Five Guys Celebrates 40 Years of Burgers, Fries and Family

Five Guys, one of America’s most popular burger restaurants, celebrates its 40th anniversary today. What started as a small carry-out spot in Arlington, Va., in 1986 has grown into a global fast-casual leader with nearly 2,000 locations across five continents. For 40 years, Five Guys has built a reputation as customers’ go-to burger joint for quality, service and made-to-order meals.

“We really just wanted to make burgers we could be proud of,” Five Guys Founder Jerry Murrell said. “Thank you to our customers for making this journey possible.”

Built by Family

In 1986, Jerry and Janie Murrell presented a choice to their young sons: go to college or start a business. The boys chose business, then rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Four decades later, Five Guys (named after the five Murrell sons) remains a family business. And while the company has grown beyond what anyone could have imagined, the commitment to quality hasn’t wavered.

Domestic & Global Growth

Five Guys spent its first two decades refining the concept, opening four additional locations with sit-down seating in the Washington, D.C., area. In 2003, the Murrell family began offering franchise opportunities and within 18 months, more than 300 units had been sold.

The brand opened its first international restaurant in Canada in 2010, followed that up with a London location in 2013, and now operates in more than 25 countries. Today, customers from London to Seoul to Dubai enjoy the same experience – hand-cut fries, burgers cooked with passion, and more than 250,000 topping combinations.

Recent Milestones

In November 2025, Five Guys earned its first Restaurant Business Magazine Global Restaurant Leader of the Year award, recognizing the brand’s international growth and innovation.

The brand’s first location in the Czech Republic (Prague) opened in December 2025, while a new flagship restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip, which opened in January, is the first domestic Five Guys to feature a full bar serving beer, wine, frozen cocktails and boozy milkshakes.

Celebrating 40 Years

To mark the anniversary, Five Guys is offering a special promotion on social media. Fans can join the celebration by visiting Five Guys’ official social medial channels (links below) for more details.

Follow Five Guys on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. For more information, visit fiveguys.com.

Find your nearest Five Guys location at fiveguys.com.