Now someone could pull this off in any veg-oriented town, and modify in other areas. Would YOU go to this place a few times at least? from http://dailycamera.com/bdc/local_business/article/0,1713,BDC_2461_5059978,00.html Vegan fast-food joint opening V.G Burgers hopes to shake up quick-stop dining Rose Brunning, For the Camera Wednesday, October 11, 2006 The fast-food giants scattered along 28th Street are getting a new neighbor — one that seems fitting for a town that embraces natural foods and healthy lifestyles. V.G. Burgers, an organic vegan quick-stop restaurant, will open at the end of November, shaking up the monotony of the standard fast-food fare in Boulder. The goal of the restaurant is "to help raise consciousness collectively through food," said Tim Gargiulo, the owner of V.G. Burgers, 3267 28th St. He also plans to open a satellite store in Boulder in the spring, one in Denver next summer, and he said he hopes to franchise the concept in the United States and Europe during the next two years. Gargiulo, whose past includes building skateparks and crushing the powder as a professional snowboarder, has been vegan for 16 years and said he was inspired to open the fast-food restaurant after he grew tired of watching multi-national companies destroying the planet. The restaurant will be zero-waste, meaning it only will use products that are recyclable or compostable. "We're a mindful corporation," he said. "I felt like the public needed a convenient alternative to what they were currently being offered." V.G. Burgers' unique cuisine contradicts the standard burgers, fries and shakes. Vegan burgers will be available, as well as organic salads, juices and non-dairy desserts. Nothing is fried on the menu and those who have dairy, soy or wheat allergies will have options available to them. "We've been very mindful to create a menu that would cater to people who have certain food allergies," Gargiulo said. The cost of a meal will range from $5 to $10, with a goal to get the food out fast — in five minutes. The organic vegan fast-food market wasn't always Gargiulo's focus. He started skateboarding as a young child and launched a 15-year snowboarding career by his mid-teens. A fall in a skatepark in 2000 halted his profession, confining him to a wheelchair with a shattered kneecap, ACL and meniscus. He was back on a board within a year, changing his focus to teaching. He coached the U.S. snowboard team in 2001 and 2002, and also has experience teaching yoga and practicing martial arts. All of these areas of study are incorporated into his business philosophy, he said, and all the people working with him also are active in either skateboarding, snowboarding or martial arts. He said there are plans to get the business involved with sponsoring local at-risk youth and buying skateboards for kids who can't afford them. V.G. Burgers also plans to sponsor a skateboard team and a snowboard team. "We've got some vegan rippers that want to rock our goods," he said. A fast-food restaurant focusing on such a specific genre as vegan organic is new to Boulder and uncommon in many cities in the United States. Grant Ferrier, editor of Nutrition Business Journal, said that while organic food use is rising in the United States, especially in bigger cities such as San Francisco and Washington, D.C., it hasn't been seen much within the realm of fast food. He said vegan organic and specialty restaurants, especially fast food, are very limited to progressive communities like Boulder or Berkley, Calif. "Food service has a lot to gain and we see a lot of growth and opportunity in that area," he said.
nice! sounds like saturn cafe. an all veggie burger/malt shop feel cafe. it does have vegetarian and vegan options.. so it's not all vegan.. but still really yummy!
I would definitly go there.. my mom is always saying someone should open up a really healthy fast food place. So yay awesome!
it is only in Boulder, Colorado. but what franchise options could be there, if it can be done without complete exploitation of labor. (Colorado has a state non tipped minimum wage of $6.85, most food places will round that up to be "competitive.")
there is a place called maoz on south street in philly, its amazing fast food, the only thing they have is not vegan is mayonaise. they have the best falafel ive ever had, they load that shit up with hummus and eggplant and they have a really really good salad bar. the chain is based in europe, they're are five in amsterdam i believe, and one in madrid that i visited recently, and another few around europe but the philly location is the only in the states i believe. i would love to see more open, its very good vegan food, very fast, for a reasonable price. 5 bucks and you're full for a good while.
