The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Burgers 2 Beer opens on Crile Road
Variety of new businesses filling corridor
Already an immediate hit at the Crile Crossing retail development in Concord Township, Burgers 2 Beer, stylized as “B2B,” joins the popular Pizza Roto as the new chain eateries in the submarket’s economic development evolution.
A Subway restaurant is soon to follow, along with a variety of other retail enterprises.
The newest B2B, at 7669 Crile Road, is the fifth location of restaurateur and proprietor Elie Chamoun. The founder has plans in the works to also open his sixth spot on Rockside Road in Independence.
“We wanted to open here for several reasons,” Chamoun said. “I looked at the area, studied it and checked out other businesses. We felt we could capture Painesville, Concord, Chardon, Kirtland and Mentor. It’s a central location, especially on 44, a main road back and forth for a lot of people.
“Plus, this area is growing with other new businesses and ventures. We’ve invested a lot of money
here, and we’re here to stay. The restaurant business is tough, you have to know what you are doing and you have to be able to think of it in terms of longevity.”
B2B was born in 2011, first opening in Highland Heights. The original concept was to serve as a contemporary craft beer bar, like it does now, with upper-end fare; casual, but not hurried; with a laidback atmosphere, but no sacrifice of quality in service. However, other influences
steered the initial concept to operate instead as an upscale bistro.
But B2B would have its day, and then some, as the bistro proved to be shortlived. The resourceful Chamoun, who’s worked in the restaurant industry for decades with and without his family, reflexively took stock, returning to his original burger/beer concept, setting it off a mere 20 days after the bistro’s shuttering.
“I’d gone through rough times with other concepts
and individuals before,” Chamoun said. “The idea was always to create something that isn’t going to require a lot of chef experience. The previous concept, well, I wanted to eliminate the person who was going to create the biggest problem for me. B2B was created to service a higherend style. And I wanted to make sure people can afford us and come and eat two, three times a week instead of once a month.”
Measuring 5,800 square feet with two full-service bars, 28 televisions, a fire pit and an enclosed patio, the restaurant currently employs 46 people. From design to execution to construction, bringing the location to Concord was a twoand-a-half year process. Chamoun put $1.2 million into the current B2B project, customizing the new kitchen to fit his latest concept. “This is the prototype we’re going to build from for other locations,” he said. “The existing locations are all the same interiors.”
Touted as “not just a burger place,” the restaurant features 21 different 100 percent grass-fed steak burgers with five different buns, including gluten-free. Patrons are also welcome to build their own burger, and can choose from chicken, turkey, veggie, bean, beef or bison. A specialty menu, which Chamoun said will rotate, is also available, as are salads, wings, ribs, quesadillas, massive 100 percent all-beef hot dogs and desserts. A menu for kids is also available.
Daily deals are offered throughout the week, also, with happy hour running from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day and all day on “Boozday Tuesday.”
“We carry over 100 beers, and support local produce as much as possible,” Chamoun said. “We have our own (custom) draft beer, in addition to wine and our own blended bourbon, distilled by Cleveland Whiskey.”
Married with three sons, Chamoun, who lives in Highland Heights, was born in Lebanon and graduated from Euclid High School, later attending Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. He then transferred to Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Though it’s been almost seven years since Chamoun’s vision joined an evergrowing local restaurant scene, he remains “blessed” and thankful for every opportunity.
“Nothing succeeds without the support of the people and the communities we serve,” he said, adding that Concord Township was always a desirable region on his radar in expanding the B2B brand. “I wanted to be off the 44 exit. I feel this area is in need for a concept like ours. I like the metropolitan areas, but I also like suburbs like Concord. There are a lot of families here. We look forward to everyone coming out.”
“We carry over 100 beers, and support local produce as much as possible.” — Elie Chamoun, founder of Burgers 2 Beer