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Customers dine on burgers and fries on opening day at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Henderson, which opened Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Three more locations are scheduled to open in the Las Vegas Valley in the coming weeks.
By Tom Gorman (contact) 
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 | 4:51 p.m.
Map of Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
10271 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 101, Henderson
Home News
Lots of people might not have heard of Five Guys until one very important guy, President Barack Obama, dropped in at one of the burgers-and-fries joints near the White House a couple of years ago and left with $80 in food.
With no advertising -- the company relies only on word-of-mouth -- the franchise-driven company opened its first Nevada store today, in a strip mall along Eastern Avenue in Henderson.
Among the investors who partnered to buy the rights to all the Five Guys outlets in Nevada is Ryan Howes, who until about a month ago worked in the heady world of finance for Citigroup.
"I left it for burgers-and-fries," he said today as the room swelled with lunchtime diners. "People I worked with raised their eyebrows because banking is supposed to be a career job where you work your way up the ladder."
But Howes, who lives in Henderson, said he saw more fun and challenges getting in the fast-food business, his wife's anxiety notwithstanding.
"The recession is the best time to open a new business," Howes said. "You can get the best deals on leases, construction costs are down and there's a large labor pool to select from." For the Henderson store, about 50 people were hired, starting at minimum wage and hoping for raises based on feedback from secret shoppers.
Howes and his partners plan to open as many as 15 other outlets in the Las Vegas Valley in the next four to seven years as well as three around Reno. This comes on the heels of Smashburger's arrival in the Las Vegas Valley, which is trying to wrest customers away from the more-established In-N-Out Burger.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, headquartered in Virginia, started in 1986 and today boasts 761 outlets — well, make that 762 now — around the country. Three other locations are on tap to open soon in the Las Vegas Valley: one at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas, one at the Las Vegas Outlets, and one in the southwest valley (near the 215 Beltway and Rainbow Boulevard).
Burgers start at $4.99, with such toppings as grilled onions and mushrooms, jalapeno peppers and A-1 sauce. Five Guys also offers hot dogs and a veggie sandwich "but we want to be known as a burgers-and-fries place," said Mike Cummings, another partner.
"The recession is the best time to open a new business," Howes said. "You can get the best deals on leases, construction costs are down and there's a large labor pool to select from."
What you meant to say was that there is alot of people you can take advantage of because of the labor pool
What a joke,and I will stick with Fatburger
peace out
Heard a lot of good things about the burger. But hired 50 workers at minimum wage? The best service at a burger joint is In-N-Out by far. Then again they pay their workers a much better wage.
I guess you'd rather have those folks unemployed, eh bldblu? Way to welcome a new business to our metropolis.
Fatburger is bankrupt and trying to sell their stores.
I ate at one of these in DC last year. It was really good, but they packed it in a bag (I was dining in) with like a million french fries and when I unwrapped the burger, it was smashed in the shape of a softball... still good though!
Finally!!!!
A little juicy, but good. Fries could be better. They are kind of limp.
Just what everybody needs, another burger joint. Maybe they'll all go broke at the same time. Taco Bell for this old man!
Love the burgers - better than Fatburger. Fries could be better - no other choices for sides, unless you consider the free peanuts.
Obama shouldnt eat burgers, Michelle is preaching against them. Maybe he will stop smoking? I think he quit cocaine-he talked about using it in his book.
I won't form an opinion until I've tried them but I have observed just from this article a couple of things.
1. Prices are pretty high for burgers at a fast food joint. In n Out is much more reasonable.
2. Looks like they copycatted the decor of In n Out.
3. In n Out employees are paid a much better salary and as a result they get the cream of the crop of fast food employees.
4. I wish them the best of luck. I know people back east rave about them on Facebook, but of course back east there are no In n Out burgers.
Until Chick-Filet hits town, all the others are second rate. Sadly, C
-F's are based in the Atlanta area, so they are closed on Sundays everywhere.
So I doubt they'll ever show up in Sin City, since the Baptists would roll over dead-all 10 of them here..Too bad, and I'm a Yankee.
Comment removed by moderator. Language.
This is one of the most overrated and expensive burger joints around. Wait a few years, and their franchises will be closing left and right, especially after the big corporations start ruining the place. If I didn't get such an obscene amount of fries every time I go, I would never come back. The burgers are ridiculously average.
There are much better competitors out there, and I'm not talking about Burger King! Whether it is Shula's(I'm serious, they are starting their own chain of burger joints!), Smashburger, Big Boy(seriously) and others, the fast-casual burger trend is taking off. I don't expect Five Guys to last when this trend hits its peak. They are too inflexible, cheap and only have nowhere to go but down.
Hope they do well, just put restrictions on access for the overweight and obese. Maybe a scale at the front door...accept or reject. Something needs to be done to change the mindset and get people to eat healthier.
These fast food joints do nothing to help those that don't want to help themselves. I see far too many fat kids, fat parents ordering up the works and as a token gesture say "diet coke" please....as if that is some kind of consolation for ordering up these artery clogging, cholesterol rising, high calorie greasy meals.
Love their burgers. 5'-11" - 165 lbs.
I have made it a point to eat a 5 Guys when I am back east and look forward to eating at one of the local stores. Great burgers.
I live in Florida and I go just for the fries but the burgers are good.
TomD....it's called freedom. Deal with it.
Wether it is a fast food or restaurant burger nothing can compare to "Farmer Boys". They have by far the best burgers I have ever tasted.Not only that the ingredients and condiments actually taste fresh.Big burger for a decent price also.
@lampshade. Your right. The country would be better off if we had public ridicule and unacceptance of fatties. But that's not going to happen. Now go shove a 5 Guys burger in your mouth and support the local economy!
@TomD1228..I'm 5"11 185lbs and completely agree with your post. It's time to start shaming these fatties into losing weight. Making fun of them publicly would probaby work wonders for the obese epidemic we are seeing.
@Brian
Great. I have all the sympathy for people battling weight issues..but not if they are in fast food restaurants 3 days a week gorging on fast food. These people are taxing the health care system to no end. Michelle Obama is right. Obesity is becoming a HUGE problem.
@Noindex
Are you one of them?..I can understand your retort.
Well no wonder they don't advertise when newspapers give them FREE publicity!! Who the hell really cares?!?! Coronary volunteers? On the other side, I guess THIS is the BEST news Henderson has had in years!!
By the way, the pic of the burger with "everything" looks like crap on a shingle. Someone assemble that during an earthquake?
I'll shun the hoopla and stick with my In N Out.
5 guys is better than in-n-out but more expensive. In-N-Out is awesome and more of a fast food comparison. 5 Guys is more like getting a diner burger in a bag especially with all the topping choices. No tipping also! Cant beat the peanuts while you wait!
Their food quality is fair. I have tried them in NJ and elsewhere. Frankly I prefer the hamburgers at Timbers. I would rather spend a little more money and get a better quality of meat.
Michelle Obama and her fat azz should talk LOL
Bacon cheeseburger=920 calories; regular fries = 620 calories (per company's website)=1540 calories without a beverage (most likely soda).
the stupidity of people posting on this website no longer suprises me.
Go up to a large man at 5 Guys and tell him to his face whether or not you think his eating a cheeseburger is in his best interest, oh wait, you hide by an anonymous handle on a website. Just because someone enjoys a burger, doesn't mean they don't also enjoy the gym or wouldn't enjoy whooping your butt.
Just because they started their employees on minimum wage doesn't mean that's what they'll make the whole time they're employed there. But you would have to actually READ the article to understand that.
President Obama also works out readily and lil Bush also admitted to using Cocaine. If you think Michelle Obama is fat, I doubt your opinion is motivated by reality
The stuff make you nauseous 20 minutes after you eat it. The picture of the burger looks like road kill.
Truly amazing.
Is there anything you folks won't complain about?
50 people now have jobs. There is another choice of some place to eat.
Some of you have never stepped foot in the place yet you can rate their food.
Some complain it is juicy? What do you want, some dried up hung of meat?
I guess when you have nothing better to do in your life but complain the Internet is all you really have.
TomD, it's called being a diabetic.
1. Prices are pretty high for burgers at a fast food joint. In n Out is much more reasonable.
2. Looks like they copycatted the decor of In n Out.
****
1. Prices are about right for a burger in a joint like this.
2. Actually reminds me of Steak N' Shake - which all their burger sandwiches are $3.99 to $4.99, all come with fries. For a $1 more, you can get a drink. Food is good, too.
That burger looks disgusting. Also, I see people raving about Fatburger. FATBURGER BURGERS TASTE LIKE CINNAMON! WTF is that!? They are disgusting! I'm not a burger fan, but the best burger I've had so far is In-N-Out.
mrsskurvy
Diabetics can eat hamburgers - just without the bun and maybe, just maybe 10 fries MAX (pending if your GL is around 100). It's the carbs and the sugars that get ya'. Not the meat or the onions, tomatoes, pickles, cheese. And just use a little mustard and ketchup.
The food "stylist" was out to lunch when they took the photo of that burger!
Just got one here in the Chicago area a couple of months ago, good stuff.
I wish we could get In-N-Out burger here in Chicago.
I ate there first in Geogia,they are NOT LIKE IN N OUT. The fries are better and not dry. They have cajun fries and regular. Free bags of peanuts were good too! They let you throw your shells on the floor in Georgia but not California. The staff was young and polite and very diverse, this is not the old south, black and white kids working together and suprisingly no hispanics! These kids are doing jobs that bush said "Amerians don't want to do". You can put anything on your burger just like at your house.And the hot dogs are grilled and very good!
I can't wait to try the food. It's hard to find healthy alternatives in the same price range so I'll just just have to eat the crap they serve at most fast food places a couple of times per week. I will take vitamins and exercise 30 minutes/day 4-5 times a week to keep from getting too fat.
Just another burger joint for overweight americans
Great Burgers - loved them in Virginia/DC. Fries orders are on the Huge side. This is a splurge - not an everyday meal. Can't wait to go. Usually best burgers in town, I like them better than In and Out Burgers. Steak and Shake - I would stick with the Shake. McD's,BK,Wendy's, etc.. have dollar burgers for a reason.
I can cook a hamburger, and I can make fries.
The fact that Obama ate there, and the guy used to work at Citibank means there is a conspiracy by George Soros, the SEIU, google, Islam, Helen Keller and Teddy Roosevelt.
Shake n Steak, In and Out, Jack, Tommy's, Five Guys...etc. I'm cooking my own or go to a local place.
This is designed to weaken America and allow the caliphate to take hold...grill your own to save America!!!
Another must try new burger joint is "Smashburger". Excellent.
No, it should be company policy at all fast food joints. You get on a scale and if your numbers exceed to overweight, you are denied service but are given a coupon for a salad and bottled water. Maybe they can invent some quick way to check cholesterol too. If it exceeds certain standards.."may I direct you to the salad bar"
It would be great. All these heffers would eat better and not tax the system. I would be glad to be at the door telling these people. "Sir or ma'am, You are extremely overweight and should not be eating here. I know you don't want to hear it but what I'm going to tell you is for your benefit. You cannot continue to eat this food. Step to the side and get your salad coupon".
Also arm these people at the door, so in case they get belligerent..Mr. Smith and Wesson can have a word. Remember it's for their own good.
I think it's a great idea. These people can't get out of their cars without wheezing and splitting their pants..yet waddle in for a double bacon cheeseburger? Not under my plan
This is really irocinc - the people telling fat people not to eat there may as well be saying, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." Care to tell them who to have sex with like half of Congress does?
There is no gray area. It's cut and dry. Obesity and fast food don't mix. This isn't a program to save your home that's filled with loopholes. It's clear as day.
Trust me, 3 years down the road these heffers will be knocking on the door kissing the feet of these "enforcers"...50 lbs. lighter and healthier. Then we can work out a bonus program for money with all the money saved from treating obesity, heart attacks, high cholesterol...and the litany of other problems brought on by being a glutton
I ate there first in Geogia,they are NOT LIKE IN N OUT. The fries are better and not dry. They have cajun fries and regular. Free bags of peanuts were good too! They let you throw your shells on the floor in Georgia but not California. The staff was young and polite and very diverse, this is not the old south, black and white kids working together and suprisingly no hispanics! These kids are doing jobs that bush said "Amerians don't want to do". You can put anything on your burger just like at your house.And the hot dogs are grilled and very good!
______________________________
So you're saying that you rather have a dirty restaurant with rubish on the floor? Black and White folks ONLY is not very diverse, but I don't really care about that. All I care about is good food in a clean restaurant with excellent service.
Gimme In-n-Out any day!
TomD1228, you make me want to go and eat there just to piss you off. I recently lost 130 lbs and before when I was obese I didn't eat at fast food places. If you think that thin people who are eating at fast food places are healthier than the obese ones you are more of an idiot than I thought. When I was obese I had no health issues. You are as delusional as Charlie Sheen if you think shaming the fat will get them to lose weight. I lost weight despite people like you because people like you just made me want to get fatter.
Ok, you're not obese anymore. You can't piss me off. Only obese people eating in there can. If you think obese people are as healthy as thin (by thin I don't mean anorexic) in a general sense..you're delusional.
Shaming them is just a reaction to being denied fast food. I take no credit for that.
Good job losing the weight. You gain entry to 5 guys for a burger and fries. Enjoy.