• by Teresa Buyikian , October 11, 2023

BurgerFi recently announced it will return to New York with a new concept location in the city this December. The chain’s previous New York location, launched in 2013, was permanently closed during the pandemic.

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based burger chain’s new Upper East Side location, at 2,400 square feet, will be a Better Burger Lab experience offering Angus beef, fresh sides, draft beer and frozen custard desserts. In addition, the space will also offer a yet-to-be announced lineup of limited-edition menus, tastings, and other items  not available at any other location.

"As a born and raised New Yorker, reopening our Manhattan location is a personal passion point for me," said Carl Bachmann, CEO of BurgerFi International ,in a release. “We will have a late-night menu to make sure we are meeting the needs of our guests.... The Burger Lab will create a unique experience [for them].”

The NYC unit will now serve as the chain’s flagship location, as well as an event space that will also sell alcoholic beverages.  New York members of BurgerFi’s rewards program will have an opportunity to be invited to exclusive tasting events at the store.

Bachmann also has “plans to expand the brand’s footprint by capturing opportunities in new markets and nontraditional space."He just recently joined BurgerFi in July 2023 from Smashburger, where he rose from COO to president in his 6+ years with the company. He previously spent over three years with Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta, where his last position was vice president of operations.