Cheeburger Cheeburger opens on Main Street
After months of delays, burger joint takes over former Korner Diner site
Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Updated: Tuesday, April 5, 2011 00:04
 "Photo: Josh Shannon")
Josh Shannon
Sophomore Kyle Anderson makes a milkshake during Cheeburger Cheeburger's first day in business.
 "Photo: Josh Shannon")
Josh Shannon
Al Lora, co-owner of Cheeburger Cheeburger's Newark location, said his favorite part of the restaurant's decor is the cardboard cut-outs of 1950s' icons.
After months of delays, Cheeburger Cheeburger opened Tuesday at the site of the former Korner Diner on Main Street.
A steady lunch crowd entered the 1950s-themed restaurant, moving past cardboard cut-outs of Elvis Presley and Betty Boop while Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" and other period music played over the loudspeakers.
Known for its massive cheeseburgers and wide array of milkshake flavors, Cheeburger Cheeburger originally planned to open its Newark location in August, but problems with construction caused a series of delays. Manager Belinda Danies said the original contractor on the project had a death in his family, and the restaurant's owners eventually had to hire a different contractor to complete the job.
Sam Lundy, president of the Fort Myers, Fla.-based company, said the building's metallic, diner-like exterior matched up well with the restaurant's retro theme. Lundy, whose daughter is a junior at the university, has eyed the site at the corner of Main and Haines streets for several years.
"When I came down Main Street, I always saw this place," Lundy said. "It really had the feel that fit in with our theme."
The Korner Diner closed in 2008, and both IHOP and a seafood restaurant considered moving into the space. However, both projects fell through, and the property eventually became available to Cheeburger Cheeburger.
Customers at the restaurant on Tuesday welcomed the latest in a string of new eateries on Main Street.
"Since they took Johnny Rockets out of the mall, there wasn't a place that resembled this," junior Margot Hepler said.
Jake Zimmerman, who was eating with Hepler, agreed.
"I walked by the other day and I was, like, 'Yo, we're going to Cheeburger Cheeburger," Zimmerman said.
Danies said the restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with slightly longer hours on weekends. She plans to add carry-out service and online ordering in the coming weeks.
The Review will have more on this story in the April 12 edition of the paper.
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