Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries has opened its newest location, located in Gresham, Ore.'s Oregon Trail Shopping Center. This marks the third location in the Portland, Ore., area and a grand opening celebration of events will be held from March 14 through March 17. The new unit is owned by master develolpment agent Lucky Patel, who has two other locations in the Portland area.

"Oregon is a relatively new market for our concept. The residents of Oregon will soon be able to experience our food and atmosphere throughout the state. This is a very exciting time. As our concept continues to expand, so does the recognition of our brand in new markets such as Oregon," said David DiFerdinando, president of Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries.

February 27, 2013 // Franchising.com // Gresham, OR - Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries® is bringing their famous fresh cut Boardwalk Fries® and fresh, made-to-order burgers to their new location in Gresham, OR. The new Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® is located at 2067 NE Burnside Rd in The Oregon Trail Shopping Center. The chain is set to open their third location in the Portland, OR area with a grand opening celebration of events from Thursday, March 14, 2013 through Sunday, March 17, 2013. Residents of Gresham will be able to enjoy the traditional boardwalk experience of eating fresh cut Boardwalk Fries ® with endless dressings, like Old Bay and apple cider vinegar.

Master Development Agent & Owner Lucky Patel states, "I am excited about bringing Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® to Gresham, OR after having successful openings in our first two locations in the Portland area with our Beaverton and Tigard restaurants. Community involvement is always important to the Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® brand. I am excited and proud to be bringing new jobs to the Gresham community. I am also looking forward to being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and supporting the local community in any way our restaurant can."

David DiFerdinando, President of Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ®, states, "We are very excited to see the continued expansion in Oregon. Oregon is a relatively new market for our concept. However, with the energy and commitment of our development agent and franchisee, Lucky Patel, the momentum continues to build as he opens his second location, with many more to come. The residents of Oregon will soon be able to experience our food and atmosphere throughout the state. This is a very exciting time. As our concept continues to expand, so does the recognition of our brand in new markets, such as Oregon."

In the summer of 1980, brothers Dave and Fran DiFerdinando were strolling down the world famous boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. They, like many other vacationers, had childhood memories of summer vacations there enjoying the rides and food favorites, like fresh cut fries. They had the idea to make the beach style fries accessible to everyone around the country, not just those at the beach. And Boardwalk Fries® was born.

"Why would customers wait in line for just French fries," everyone asked? The answer is because they are fresh-cut every morning, cooked multiple times in a special recipe, lightly salted, served piping hot, made to order. The two DiFerdinando brothers opened the first Boardwalk Fries in White Marsh Mall, White Marsh, Maryland, in 1981 and by 1987 they had franchises from coast to coast. As time passed, customers began asking for more. They wanted a burger to go with their fresh-cut Boardwalk Fries ®. It couldn't just be any burger, it had to be consistent with their concept of a fresh product.

The only solution was a never frozen, hand formed burger that was prepared every morning and made to order. Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® was born!

The chain's core menu items include fresh ground beef patties, fresh cut Boardwalk Fries®, grilled chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, salads, and shakes. All sandwiches and fries are made to order, and always with the freshest of ingredients.

Customers can stop by Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® grand opening week of events from Thursday, March 14th through Sunday, March, 17th.

Grand Opening Events:

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Grand Opening Day Celebration
11am – Chamber of commerce ribbon cutting, Live DJ – Z100's Felix, games, prizes & more!
11am-2pm – Free single burger with no purchase necessary!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Free "Fry-day"
Enjoy "Fry-day" with Boardwalk! All customers Friday will receive free fries with purchase of a sand which and drink.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Kids Entertainment Day
12pm - 3pm – Clown, face painting, and magic! One free kids meal with adult purchase of burger and fry!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
SnowCap Fundraiser
12pm - 6pm – Come out to Boardwalk between 12pm and 6pm and part of proceeds will go to the snowcap foundation. Feel free to bring canned food, clothing, and items to help those in need.
About Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries

Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries® is the sister company of Boardwalk Fries ® - the only national French fry branded concept in the United States. With over 30 years of corporate brand recognition and experience, they have been expanding at a rapid pace, including internationally. Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ® was ranked on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 List. For more information about Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries ®, visit www.boardwalkfreshburgersandfries.com.

SOURCE Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries

I'm feeling a nice stroll along the boardwalk... even if it's a SoCal chilly 50 degrees outside. However, instead of a teeth-chattering walk, Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries restaurant was able to bring the warm wind and sandy beach vibes to me in the best way possible: WITH A BURGER.

When I stepped into Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries, I was greeted by the savory aroma of meat on the grill. Before being completely hypnotized, a friendly staff member asked if I was ready to order. As if they knew I was new to this burger haven, they listed off some of their most popular burgers and shakes. So, ordering was pretty simple for me.

I really appreciated the casual, clean, and welcoming feel the restaurant had. You get in line to order, and then take a number and sit wherever you want. Despite the simple appearance, their menu gives you quality above regular burger joints. You can dress your burger with whatever type of cheese you desire (maybe you want bleu instead of American cheese today) as well as order customizable burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. They had interesting decorative yet functioning items everywhere, including a "Test Your Romance" machine and hula hoops outside that set the tone for a fun environment.

Besides having a lot of old school surfer memorabilia, they also had one of those futuristic soda machines—awesome!

I started off with a cookies and cream milkshake as I took my seat in one the wooden booths. I've been craving a milk shake for the past few weeks and this was DEFINITELY the best shake to satisfy my urge. The hand-scooped shake had the perfect consistency of thickness and creaminess when I slurped it up. The slight crunchiness of the Oreos in my mouth really added a boost of chocolaty flavor.

Once the server came with the burgers and fries, I could tell I was in for a treat. Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries cook their fries in three different kinds of deep fryers, keeping the fries tender yet crispy on the outside. The fries were so meaty, I should have added them to my meat challenge!

Avocado Bacon Burger – Fresh lettuce, tomato, American cheese, bacon, and avoccado

I was able to try both the Avocado Bacon Burger and the Mushroom Swiss Burger. Both burgers are hand-made to order and have fresh ground beef. In both burgers, the flavors really blended together well, and brought each other out in the best way possible. The ingredients were straightforward- no secret sauce or anything- and culminated in an impressive taste. YUM!

Mushroom Swiss Burger - Lettuce, tomatoes, swiss cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms & gravy

Though my stomach was full after the hefty burgers, I still made room for their fresh, hand cut funnel fries. You know, this restaurant really knows their fries. They were fluffy and light, a perfect dessert after you think you filled yourself up to full capacity. Doughy and addictive, I felt as if I could inhale all of them in 5 seconds. Whatever you do, don't miss out on the funnel fries.

Why it's good: My favorite aspect of the restaurant was the simplicity of the entire experience. Simple burgers paired with a simple environment. It's a very accommodating restaurant in which you can feel comfortable bringing your date, your kids, or even your grandparents. It's worth the extra few dollars for a quality burger that you don't feel guilty eating afterwards.