Courtesy of Burger Champ
A mock up of the Burger Champ Exterior
Courtesy of Burger Champ
Talk was swirling for some time about whether the acclaimed Elmwood would reopen after it closed during the pandemic. Today, we have an answer: The space will, but the restaurant will not.
Chris Kelling and Adam Altnether, the ownership team at Elmwood, announced today that the 3-year-old Maplewood restaurant would be converted into Burger Champ (2704 Sutton), a 70-seat, fast casual, griddleburger-themed restaurant, which will open “Wednesday through Saturday night initially, from late lunch through dinner,” according to Kelling, ideally in early summer.
The Menu
Courtesy of Pizza Champ
The buffalo-style version of Pizza Champ's chicken sandwich
Spearheading the menu are smashburgers. The exact size and composition are still “in the R&D mode,” says Kelling. The crispy fried chicken thigh sandwich, a top seller at sister concept Pizza Champ, will play a supporting role, while fries, onion rings, milkshakes, and several salads (with protein add-ons such as grilled salmon and chicken) do the same.
Alcoholic beverages include “a limited number of batched cocktails, some quaffable wines, a few drafts, and lots of cans and bottles,” Kelling says. “We’ll carry one of each main spirit, not a back bar full of them.”
Guests will place their initial orders at the bar, runners will deliver the goods, and any supplemental orders (for additional drinks, desserts, etc.) will be placed from the tables using QR codes to prevent guests from having to queue again. “Burger Champ will primarily be a counter-service operation,” says Kelling. “Initial ordering begins there, not at the tables.”
The casual theme carries through to the plateware and flatware. “We’ll use either disposables or reusable plastic; we haven’t decided yet,” Kelling says. “But just like at Pizza Champ, there won’t be any washable china or silverware.”
The Atmosphere
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
The dining room and bar at the former Elmwood
Elmwood’s former sultry aesthetic has been 86’ed, along with the black booths that hugged the bar area, which will be replaced with custom benches from woodworker David Stine, an informal swap that conjures small groups on a weeknight rather than couples on a date night.
Kelling notes that a lot of attention was paid to the acoustics at Elmwood, so “music could be played at high volume but conversations could still be heard at conversation level.” Similarly, he predicts that Burger Champ’s vibe will be buoyed by playing “music of the moment.” Kelling adds, “Like any music in a restaurant setting, it should set the tone but shouldn’t be the star.”
Since the remodel will be largely cosmetic and requires no heavy lifting (“some brighter colors here, some more lumens there”), Kelling believes early summer should be a realistic timeframe for opening.
The Backstory
“Elmwood’s last service was exactly three years ago,” Kelling reflected. “We have properly mourned it and are excited to move on from talk of ‘what are you going to do with that space?’
”Truth be told,” he adds, “we explored selling Elmwood, but when the offers fell through, twice, we looked at what Maplewood needed but did not have and decided a good burger joint was it.”
In a statement, Kelling added: “The pandemic changed everything. We were able to step back and evaluate what works for our families, but also our neighborhood. I am a Maplewood resident, and we have an opportunity to offer a desired experience for the community with Burger Champ. A place that’s casual and fun, but still showcases our focus on hospitality, and puts out a really great burger.”
Photography by Kevin A. Robberts
Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling at Pizza Champ
During the pandemic, the partners initially used the Elmwood space to preview the pizza concept that evolved into Pizza Champ, which opened in a separate space, at 2657 Lyle, in January 2022. The Maplewood building also houses Shared by Side Project, from the owners of Side Project Brewing. Guests can order pizza from the Pizza Champ window and beers, ciders, canned cocktails, and wine from Shared’s window. Orders can be placed to go, for pickup from a drive-thru window, or for dining in on the covered, four-season patio, which stays cozy even on the coldest winter days.
“Pizza Champ was a big departure from our past work experience,” Kelling said in a release,” and we’re having a lot of fun offering something that appeals to a broader audience, and our intention is to do the same with Burger Champ.”
