A popular Glenorchy burger joint which has only been open five months is already set to open its second location at the new Spring Farm Village shopping centre in Kingston.
Smash Boy owner Felix Graves said the rapid expansion came after overwhelming community support for his American-style burger concept.
The 25-year-old opened his first shop in just October last year.
“I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Graves told Pulse.
“Everyone who’s come through has been super amazing and has really got behind us.”
“That’s sort of given us the opportunity to go down to Spring Farm.”
“We’re still obviously very, very new and the people that do know us, like we’ve got a really loyal … diehard customer base so far, but I think it’s about more people discovering us now and figuring out that we’re there.”
Graves said developers approached him to join the new Kingston shopping centre, despite being a relatively new business.
“I was a pretty late sign on, but yeah, they were really keen to get us down there,” he said.
“So I sort of just jumped onto the opportunity straight away.”
He described himself as someone who “dives in head first” and figures things out along the way.
The expansion comes after strong customer demand, with Graves revealing he served about 400 burgers on his shop’s busiest day during Royal Hobart Show week.
Smash Boy specialises in American-style smash burgers, inspired by Oklahoma techniques and Melbourne’s small burger shop scene.
Graves said he researched proper smash burger methods through social media and YouTube.
The restaurant uses techniques including mustard on patties and thinly sliced onions that caramelise together, plus imported American pickles and a house-made special sauce.
Before entering hospitality, Graves tried various businesses including custom rug making.
He’s worked in hospitality since leaving school and realised it was his passion.
“I’m good at this, I’m passionate about it. So why not give it a crack?” he said.
Graves said Kingston customers can expect “high pace, high energy” and a different flavour experience when the new location opens within the new shopping centre in late May.
