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Big Smoke Burger

Big Smoke Burger is an international restaurant chain based in Canada.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

History

The Big Smoke Burger was founded by Mustafa Yusuf in November 2007,[1] originally under the name Craft Burger.[7] It rebranded to Big Smoke Burger in 2011 after Yusuf was unable to secure a trademark for the original name.[7] The new name was chosen as "Big Smoke" has been a noted nickname for the city of Toronto, which is where the company has its headquarters.[7][8]

In 2013, the company began to expand its reach into the Middle East and the United States.[1] As of June 2025, 12 locations were in operation worldwide.[9]

In June 2013, Big Smoke Burger opened their first location in the United States in Glendale, Colorado.[10] A second location was opened in New York City in July 2014.[11] The sale of burgers and poutine never caught on south of the St. Lawrence River and both locations were quietly closed by 2017 and the company has since left the United States.

MTY

In September 2015, MTY Food Group paid $3 million to acquire 60% of Big Smoke Burger. Big Smoke founder and president Mustafa Yusuf retained the remaining 40% of the company.[12][13]

At the time of the acquisition, Big Smoke Burger had a total of 12 locations. Of the 12 locations, 9 were located in Canada, 4 of which were corporately owned. The remaining 3 locations were in the UAE.[13]

After the sale, Yusuf remained with the company as Senior Vice President of Big Smoke Burger.[13]

See also

Further reading

External links

References

  1. Maryam Siddiqi. Big Smoke Burger expands to the Middle East The Globe and Mail, February 27, 2014, retrieved March 14, 2015^
  2. How a Canadian burger outlet made its way to the Middle East Financial Post, March 31, 2014, retrieved August 26, 2016^
  3. Josh Rubin. Big Smoke Burger aims for Big Apple Toronto Star, August 2, 2012, retrieved August 26, 2016^
  4. Big Smoke Burger Announces Grand Reopening of Flagship Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, February 6, 2015, retrieved August 26, 2016^
  5. Ryan Shea. Big Smoke Burger Review: Big Flavor, Big Taste Manhattan Digest, September 19, 2014, retrieved August 26, 2016^
  6. Hugh Merwin. Toronto's Big Smoke Burger Opening Manhattan Flagship This Year Grub Street, New York, July 26, 2012, retrieved August 26, 2016^
  7. Craft Burger is now Big Smoke Burger (a new location is in the works, too) Post City, May 16, 2011^
  8. Big Smoke Burger: About Us Big Smoke Burger, retrieved March 14, 2015^
  9. Locations Big Smoke Burger, 2014-06-20, retrieved 2017-11-07^
  10. Lori Midson. First look: Big Smoke Burger opens Monday in Glendale Westword, June 28, 2013, retrieved September 8, 2024^
  11. Big Smoke Burger Arrives in Chelsea LocalBozo, 2014-07-14, retrieved September 8, 2024^
  12. MTY enters into an agreement to acquire 60% of Big Smoke Burger CNW Group, August 19, 2015, retrieved September 8, 2024^
  13. MTY completes the acquisition of Big Smoke Burger CNW Group, September 18, 2015, retrieved September 8, 2024^