Juicy burgers and crispy hand-cut fries aren’t the only items on the menu at Five Guys. The popular franchise’s corporate headquarters is also looking to serve the local community as it relocates from Lorton to Alexandria.
Founded in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell along with their five sons, Five Guys set out to revamp the fast-food landscape with made-to-order burgers and hot dogs. Nearly 40 years later you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t dined at the red-and-white checkered establishment.
Since opening its first restaurant near the Arlington/Alexandria border, Five Guys has grown to more than 1,500 franchise locations but has remained a local favorite. When their corporate HQ office lease ended in Lorton, the search led them back to where it all began.
According to Chief Marketing Officer Molly Catalano, many factors came into play when selecting a new location. “This was an opportunity to really evaluate where we should be and what we need in this space. We looked at Tysons, Reston, Arlington, and Alexandria. We were evaluating where we should go, and it ended up that Alexandria seemed to be a target area.”
Brooke Blankenship, public relations and marketing coordinator, adds, “We are all excited because it feels like we’re going home in many ways.”
But Alexandria offered many other benefits as well. As their office transitioned to a hybrid schedule, moving into an area with an easy commute and enhanced visibility became crucial. The new headquarters in the Carlyle Crescent building at 1940 Duke Street—across from the King Street Metro station—features a new ‘Five Guys’ marquee and makes it easy for employees and visitors to reach them.
“There’s the ease of transportation. We have a lot of people who are flying in for training from far away. For our employees locally there are options. There are metro stops nearby, parking’s easy, and we’re right off I-495,” says Catalano. The arrival of the new Potomac Yard-Virginia Tech Metro station this past May only added to the city’s allure.
The headquarters is within walking distance of the Five Guys restaurant at 725 King Street, but exploring the many other neighboring small businesses has been an added treat for the 250 employees. Finding an area with an active community was key for staff, says Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Brooke Blankenship.
“Five Guys is a family and community brand, and now we’re in a location where we can practice that. Before we were a little bit isolated, but now we can tie back in with the community and bring our community to us.”