“Hamburger Mary’s has always striven to communicate our commitment to the environment” says Brandon Wright, who along with twin brother Ashley, owns this popular Andersonville restaurant and brew pub. “Now, when customers see the 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant logo, they’ll know we’ve verified our environmental initiatives through a credible, transparent program.”

In accordance with the GRA’s Certification standards, 3 Star Certified Green Restaurants® must meet a minimum of 175 points in six of seven key environmental categories. Hamburger Mary’s implemented over 40 innovative steps.  Many of these procedures have been part of Mary’s policies since opening in 2006.  “My brother and I have always been environmentalists at heart,” says Wright.  “We helped start one of the first public recycling programs at our high school in Georgia back in the early 1990′s, so these are values we truly believe in.  Business owners – especially restaurant owners – have such a large impact on waste and energy consumption.  We wanted to run our business in a manner to reduce that consumption and waste as much as possible.”  Some of the environmental policies and procedures at Hamburger  Mary’s include:

Implementing a full-scale recycling program, significantly decreasing their waste
Installing energy efficient LED and Compact Fluorescent lighting throughout 79% of the restaurant
Procuring meat (including all beef, chicken and turkey) from certified humane sources.  Animals are treated humanely, fed vegetarian diets and never given growth hormones or antibiotics.
Using high-efficiency spray valves on their prep sinks, which save thousands of gallons of water and significant energy
Installing dual-flush handles in all public restrooms
Utilizing bio-based plates, to-go containers, and cutlery that easily degrade and are superior to non-degradable and Styrofoam models
All paper products are made with high-recycled content, including napkins, paper towels and office paper

In addition to the items above, Hamburger Mary’s has many other eco-friendly practices that currently are not considered as part of the GRA’s Certification Program.  “Our ultimate goal is to have a restaurant and brew pub with the lowest carbon footprint possible,” says Wright.  “That is very difficult given the sheer magnitude of waste generated by a restaurant.”  A few steps Hamburger Mary’s has taken to reduce their carbon footprint include:

·         In 2009, Hamburger Mary’s expanded and added a small brewery.  Now, 40% of all beer consumed at Mary’s is produced on-site… the ultimate in drinking local
·         Spent Grains from the brewing process are donated to local farmers to feed their animals
·         In addition to the home-brewed beers, Hamburger Mary’s focuses on domestic/local craft beers.  You will not find any imports from outside North America.  “With such a great variety of craft beers being brewed right here in the Midwest, why import beers from Europe or beyond?” Says Wright.
·         The majority of featured cocktails and specialty drinks are made with domestic alcohol, such as Skyy or UV.  European brands are available, should customers call for them.  Emphasizing domestic products reduces transportation.  “It takes less fuel to bring a bottle of Skyy from California to Chicago or UV from Minnesota than to import vodka from Russia or Europe,” explains Wrights.

“St Louis and Hamburger Mary’s have long been distant friends,” says Mark Earney, lead partner in the group responsible for bringing Mary to St Louis. “Many of our core LGBT friends visit, and have visited, Hamburger Mary’s all over the country. We’ve been missing a place like Mary’s here in St Louis, a place that brings everyone together in a friendly environment. We have clubs, bars and restaurants… but we don’t have it all in one spot!”

And there’s no better spot for Mary to call home than in Midtown Alley, an historic neighborhood that is breathing new life in recent years. With the addition of new and creative businesses, restaurants, galleries, shops and lofts, Mary should fit right in.

“Midtown is the booming area,” says Earney. “It’s actually the brightest star in the city at this point. Great venues, friendly, safe and surrounded with college life and growth. Midtown is working hard to corner the market and bring many options for the visitors and residents of St. Louis.”

Hamburger Mary’s will be located at 3037 Olive Street, and will feature multiple levels and an outdoor patio. The main attraction will be Mary’s half-pound gourmet burgers (served with a hefty side of Sass), but the menu will feature our full range of tasty options from appetizers, soups and salads to sandwiches, entrees and yummy desserts (Deep Fried Twinkies and Mary Tyler S’Mores, to name a few). There will also be a lineup of fun nightly entertainment, including Mary-Oke and HamBingo!

St Louis Mary’s is planned to open by mid November. But Mary doesn’t like to rush things. “One great thing about our group is we all have agreed we will not do anything before its time, or before we know for certain we can give the genuine, traditional Hamburger Mary’s legendary experience,” says Earney. “This project has been in the works for well over 7 months. It’s a BIG place with many moving parts. So we want to make sure it’s done right.” So if it takes a little longer, don’t worry Honey. It’ll be worth the wait!

That’s right, ladies & gentlemen… Hamburger Mary’s is happy to officially announce that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will soon be home to our newest location, making it a “perfect 10!” In researching areas of the Brew City (which involved many a fine local brew), Mary has settled on the Bay View neighborhood. Recently voted Milwaukee’s “Best Neighborhood To Live In,” Bay View is also home to an eclectic business district with shops, cafes and restaurants. So we think she’ll fit right in.

The building at 2130 S Kinnickinnic Ave, which was originally built as a Burger King, will be fabulously remodeled to make way for the reigning “Burger Queen!” Work is set to begin soon, and we are hoping to be open by the end of summer. We can’t wait to offer Milwaukee Mary’s famous half-pound gourmet burgers, served with a hefty side of Sass. We are working with our suppliers to make sure we offer HUMANE animal proteins and locally-sourced ingredients, with plenty of vegetarian options as well.

We are also looking forward to rolling out some really fun entertainment, like “Dining with the Divas,” Mary-Oke, and our good-time-for-a-good-cause charity “Ham-BINGO Mary’s” (local charities should email us if you’re interested in being a beneficiary!)

Visit our website (www.HamburgerMarys.com/mke) and sign up for our email list and download an employment application! And be sure to be a “fan” on Facebook…
facebook.com/marysmke

See you soon, Milwaukee!
-Mary

To recap the saga: We received news back in January that our landlord had lost the property where we are located to foreclosure. We began negotiations for a new lease with the new owner, but were surprised by the unexpected notice to vacate the property by February 28!  Upon receiving this news, we began an exhaustive search for a new home. We are thankful to everyone who gave us leads on different properties to consider (and for all of you who offered encouragement and support!)  We looked at and investigated more properties than you could imagine in the search for what we thought would end up being our new home.

During the search for a new home, however, Mary’s owners and leadership team became deeply saddened and disturbed by the thought of throwing away all of the time, money and energy that had been dedicated to transforming a run-down building into what Hamburger Mary’s is today. So we hired a new legal team who is highly experienced in negotiating business agreements, and discussions were successfully reopened with the new owner. After much discussion and compromise on both sides, we were able to come to a reasonable agreement for both parties. We signed a agreement on February 23 that will ensure Hamburger Mary’s will have a home at 101 Southwest Blvd for a long time to come!

We view this new lease on the building almost as a new lease on life for Hamburger Mary’s as well. While we might not be changing locations, Spring is knocking on our door, signifying new life. And as we make preparations to open up our deck—which we ALL love—please know that we are also planning some new and exciting things for Mary’s… So stay tuned!

We are so thankful to all of you who were by our side during this entire ordeal. We cannot thank you enough for the supportive and encouraging words when we felt like our future was in jeopardy. It was your encouragement that got us through the last 6 weeks. And we are forever grateful. “Eat, Drink and be… MARY!”

– The KC Mary’s Team

ps… You can read more about the saga on KC’s The Pitch… here and here

After a decade hiatus, Hamburger Mary’s is back in Portland!  “Yeah, Mary got shanghai’d and we found her in the Shanghai Tunnel,” jokes co-owner Ian Cooke.  “But seriously, we thought Portland was missing something like Mary’s, so we got together and decided to bring her back.”

The idea of reopening the Hamburger Mary’s came from a friend, but it’s been a family affair ever since.  Ian’s business partners are his mom, Karen, and a brother-sister duo, Jasson Boussard & Emily Quick.  “A friend of ours had been to a Hamburger Mary’s and told us about it,” says Jason.  “And we figured Portland needed a place for the entire community, gay and straight, to eat and have a good time.”

The partners then did their research and discovered that people still had fond memories of the Hamburger Mary’s that was open in Portland for most of the 1980s-90s.  “It’s fun to hear about people’s experiences at the old Hamburger Mary’s,” says Emily.  “We’ve had so many people tell us how happy they are that we are back in town, and are excited for us.  That has been very special for us.”

Hamburger Mary’s had their “soft opening” October 4 and is already making a name for itself with it’s gourmet hamburgers and friendly service.  “At Mary’s, you are gonna have great service with a little sass and a lotta fun,” says Jason.  “Oh, and the burgers are awesome, too.”  While the original “Mary Burger” (with Mary’s Special Sauce) is a classic, the most popular specialty burgers so far have been the “Barbra-Q Bacon Cheeseburger” (with BBQ sauce, cheddar & jack cheeses, bacon and an onion ring) and the “Black and Blue Boy” (blackened seasoning on the patty, with blue cheese and bacon).  There is also a full bar with quite a list of popular cocktails and martinis, each with clever names like “Mangolicious” and “Fuzzy Tea Bag!”

But what’s going to separate Mary’s from other restaurants in Portland isn’t just the food. “We have entertainment and events planned for every night,” says Emily.  Indeed, Hamburger Mary’s will have a little something for everyone… from Mary-Oke and  Bingo to trivia night and weekend DJ’s.   “We’re also looking forward to Mary’s ability to grow in the community,” says Ian.  “We plan on being very active in the community and reach out to different charities and organizations.”

Hamburger Mary’s is planning their official “Grand Opening” Friday, October 29 at 8pm.  The Halloween-themed party will feature the always-entertaining ChiChi & Chonga, along with special guests Fannie Mae Darling, Tamon Troupe and Tamra Scalan.  Two shows, specials, games, contests and giveaways all night!

Since the closing of the original Hamburger Mary’s in Portland, the Hamburger Mary’s franchise system has changed ownership and is currently experiencing a rebirth.  The new owners are passionate about cultivating as much of what made Mary’s special to so many over the years, while simultaneously building a a strong future for our beloved Mary. There are currently ten unique locations spanning across the United States; Portland will be the eleventh.

We can’t wait for you to try some old classics such as our big and juicy burgers, as well as some new menu items which are always served with a hefty side of camp and sass. The development of Hamburger Mary’s Portland is in full swing although we are still searching for the perfect location, so hang in there and we hope to be open within the year. Stay tuned for details or check us out on facebook.  Eat, Drink, and be Mary!

Join us on FACEBOOK to stay up-to-date about Hamburger Mary’s Portland!

MaryOke Mondays… Come early to enjoy 1/2 price burgers in the dining room (5-9p), then hop on over Mary’s Glam Bar for some sing-along fun!

HamBINGO is now Tuesdays AND Wednesdays… Twice the HamBINGO means twice the fun (and twice the $$ for charity)!  It’s bingo, Hamburger Mary’s style, with lots of tongue in cheek sass.  And it’s all for a good cause, as we give proceeds to a different local charity every week.

Puzzled about what to do Thursday night?  Then come on in and join the crazy quizmaster Trever Longfellow and test your knowledge of random trivia against your friends!  Just ask Mary: “That Trevor is an interesting bloke with a funny accent,” says Mary.  “But I really dig his glasses.”

Weekend DJs and a “Recycled Sunday” round out the week of happenings.  So it doesn’t matter what day you come in, the fun never stops at Mary’s.  “Eat, Drink, and be… MARY!”