Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries is ready to make company history on National Cheeseburger Day—September 18—with $0.55 Lil’ Cheeseburgers in the hopes of setting a record for most cheeseburgers sold by Hwy 55 in a single day.
From 5 p.m. to close, Hwy 55 will feature the $0.55 fresh, never-frozen hand-pattied burgers topped with its secret seasonings and a choice of American, Swiss, provolone, and pepper jack cheeses. The Lil’ Cheeseburger, which can be topped at no additional cost with 13 toppings, including mustard, onions, slaw, chili, mayonnaise, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles, jalapeño peppers, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions and grilled bell peppers, is normally priced at $3.39. The offer is for dine-in only and there is a limit of two per guest.
Of course, for the hungrier and more daring guest, Hwy 55 has the famous 55 Challenge, in which guests receive a 55-ounce cheeseburger with seven patties and at least four trimmings, fries and 24-ounce drink. If guests can consume it all in 30 minutes, it’s free and Hwy 55 will put the guests name on their website for bragging rights. If a guest is unable to finish the meal in 30 minutes, it costs $29.99.
The $0.55 Lil’ Cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day and the 55 Challenge were the brainchildren of Hwy 55 president Kenney Moore, who 26 years ago decided to put his commitment to authentic hospitality and the world’s best cheeseburgers under one roof. Moore originally named his restaurant after his son, calling it Andy’s Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers, and he even flipped every burger himself for the first two years. Moore famously shuts down all of his restaurants each year for a day to hold the Hwy 55 Rally in which he fires up his team then treats them to a fun, team-building outing.
“I founded Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries to provide something that I felt was missing: great food, friendly service and honest value at the same place,” said Hwy 55 president Kenney Moore, who documented his journey in the book Behind the Drive, which details his journey from growing up poor to now running one of America’s fastest-growing burger companies. “Hwy 55 is a true American success story and we are looking forward to celebrating National Cheeseburger Day with our wonderful fans and friends as they feast on our incredible hamburgers. We hope to set a company record on this special day.”
Once a well-kept secret in tiny but vibrant Mount Olive, North Carolina, Hwy 55 now operates 137 restaurants in 12 states and has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations around the world. Hwy 55 has also signed franchise area agreements for Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky and southern Indiana and Virginia in the past year. The brand plans to open approximately 25 more locations in 2017.
The industry darling also recently hosted the Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries World Hamburger Eating Championship, the only hamburger eating competition (they were actually cheeseburgers) recognized by All Pro Eating, in 2017. It was the company’s first national foray into full-on competitive eating although the brand daily for years has featured the 55 Challenge. In the main event, Molly Schuyler (pronounced “Sky Ler”), a 100-pound mom of 4, set a world record in the event in one minute and 37 seconds.
