Not just another burger joint: Original recipes, signature shakes distinguish Burger ‘37
Virginia Tech Dining Services scouted Washington, D.C., for inspiration to bring a stand-alone burger restaurant to campus. Construction for Burger ’37 in Squires Student Center began in late November.
“Burgers, shakes, and fries are a dining niche we wanted to bring to campus,” said Brian Grove, associate director of Dining Services. Rather than contract with an existing national chain, Grove said, “We decided to work with student feedback to do a self-branded concept.”
The name of the dining venue is a nod to Hokie history. “Our marketing department did some research and found that the Squires building was inaugurated in 1937,” said Luther Moseley, Dining Services’ assistant director for Squires and the Graduate Life Center.
The establishment serves signature shakes, hand-cut fries, and burgers made from fresh ground meat. “Our ground beef is fresh and hand-pattied with just the right ratio of lean beef to fat that will give customers the juiciest, best-tasting burger,” Moseley said. “Our burgers are six ounces, not the typical four-ounce, quarter-pound, frozen product.”
In addition to traditional variations on the hamburger, Burger ’37 offers a fresh ground turkey burger and a bean-and-rice veggie burger — an original, gluten-free recipe. It will feature five signature shakes in addition to the standard vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
“We put the fries in a brine solution that’s a recipe we developed. They are brined for 24 hours before we drain them and let them air dry and put them into the fryers,” Moseley said. “The milkshakes are diner style; it’s not coming out of a soft-serve machine. It’s hand-dipped, hard-packed, vanilla bean ice cream.”
Burger ’37 is Hokie Passport-accessible. The venue will be accepting dining dollars and student meal plans as well as cash or credit.
The new restaurant's opening will take place today.
Written by Emily Hughes of Ashburn, Va., a freshman majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
