The official opening week of Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern in Bloomfield Township is well underway.
"It's been a good start and we anticipate that word of mouth will build up this week so people will come in and get to know us," said Aaron Van Kuren, general manager of the chain's newest location in Bloomfield Plaza. The 6,100-square-foot restaurant officially opened Sunday.
It features full table service and a bar inviting for adults and kids alike, which plays into the "family-friendly" way of doing business for the franchise's parent company, Diversified Restaurant Holdings. The restaurant will also highlight the company's commitment to Michigan, said president and Bloomfield Township resident Michael Ansley.
The bar will have eight taps that serve Michigan-crafted beers, and relies on more than two dozen Michigan companies for supplies.
“We’re proud that we’ve established such strong roots in our home state, and continue to work with more than 30 local suppliers to support our community," he said.
Since its founding in 2008, Bagger Dave’s expanded to Ann Arbor, Berkley, Brighton, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Grandville and Novi. Like the others, the historic photos on display throughout the restaurant are authentically localized and show snippets of each town’s past.
In all, there are 172 seats, including 10 at a bar located toward the back of the establishment. It also features an enclosed patio area facing the parking lot that has garage-style retractable windows. It is centrally heated, and back-up space heaters are on the way to maximize capacity during what Van Kuren said he hopes is a long Detroit Tigers playoff run.
"We've got 11 televisions, including the one on the patio, so we're very excited about what they're doing right now," he said.
The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees approved the concept, design and liquor license in June. Yet, Van Kuren said probably the most interesting aspect of the Bloomfield Township location is something patrons will taste, but never see.
Beyond the bar and just off the side to the main kitchen, Bagger Dave's constructed a "test" kitchen with seating that will benefit each of the nine locations in the chain. New menu items will be developed, tested and demonstrated there regularly to serve the company, which also recently expanded to Missouri, and .
In addition to the chain’s signature burgers, Bagger Dave’s recently rolled out an updated menu that features innovative options such as the Kickin’ Cheddar Burger, the vegetarian Nacho Average Burger; and a spicy peanut butter burger aptly named PB&J(alapenos) Burger. Other unique items diners can choose from include fresh-cut potato French fries, Dave’s Sweet Potato Chips, and the Amazingly Delicious Turkey Black Bean Chili.
Van Kuren said the restaurant has between 85-95 employees, and is still looking for more.
If You Go:
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- Happy Hours: 2-6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to close, daily.
- Dress: Casual
- Kids: Meals are half-off on Sunday.
