Big Buns will start serving up burgers in Vienna next week

As Memorial Day nears, grills will be heating up across America, including at the new Big Buns Damn Good Burgers in Vienna.

The rapidly expanding Northern Virginia burger chain will open its location in the town to customers next Tuesday (May 17) after months of pandemic-related delays. Founder Craig Carey had previously expressed hope for a fall 2021 launch.

“The pandemic, with everything that’s going on in the world with supply chains and everything else, has impeded and slowed down our opening timelines,” Big Buns Director of Operations Kebba Gaye told FFXnow yesterday (Monday). “From getting equipment, from even getting employees, it’s been harder.”

Replacing Elevation Burger at 142 Branch Road SE in Danor Plaza, Big Buns serves up made-to-order burgers, burger bowls, chicken sandwiches, fries, and drinks, including milkshakes, beer, and cocktails.

Started in Arlington in 2007, the company didn’t add a second location until 2018 but has now grown to six restaurants. It arrived in Fairfax County via Reston Station in March 2021 and added a Herndon site on Franklin Farm Road just last month.

Additional franchises are in the works for McLean, where it will be paired with Matchbox Pizza at the upcoming Lidl, and downtown Herndon on Elden Street. The company is also planning to expand into Loudoun County, taking over an Elevation Burger in Ashburn.

Customer demand brought Big Buns to Vienna, according to Gaye, who says the Ballston, Shirlington, and Reston locations have gotten a lot of customers from the town who had “been telling us for a while, ‘You should come to Vienna.'”

The restaurant will operate from 11 a.m. to 9:05 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We’re happy to be here,” Gaye said. “I know the neighbors [have] been waiting for us for a long time, and we’re ready to offer them nice burgers.”