H-Burg’s Jack Brown’s to bring their famous burgers and beers to RVA early next year

by | Dec 5, 2014 | POLITICS

Harrisonburg’s Jack Brown’s Burger and Beer Joint, known for it’s specialty burgers, deep fried Oreos, and wide selection of craft beers, will be opening a new location in Richmond.


Harrisonburg’s Jack Brown’s Burger and Beer Joint, known for it’s specialty burgers, deep fried Oreos, and wide selection of craft beers, will be opening a new location in Richmond.

The eatery currently has several locations, including Harrisonburg, Elkton, Roanoke, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Aaron Ludwig, one of the founders of Jack Brown’s, came up with the idea for the restaurant with his childhood friend Mike Sabin. Ludwig had grown tired of working his job at a local ski and skateboard shop in Harrisonburg and was looking for a change.

“I was having a pretty crappy day at work at this skate shop,” he said. “I had done that for like fifteen years and wanted to get out.”

Ludwig called Sabin to seek advice about “what [he] should do next.” Sabin suggested that they open up a bar. The two of them, with Ludwig’s love for brewing and Sabin’s experience in the restaurant industry, started to brainstorm up ideas for what would become Jack Brown’s.
“I was making beer at the time, and we knew we wanted to focus on craft beer,” Ludwig said. “[Mike] was a chef in Miami and had been in the restaurant business for about fifteen years at the time, and we came up with the Jack Brown’s idea then.”

In 2009 Ludwig and Sabin opened the first Jack Brown’s in downtown Harrisonburg. The restaurant is known for its burgers, which are made from 100 percent Wagyu beef (also known as American Kobe).

Each burger has its own unique toppings, ranging from jalapeños to peanut butter. Their beer menu features over one hundred beers, along with three kegs on a daily rotation.

The Harrisonburg location is snug and rustic, with wood paneled walls giving it a homey feel.

Outside there is a patio, making for great outdoor dining. The bar and wait staff are trained to help customers understand all of the restaurant’s selections in food and beer.

“We like for the Jack Brown’s experience not only to be fun and exciting, but … educational as well,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig and Sabin have had the idea for a Richmond location in the “back of their heads” for a while. They have received numerous requests for a restaurant in a Richmond area over the years, and they began to scout for locations about nine months ago.

“We’ve always loved that area,” Ludwig said of Richmond. “I have a lot friends there, plus [there are] a lot of people from JMU who relocated there.”

After an extended search, they finally found a home on 5810 Grove Avenue, which is the former home of Phil’s Continental Lounge. Ludwig said that they are completely overhauling the restaurant.

“New walls, all new bar, new tables,” he said. “We’re gutting the place.”

With four locations currently under their belt, Jack Brown’s has mastered its menu and brewery selections. But Ludwig said he never saw things moving at this rate.

“We never knew that we’d be doing what we’re doing … today,” he said. “We started off very small. We’ve gone through and learned a lot of things.”

The new spot will feature the same setup and menu as all of their other locations. Ludwig said they strive to make the atmosphere in Jack Brown’s as authentic as the Harrisonburg restaurant, even bringing some of the Harrisonburg team down to the Richmond.

“We love to spend a lot of time and effort in the atmosphere,” he said. “We’re gonna have a couple of our staff members from Harrisonburg relocating to Richmond.”

With over one hundred beers on their menu, Jack Brown’s has always featured Virginia breweries, including Blue Mountain and Devil’s Backbone. They also highlight Richmond breweries as well, including the Hardywood Singel and Legend Brewery’s Pale Ale. Ludwig said he’s looking forward to collaborating and working with other local breweries in the future.

“Virginia breweries in general are always something we try to focus on,” he said.

The restaurant also has a kind of drinking club, called Notchers, a group of people who get together to drink specialized craft beers and take trips to local breweries, including Hardywood.

Ludwig hopes to have the new location up and running sometime early next year, The restaurant is also setting things up for a location in Charlottesville.

“We’re trying to get open in the first quarter,” he said. “We’re also working on our Charlottesville store at the same time.”

Check out the Jack Brown’s Richmond Facebook page for more information.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




more in politics

‘We Live in Fear’ Spouse of FBI Agent Speaks Out

In the wake of escalating political tensions, a new controversy has emerged over the safety and security of FBI agents involved in the January 6th Capitol insurrection investigations. According to multiple news reports, the Justice Department, under the current...

Photos | Trump Protests in Richmond and DC

Hundreds of people gathered at Richmond’s Capitol Square on Wednesday as part of the nationwide 50501 Movement, protesting President Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. Organized by Dia Figueroa, the rally focused on opposing proposed cuts to reproductive rights, stricter...