Sunshine Coast restaurant Chomp Burgers opens new store in Maroochydore after food trailer beginnings

A young Sunshine Coast husband and wife have revealed how they turned their $15,000 food trailer into a booming new restaurant. Read how they did it.

A burger boom thanks to a shrewd brewery partnership has proven the launch pad for a young married couple to turn their food trailer into a thriving new Sunshine Coast restaurant.

Launched in early 2020 as a food trailer, Chomp Burgers sells five high-quality smashed burgers from its food truck and now its physical store along Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore after opening the brick and mortar outlet early last month.

Chomp Burgers co-owner Josh Johnston, 31, and his wife and co-owner Amy Johnston, 29, bought and invested $100,000 into the store, which has served 1800 burgers since opening.

“It’s been flat out,” he said.

Chomp Burgers co-owner Josh Johnston. Picture: Asa Andersen.

Mr Johnston, a former glazier for 13 years, said he initially started the brand with a small, $15,000 food trailer in early 2020. He said the business idea was a side hustle and an “experiment” at first.

“I didn’t know if anyone would come back for my food again,” he said.

But after selling 40 burgers on his first day, Mr Johnston’s brand went from strength to strength.

He landed a partnership with 10 Toes Brewery during the pandemic where he sold up to 150 burgers a night outside the brewery.

Chomp Burgers food trailer. Picture: Asa Andersen.

Last year, Chomp Burgers evolved into a food truck, and today partnered with 10 Toes Brewery, Sunshine Brewery, and Noosa bar MOTO.

Mr Johnston said his brand was a hit because of its funky design and simple, high-quality food, unlike other places with “over-the-top” burgers.

Mr Johnston, a cook at heart, said his new store was a childhood dream and planned to one day copy and paste the store into, potentially, Noosa and Caloundra.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this for years and years,” he said

Originally published as Sunshine Coast restaurant Chomp Burgers opens new store in Maroochydore after food trailer beginnings