Jake’s Wayback Burgers Explodes (In A Good Way)


Good news for burger fans: Jake’s Wayback Burgers (which already has locations in Easton, Exton, Kennett Square and Willow Grove, in addition to holding ground in 6 other states) is planning a big–and fast–expansion this summer, promising to add 9 new restaurants before the end of July. Pennsylvania will be getting 4 of those 9, with a Springfield, PA store scheduled for a June opening, then Lancaster, Pottstown and Radnor getting theirs in July. What’s more, with a new franchising push, Jake’s is hoping to expand from its current 27 locations to 175 by this time next year.

Ballsy, to say the least. And, of course, totally in keeping with the mission statement of the place:

“The Jake’s Wayback Burgers experience is familiar, classic, homegrown and humble.  The Wayback Burgers’ story speaks of an era before the American Dream was realized, when people strove for something better and comforts were simple. Wayback Burgers is authentically American from an age before our culture was homogeneous. It’s the welcome stop for the road-weary. It’s the road eats on old Route 66. On many levels, Wayback celebrates the little guy, the local sports team, the small-town hero, the people, places and events that give a place its soul, its roots. It wants to be part of the neighborhood, part of the community. It’s the franchise that promises an owner a chance to carve out their piece of the pie without selling their soul to get it.”

Yup. Nothing at all homogenous about 175 burger restaurants strung out over a dozen- states. That’s precisely what small town America was made of. And I’m sure Mister Peabody and Sherman would approve.