At Gold Burger Diner, visitors enjoy the retro flair of the vintage jukebox, old-fashioned soda machine, and classic diner booths. Historic photos and advertisements for Gold’s Department Store adorn one of the walls, paying tribute to the store that was a beloved staple on the Square from 1936 to 1996.
I like the 50s vibe, the jukebox and soda machine, the rounded bar, the booths,” says Rick Coats, who was visiting Gold Burger for the second time that day with his daughter, Erica, and granddaughter, Kya Mills. “We had breakfast here and saw a smash burger go by that someone else ordered and had to come back,” Erica says with a laugh.
“It’s just a great gathering spot,” co-owner Brad Strittmatter says about the burger joint that opened its doors in July. “We really wanted to create a place where people can gather and get to know their neighbors.” Gold Burger, he adds, is just one of the many places on the Square where people can connect. “The Square is kind of the heart and soul of Georgetown. There are many great places where you can meet your neighbors and make new friends.”
LEGACY OF LOCAL FAVORITES
Gold Burger is one of several local businesses he owns as part of his management company, Goldbird Enterprises, along with Mesquite Creek Outfitters, The Golden Rule, and River & Ranch Provisions. “We’re always looking to do fun stuff on the Square. When that building became available, we really thought that a classic diner would be a great fit — a place to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner that doesn’t break the bank. We thought Gold Burger Diner would be a perfect name — it fits in with our other businesses and also pays homage to a store that was here in Georgetown for such a long time and had such a big impact on people who grew up and lived here.”
COMMUNITY DESTINATION
Overall, Brad is eager to see more people visit the Square, whether at Gold Burger or any of the other restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques that make Georgetown such a special community. “A rising tide raises all ships, whether people are coming to Mikey V’s, Mesquite Creek Outfitters, Goodfolks, or Juliet [Italian Kitchen]. It doesn’t matter, because eventually everyone will visit all the different great places on the Square. I think [Gold Burger] is a great complement to everything else that’s already on the Square. When people visit, we want them to say that Georgetown’s got such a beautiful Square, great shops and restaurants, and now, a cool retro diner. We want to be one of the reasons people love coming to the Square.”
He hopes Gold Burger will become a community staple like Gold’s Department Store was for so many years. “So many people come in that grew up in Georgetown and have neat stories about the Gold family and what Mr. Gold had done for them when they were kids. One person said that when they were doing some back-to-school shopping for clothes and couldn’t afford the clothes, Mr. Gold made sure they went home with the clothes they needed. Hearing stories like that is what makes it special, and reading comments online like ‘Mr. Gold would have loved this.’ I hope that someday people have fond memories of going to this diner like they had at Gold’s Department Store.”