Back at the end of the spring, What Now reported that fast-growing burger joint Skinny Louie had announced plans for its first location in Broward County. After making plenty of Miami-Dade moves, Skinny Louie had procured a spot at 139 S Compass Way in Dania Beach, at Dania Pointe.
But this brand is growing at breakneck speeds: before that Dania Pointe location has even opened, Skinny Louie says it’s already at work on a second location in Broward County, this time in Fort Lauderdale. The specific site has yet to be announced.
Of the three upcoming locations, Aventura will be the first to launch, Skinny Louie Founder & Co-CEO Gonzalo Rubino told What Now in a phone conversation.
“We’ll be doing free Skinny Louie Cheeseburgers for the first one hundred guests at our Grand Opening.”
After that, the new Skinny Louie will open in Dania Pointe, with a launch date expected in the fall: in fact, Skinny Louie has already started hiring there, Rubino said.
Then, closer to the end of the year, we’ll see an opening in South Miami.
That means even more of the brand’s streamlined, if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix menu, featuring three different burgers: the Skinny Louie Cheeseburger, with grilled onions, double American cheese, pickles, and Louie Sauce; the Classic Burger; and the Applewood Bacon Burger, with crispy applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, and Louie Sauce.
And really, what more do you need? Well, maybe just a few things: you’ll want some fries, certainly. And then, to complete this picture, a milkshake that comes in three varieties: Cookies & Cream, Choco Brownie, and Strawberry Bliss.
“We have been super successful with our numbers, our service, and our quality,” Rubino said. “We’re extremely picky, so we always use the same bun, the same meat, the same fries, the same pickles, the same ice cream.”
Meanwhile, the brand is also working on expansions in New York City.
“We have four more locations under construction in New York.” It’s part of an aggressive expansion plan in New York and South Florida. “Our goal is to open 20 units within 3 years.”
And what else is Skinny Louie up to? The brand will be entering the New York City Burger Bash next month, as well as another burger contest in Argentina. And there’s still more news abroad: Rubino says Skinny Louie is currently at work on collaborations with several European burger brands, which will take Skinny Louie popups to burger shops on the continent, as well as allowing Skinny Louie customers to try famous burgers from abroad right here at home. Skinny Louie is staying domestic, Rubino says, but the point is to stay connected.
“Back in the day, everyone was just competing. But we think it’s more about building great relationships with other people who have this passion. It’s about building the market. It’s about the community, about the neighborhood.”
So stay tuned for more Skinny Louie news: there’s a lot of it to come!
You can keep up with all things Skinny Louie by following @skinnylouie.burgers on Instagram.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated after a conversation with the restaurant owner.
