Betty’s Burgers to open in Norwood in December

The retro US-style burger bar will open its second Adelaide diner in December and there are more outlets in the pipeline.

Betty's Burgers will open in Norwood in December. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

Retro US-style burger bar Betty’s Burgers will replace one of Norwood’s iconic cafes in the heart of The Parade, and there are plans for more suburban restaurants across Adelaide.

Renovations to the former Cafe Manto site, on the corner of George St, have commenced ahead of an opening in mid-December.

Betty’s Burgers is promising the same “beach shack vibe” as its Rundle St restaurant, which opened at the end of 2018.

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Betty’s Burgers managing director Troy McDonagh said the company was currently recruiting up to 60 new roles for the Norwood diner, which would become its second in Adelaide ahead of more planned openings.

“We wanted to make sure we took the time on our second store to get it right - we knew Norwood would be the location and that corner location we’ve wanted and negotiated over for a long time,” he said.

Betty's Burgers opened its Rundle St diner in 2018. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

“The experience will be the same as Rundle St – we work hard on our freshness and uniqueness and it will have the same beach shack vibe.

“Once we’ve established the second restaurant we’ve got our eyes on a third and fourth – we believe as a group that there’s an opportunity to do four or five in Adelaide, maybe more.

“We need a couple of neighbourhood restaurants and one by the sea. We have different formats – CBD, high street, shopping centre and seaside.”

The 1950s-inspired Betty’s Burgers chain was established in Noosa in 2014, and is famous for its fresh burgers and “concrete” – a midwestern American term for frozen custard ice cream combined with a variety of mix-ins.

The Norwood restaurant will become its 41st in Australia, and there are longer term plans to open up to 150 outlets across the country.

Bety’s “concrete” – peanut butter brittle and lemon and raspberry cheesecake. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Mr McDonagh said a move towards take-away and delivery during the pandemic had helped the chain navigate lockdowns in the eastern states, and it was now focused on expansion after its recent launch in Western Australia.

“We’ve been fortunate that our brand and our business has held up with a takeaway and delivery model, but as of this week we’ll have 37 of our 39 stores trading again,” he said.

“We believe there’s a runway to about 150 restaurants nationally – we’ve got another five to 10 planned over the next six to nine months.

Betty’s Burgers founders Nik Rollison, David Hales and Michael Tripp sold the business to Janine Allis’s Retail Zoo group in 2017.

The trio recently launched a new retro burger concept – Slim’s Quality Burgers – which they plan to roll out across the country.

Cafe Manto closed its doors last month after 20 years on The Parade, due to Covid-19, development of a nearby apartment project and construction of a controversial new scramble crossing at the intersection of The Parade and George St.

Betty’s Burgers plans to open its Norwood diner on December 13.