Burger Monger is preparing to open a restaurant at 8900 Founders Square Place in North Naples. The location previously housed Kelly’s Roast Beef and will become one of the chain’s first drive-thru restaurants.
Tim Aten
The green awnings are now orange on the former Kelly’s Roast Beef at Founders Square in North Naples to prepare for the launch of Burger Monger, a fast-casual restaurant concept based in Florida.
Building on its initial three locations in the Tampa Bay area, Burger Monger has drive-thru locations coming soon to 8900 Founders Square Place in North Naples and a second former Kelly’s Roast Beef at Palmetto Commons, 8465 Dani Drive, near Topgolf in Fort Myers.
“These are our first drive-thrus,” said Lisa Deptula, the company’s director of restaurant operations. “We’ve been looking for a while for different locations and those happened to come available, fortunately, for us. We’ve actually been around since 2010. Our first location opened in Carrollwood, up in Tampa.”
The Collier and Lee locations are two of three second-generation restaurants built for Kelly’s in Florida and converted to Burger Monger. The third location is in South Pasadena in Pinellas County. The other Kelly’s location in North Naples, near U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road, remains vacant. All regional Kelly’s Roast Beef locations closed in January, a year after the Boston-based chain was acquired by a private equity firm.
Burger Monger’s signature burgers are served with fries and fountain drinks. The Florida-based fast-casual chain is opening drive-thru restaurants in North Naples and Fort Myers inside former Kelly’s Roast Beef locations.
Burger Monger
The new restaurants in Fort Myers and North Naples will be corporate locations of Burger Monger, joining existing corporate locations in Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor. The chain also has franchise locations in St. Petersburg and Wesley Chapel.
Burger Monger specializes in premium, upscale burgers made to order, Deptula said. Created with Wagyu beef and house-made sauces, the elevated smashburgers lead a menu of American comfort food.
Exterior renovations are underway at Burger Monger’s future restaurant at Founders Square. The North Naples location is one of two former Kelly’s Roast Beef restaurants the company is converting in Southwest Florida.
Tim Aten
The chain’s 10 specialty burgers range from the Monger Burger, crafted with one-third pound of fresh beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickle and its signature Monger sauce, to the Peppered Pig, a double patty creation topped with provolone cheese, center-cut bacon, grilled ham, grilled onions, jalapeños, lettuce and house-made peppercorn ranch. Other burgers are created from ground turkey, black beans and the vegan Impossible burger.
“One of our big menu items is the ability to craft your own,” Deptula said. “We do have a preset menu, but we do have a craft grill menu, as well. You pick your protein, you pick your toppings, cheese and you build it your way, basically.”
The Ultimate Bacon Cheddar burger is among Burger Monger’s specialty burgers, featuring fresh beef, bacon, cheddar cheese and classic toppings. The chain plans to open restaurants in North Naples and Fort Myers.
Burger Monger
In addition to burgers, the menu includes chicken sandwiches, a mahi fish sandwich, Philly cheesesteaks, melts and hot dogs, as well as fries, onion rings, wings, salads and shakes.
“We have handspun shakes. Those are pretty popular,” Deptula said.
Guests can place orders at the drive-thru, the interior counter or kiosk, or use the company’s app and pick up at the drive-thru, in the store or via home delivery, Deptula said. “Everything is cooked to order,” she said.
Burger Monger’s Peppered Pig features double beef patties, grilled ham, bacon, grilled onions, jalapeños, provolone cheese and peppercorn ranch. The burger will be available at the chain’s upcoming Southwest Florida locations.
Burger Monger
Burger Monger offers daily specials with significant discounts. Monger Burgers are $5.99 every Monday, half of a Philly with fries is $6.99 on Tuesdays, the Chicken Monger sandwich is $5.99 on Wednesdays, and two cheeseburgers and fountain drinks and a shareable order of fries or tots are $24 Thursday through Sunday.
Burger Monger joins a recent “better burger” expansion round in Southwest Florida that includes popular chains, such as Shake Shack and Whataburger. Only Doubles mobile burger business plans to launch a brick-and-mortar location soon in East Naples, joining a competitive market that includes other successful local ventures, such as Brooks Burgers, Florida Burger Boy Co. and Jimmy P’s Burgers & More.