Following an extensive search for a permanent burger pad, CaliBurger just locked down a brick-and-mortar home in Tysons Corner that plans to integrate high-tech cooking techniques alongside the brand’s first-ever full bar.
Locally, the West Coast-styled company’s fries and burgers are served out of a teal-toned NoMa food truck at Wunder Garten. Under a newly inked deal, Caliburger will open next spring in the splashy Boro Development coming together in the heart of Tysons Corner. The 2,200-square-foot space was originally destined for a Taylor Gourmet (8301 Greensboro Drive).
The new location will also introduce a new vegan line filled out with sauces and cheeses, and patties by Beyond Meat.
Its tech-heavy approach to serving food is alive and well across the brand. In Noma, facial recognition technology remembers customers’ orders. And in Tysons Corner, Caliburger plans to introduce a robotic arm dubbed “Flippy” that works alongside line cooks. The global restaurant chain, which operates in Seattle and a dozen countries, also installs video gaming walls to keep customers entertained.
A happy hour will capitalize on 9-to-5 foot traffic in Tysons, and odes to California will be aplenty inside. Think West Coast sporting events aired on TVs, and a beer list big on California breweries. Design inspiration will stem from seaside Santa Monica, with white teak, lights woods, and teal accents.
The chain shamelessly looks and tastes a lot like In-N-Out. Its LA native founder John Miller has admitted his inspiration to start Caliburger in 2011 came from that iconic West Coast burger brand he dearly missed while working in Shanghai.
Caliburger was sued by In-N-Out in 2012, reports Vice, prompting the brand to change “Animal Style” to “Cali Style” and tweak the proprietary “Double-Double” name to “Cali Double.”
Along with its longtime residency at Wunder Garten, a newly added truck made an appearance at The Kennedy Center’s opening festivities for The Reach addition last month. It’s back this Sunday, October 6, for an all-day festival there.
Caliburger is the latest tenant to sign on Meridian Group’s 1.7 million-square-foot Boro development, which hopes to go head-to-head with Tysons Corner Center Mall. Its roster also includes Fish Taco, Bluestone Lane, North Italia, Flower Child, Tasty Kabob, and Tropical Smoothie Café, all slated to arrive by next spring.
A 70,000-square-foot flagship Whole Foods overlooking a food hall and brewery opened this week.
There’s a movie theater upstairs, so Caliburger plans to stay open late to accommodate post-cinema guests. There could also be a walk-up window to serve customers later.
During its extensive three-year search across the area, the brand considered spaces in Adams Morgan and the Ballston corridor, but none of those layouts panned out.