First Store in Downtown Chicago. The new Smashburger store in Downtown Chicago is located at the historic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker in the LondonHouse Chicago building, which will serve as a flagship location for future expansion of the Smashburger brand in the greater Chicago area.

MANILA, Philippines. Aug 9, 2021 – Sustaining its strong expansion plan for the year, Jollibee Group-owned Smashburger—the US-based fast casual better burger restaurant known for its Certified Angus Beef® burgers—recently opened its first store in Downtown Chicago and in Washington D.C. in the US.

These openings are part of the plan to open 25 new stores in 2021 consistent with Jollibee Group’s expansion plan in North America and its vision of becoming among the top five restaurant companies in the world.

“Smashburger has achieved noteworthy business improvement, and these store openings are a testament to the brand’s growth momentum in the region,” said Ernesto Tanmantiong, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jollibee Group. “The new stores in 2020 and 2021 are generating 2 to 3 times the average of other stores. The plan is to open 25 new stores and renovate a substantial number of older stores in 2021.”

“Smashburger’s financial performance is expected to continue improving markedly in the months ahead and we anticipate that these two openings will further contribute to its continued turnaround, leading to its profitability,” Tanmantiong added.

First store in Downtown Chicago

The new store in Chicago is located at 360 North Michigan Avenue. This high visibility location on the historic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker in the LondonHouse Chicago building will serve as a flagship location for future expansion of the Smashburger brand in the greater Chicago area.

“Chicago has one of the best food scenes in the United States, which is why we are so thrilled to be bringing our signature burgers, sides and shakes to the Chicago Loop – the stunning heart of the city, buzzing with life and exciting attractions,” said Carl Bachmann, President of Smashburger.

Washington D.C. opening

The new store in Washington D.C. is located at 804 7th Street NW and opened July 28.

“We are happy to finally open in Chinatown D.C. area and make Smashburger the go-to place for both mouthwatering burgers and delicious breakfast for families of all ages in this community,” said Bachmann.

Interior elements of the space feature an exposed kitchen with the grill as the focal point. Dining seats are thoughtfully placed throughout the restaurant and offer a nod back to the brand’s Colorado roots, while also celebrating the nation’s capital by featuring the artwork of the city.

Smashburger is 100% owned by the Jollibee Group. Jollibee Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Bee Good! Inc. acquired in December 2018 Smashburger Master LLC’s remaining 15% stake in SJBF LLC, the former parent company of Smashburger.

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First Store in Washington D.C. Officers of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce join the Smashburger team in formally opening the newest branch at the Chinatown D.C. area.