The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Dozens of hungry residents were introduced to "the burger that says bite me" yesterday. Mean Gene's Burgers opened at the former Esso station in Creighton, quickly drawing everyone from school children to hard-hatted contractors anxious to test the latest fast food offering. "We have confidence in the Flin Flon area," said owner Don Kennedy of The Pas. While the signature product of the outlet is flame-broiled burgers, the menu is varied to suit many tastes and includes salads, fresh sandwiches and hot dogs. Known mainly in parts of the U.S., Mean Gene's uses high-energy, attitude-driven marketing to reach customers, including the slogan "The burger that says bite me." The new Creighton establishment is two restaurants in one, as it also features a Hot Stuff Pizza outlet, giving the pizza-loving public a fresh option to satisfy their rumbling stomachs. Customers may enjoy the food in the restaurant, from the drive-thru or through home delivery. And enjoy it they do. "No complaints here. It's very good," smiled Al McLeod as he polished off a tempting cheeseburger. Aside from indulging the public's appetite, the restaurant has also had a positive economic impact by creating about 18 new jobs, including that of general manager Del Hutlet. The gas station portion of the business remains open and has been upgraded with a canopy over the pumps and an increased selection of confectionery items. Management has also switched from Esso affiliation to Petro-Canada. Kennedy purchased the gas station in 2000 and soon began looking at different fast food outlets he could locate in the building. After looking at more well-known chains such as Tim Horton's, Burger King and A & W, he settled on Mean Gene's, an American outlet eager to take a bite out of the Canadian market. "I was impressed with Mean Gene's and their multi-franchising ability, which allowed us to open both Mean Gene's Burgers and Hot Stuff Pizza, both owned by Orion Food Systems, an American company," said Kennedy. Creighton is now home to just the fourth Mean Gene's location in Canada. Two others are located in Alberta and another operates in Nunavut. Kennedy said he is confident that the quality of Mean Gene's will allow the chain to continue to grow across the nation. And what else would one expect from the burger that says bite me
