gunston Commerce Center, Building 3|website=R.W. Murray Company}} In 2023, they moved their headquarters to a new location in Alexandria, Virginia.Andrews, Kate (July 7, 2023) Virginiabusiness.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

On September 24, 2020, the first Five Guys location with a drive-through window opened in Surfside Beach, South Carolina. The franchisee retained it from the former business in the building in light of COVID-19 pandemic safe practices.{{cite news|first=David|last=Wetzel|title=Why the Five Guys restaurant set to open in Myrtle Beach area is a first for the brand|url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article245929155.html|work=The Sun News|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=September 25, 2020}}

In September 2021, Five Guys opened their first location in Australia.{{Cite web |last=Stowe |first=Sarah |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Five Guys opens first Australian outlet |url=https://executive.franchisebusiness.com.au/five-guys-opens-first-australian-outlet/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=Inside Franchise Business |language=en-US}} The chain also has plans to expand into New Zealand.{{Cite web |last=Stowe |first=Sarah |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Five Guys expands to Australia, New Zealand |url=https://executive.franchisebusiness.com.au/five-guys-expands-to-australia-new-zealand/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=Inside Franchise Business |language=en-US}} In November 2022, Five Guys announced the relocation of their headquarters to the Carlyle neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Neibauer|first=Michael|title=Five Guys moving corporate headquarters inside the Beltway after a decade in Lorton|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2022/11/22/five-guys-corporate-headquarters-move.html |date=November 22, 2022|access-date=January 31, 2023 |website=Washington Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals}} {{subscription required|s}}

File:5GuysOakland.JPG]]

The Five Guys menu focuses on hamburgers offered with Kraft American cheese or applewood-smoked bacon and kosher style hot dogs (Hebrew National all-beef franks), as well as grilled cheese, BLT and vegetable sandwiches. Five Guys uses buns that are sweeter and "eggier" than normal buns. The hamburgers come in two sizes: regular (two patties) and little (one patty). Customers may select from 15 different toppings at no charge. Fresh-cut french fries are the sole side item, available salted only in "Five Guys style" or seasoned "Cajun style".{{cite web |title=Menu |url=http://www.fiveguys.com/Menu |website=Five Guys |access-date=June 11, 2018}}

Complimentary roasted in-shell peanuts are offered for on-site consumption at most locations, with signage alerting potential customers who may have a peanut allergy; for these allergen reasons, customers are not allowed to take peanuts off-site.{{cite web

| url = https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-five-guys/

| title = 5 things you didn't know about Five Guys

| work = Fox News

| last1 = Myers

| first1 = Dan

| date = January 19, 2017

| access-date = October 25, 2017

}}

The chain also sells milkshakes in the traditional vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors, and can also be ordered with the customer's choice of up to 10 free toppings mixed in, ranging from Oreo cookies to bacon.

Five Guys experimented with offering coffee, but this was discontinued due to quality concerns.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0806/restaurant-chefs-12-five-guys-jerry-murrell-all-in-the-family.html|website=Forbes|title=Five Guys Burgers: America's Fastest Growing Restaurant Chain|date=July 18, 2012|author=Monte Burke}} Like other breakfast items, such as the BLT sandwich and bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, coffee is currently only offered in Five Guys's airport locations and its location near McPherson Square station.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/so-good/five-guys-breakfast_b_1696335.html|title= Five Guys Breakfast Reviewed|date=July 24, 2012|author=So Good|website=Huffington Post}}

File:Five Guys cheeseburger.jpg

Bags of potatoes are sometimes stacked in customer spaces due to an occasional lack of storage space, or, in some franchises, for aesthetic reasons. Restaurants are decorated with white and red checkered tile throughout and generally use wooden tables along with counter-high level seating.

File:Barack Obama orders lunch at Five Guys.jpg

Former US President Barack Obama is reportedly a fan, buying lunch for himself and his colleagues at the Washington Five Guys branch in 2011.{{cite web|title=Uxbridge Five Guys Scheduled for June Opening|author=Lisa Hannah Raven|work=Get West London|date=April 4, 2014|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/uxbridge-five-guys-scheduled-june-6920373|access-date=April 9, 2014}}

Since franchising, it has also received awards in other cities.{{cite press release|location= Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

|title=Press

|publisher=Five Guys

|url=http://www.fiveguys.com/press.html

|access-date=April 17, 2006

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414134730/http://fiveguys.com/press.html

|archive-date=April 14, 2006

}}{{cite web|title=Virginia Beach Best Food & Dining

|work=HamptonRoads.com

|publisher=Landmark Media Enterprises L.L.C

|url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/best/winners/directory07.cfm

|access-date=June 26, 2007

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822030857/http://home.hamptonroads.com/best/winners/directory07.cfm?c_id=6&meta=274&postback=1

|archive-date=August 22, 2007

}}{{Cite web|url=http://secretmenus.com/bestof2008.pdf|title=Jacksonville Magazine's The Best of Jacksonville 2007|access-date=July 12, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181617/http://secretmenus.com/bestof2008.pdf|url-status=dead}} The chain has something of a cult following{{Cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/five-guys-newcastle-restaurant-could-10800730|title=Five Guys Newcastle restaurant could be on the menu for popular burger chain|last=Southern|first=Keiran|date=January 28, 2016|website=nechronicle|access-date=May 20, 2016}} and remarkable brand loyalty. Five Guys has been rated one of the most talked-about burger brands online.{{cite web

|title=Best (Bad for You) Burgers

|author=Lisa Joy Rosner

|work=NetBase

|date=March 14, 2011

|url=http://www.netbase.com/blog/sentiment/best-bad-for-you-burgers/

|access-date=November 9, 2011

|archive-date=September 1, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901180525/http://www.netbase.com/blog/sentiment/best-bad-for-you-burgers/

|url-status=dead

}}

As Five Guys continues to expand into the US West Coast, comparisons have been made with In-N-Out Burger, another generally similar fast food chain. Comparing the two chains in 2011, the Los Angeles Times noted that Five Guys' menu items are generally more expensive than In-N-Out's, they lack drive-throughs that In-N-Out is famous for, and are most often found inside shopping malls. The newspaper still conceded that by pricing its products higher, offering bigger burgers and building larger dining rooms, Five Guys could capitalize on the recent trend of mid-level places that offer more expensive products than fast food but cheaper than fancy restaurants.{{cite news|title=Will Five Guys overtake In-N-Out?

|author=Sharon Bernstein

|work=Los Angeles Times

|date=April 8, 2011

|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-apr-08-la-fi-five-guys-20110408-story.html

|access-date=November 10, 2011

}}

In 2011, Five Guys was ranked first in "Fast Food – Large Chains" and "Best Burger" in Zagat's annual Fast Food Survey.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/zagat-fast-food-survey_n_950167.html|title=Five Guys, Subway Top In-N-Out, Taco Bell In Zagat's Fast Food Survey|last=Polis|first=Carey|date=September 6, 2011|access-date=November 26, 2012|publisher=Huffington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907225004/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/zagat-fast-food-survey_n_950167.html|archive-date=September 7, 2011}} In 2012, Market Force Information, Inc. polled 7,600 fast-food consumers, and Five Guys ranked No. 1 in food quality and taste, service, cleanliness, and atmosphere.{{cite news|last=Hsu |first=Tiffany |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/la-fi-mo-five-guys-burger-mcdonalds-20120918,0,3554990.story |title=Five Guys voted favorite burger chain, McDonald's near bottom |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2012}} In 2016, Five Guys was ranked first in the burger, steak, chicken and grill category of a Market Force UK survey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/03/29/five-guys-opens-in-uk-becomes-popular/|title=Five Guys Is Now the UK's Favorite Fast Food Burger {{!}} Washingtonian (DC)|date=March 29, 2016|website=Washingtonian|language=en-US|access-date=June 5, 2019}}{{Clear}}

{{Portal|Food|United States|Virginia|Companies|1980s}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.fiveguys.com/ Five Guys US]
• [https://www.fiveguys.co.uk Five Guys UK]

{{Fast-food chains of the United States|state=collapsed}}

{{Food chains in the United Kingdom|state=collapsed}}

Category:Restaurants established in 1986

Category:Fast-food hamburger restaurants

Category:Fast-food chains of the United States

Category:Fast-food franchises

Category:Restaurants in Virginia

Category:1986 establishments in Virginia

Category:Fast casual restaurants

Category:Companies based in Fairfax County, Virginia