The Burgerim restaurant at Creekside center near Alamo Drafthouse is serving up delicious burgers and shakes as usual, but evidence is mounting that the international company which founded the franchise may be in trouble and unable to support its local franchises, according to Restaurant Business magazine.
Burgerim told franchisees in mid-December that the company was considering bankruptcy, but that was the first communication most had had in weeks, writes Jonathan Maze. Harried attempts by franchisees to reach the company went unanswered, though fresh inquiries about opening new stores received enthusiastic sales pitches.
Burgerim is based in Tel Aviv and features small, slider-type burgers with a variety of exotic choices (Burgerim means “many burgers” in Hebrew). Once considered one of the country’s fastest-growing brands, today the company has employees who haven’t been paid in months and franchisees who’ve lost their life savings. Burgerim’s president and founder, Oren Loni, has left the country according to Maze.
The Lake Highlands Burgerim opened in 2018 to rave reviews by satisfied customers. In addition to chicken sandwiches and beef burgers, the menu includes patties made from Hawaiian salmon, falafel, Greek lamb and other options. Toppings include fried egg, bacon, pineapple, jalapeno and red cabbage.
No word yet on whether financial issues at the national Burgerim will affect operations at the LH restaurant. You may read Maze’s in-depth article here. It’s the first in a 3-part series.
Creekside is at Skillman and Abrams.