Editor's Note: 'Our Colorado' stories help natives and newcomers navigate the challenges related to our rapidly growing state, including real estate and development, homelessness, transportation and more. To comment on this or other 360 stories, email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.com. See more 'Our Colorado' stories here.
DENVER -- We can all agree that growth is top of mind for all of us in our growing Colorado. While growth is often seen as a good thing, we also don’t want to lose sight of what gives “Our Colorado” its proud history. That includes our food history.
We saw the lines up and down Larimer Street to get into the new Shake Shack in Denver; people even applauded when the doors opened! One woman drove all the way from Texas so she could be at her fourth Shake Shack grand opening.
But what about Colorado burgers? Did you know Colorado has its own claim to fame with the cheeseburger?
The Humpty Dumpty used to be at Speer and Alcott in Denver. It’s long gone now with a Key Bank is in its place, although if you go to the location, you will find a marker showing where the restaurant once stood. The Humpty Dumpty laid claim to being the home of the world’s first cheeseburger in 1935. As the story goes, a man by the name of Louis Ballast took the first steps registering the cheeseburger trademark, but just didn’t follow through.
Ask any Coloradan and we already have some great burgers.
Have you tried Bud’s in Sedalia? Just don’t ask for fries! How about the original Cherry Cricket on 2nd Avenue? Or Grandpa’s Burger Haven on South Federal? These three always make the lists of some of the best mouth-watering burgers around town.
And now, make room for even more burger places.
Yes, there is Larkburger, Smashburger, Park Burger, Burger Fi and too many more to mention, and now we hear Illegal Burger is opening more restaurants in Colorado; and In-N-Out hasn’t even started here yet. How many burger joints is too many? One longtime Colorado woman told us “the more the merrier.”
It seems the phrase from the “Field of Dreams” movie is at play here. “If you build it, he will come.” The question is, will he come back for another burger?
Now it’s your turn. What did we miss? Is there some great burger place out there we all need to know about? What’s your favorite place for a burger? We want to hear about it. Email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.com.