Starr to open a burger shack in Franklin Square
The project, at which the restaurateur will serve snacks at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge, just cleared the city Zoning Hearing Board. (This is not an April Fool's joke, either.)
This is not an April Fool's joke:
Stephen Starr has signed on to do a seasonal burger shack at the spiffily restored Franklin Square, home of a mini-golf course, a fountain and carousel.
Expect the official announcement on Thursday.
A zoning certificate was approved Tuesday for a permanent structure, to be erected on the Sixth Street side of the square. It's due to open in midsummer, serving specialty burgers, shakes, salads and Capogiro gelato.
Beginning in mid-April, the Starr people will start working out of a temporary tent on the Seventh Street side, at which a limited menu of burgers, hot dogs, pretzels, drinks, and ice cream will be available. It will close when the permanent stand opens.
There's no name attached, and it's not clear if this is technically an undertaking by Starr's restaurant group or his catering division. It's probably a given that prices will reflect the marketplace. Doubt he's counting on getting $12 for a cheeseburger, as he does at the Continental, $16 for a burger at Butcher & Singer, or the $14 for a kobe cheeseburger at Barclay Prime.