Northwestern students reacted positively to the announcement that Edzo’s Burger Shop, the legendary Evanston burger joint, will extend its hours to include dinner service.
Edzo’s has been in business since 2009, when it opened its doors at 1571 Sherman Ave. in downtown Evanston. Since its inception, it has maintained hours between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, enabling owner Eddie Lakin to oversee all aspects of the restaurant on his own. Lakin announced Tuesday that he will now close the store at 10 p.m. every night but Sunday, effective next Tuesday, Jan. 28.
“In a nutshell, the owner was here solely by himself,” said Scott Brooker, Chef Manager at Edzo's Evanston location. “Now that he’s got two managers at each location, he might as well take advantage of what people have been asking for.”
Edzo’s initially maintained a smaller window of operation so that Lakin could still have a family life. When he opened a second location in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood last year, he hired four managers to oversee both locations. This added manpower has given Lakin more flexibility, leading to the announcement.
Students who have wanted to visit but didn’t have the chance to visit during the day expressed excitement at the extended times. Thanks to the change, other students now see Edzo’s as an off-campus dinner option.
“Yesterday [my friend group] had a big debate about where to go for dinner,” said Communications freshman SangHee Kim. “Edzo’s was one of the recommendations, but because of the hours we couldn’t go.”
The burger joint has become a mainstay for Northwestern students heading off campus to find food. Edzo’s is well known for its constantly evolving menu, including specialty burgers, fries, and milkshakes. It offers Northwestern students a 10% discount with their Wildcard, encouraging many to venture downtown to the store.
“A very significant portion of our business is Northwestern students,” said Brooker.
Despite their extensive and ever-changing menu, some students find it difficult to break from old favorites. For some, the extended hours make it more likely that they’ll try unfamiliar items.
“Generally I’ll get a double griddle burger, sometimes with bacon,” said Communications sophomore Matt Hooker. “I haven’t tried any of the specialty items, but knowing that they’re open longer might give me a chance to try new things.”