Interview with Kim Zeylmaker, general manager
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: After working for 18 years with the Racines/Dixons restaurant group, we closed Dixons and I was looking for a new home in the industry I love. When the opportunity to work with Larimer Associates to open Sunnyside Burger Bar in the neighborhood I love came along, I had to jump on it. I loved the concept and it was right up my alley.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: All of our burgers are chef-inspired (Troy Guard designed our entire menu) and we get only the freshest ingredients available. We offer some pretty interesting combos such as pimento cheese, spinach and Tenderbelly bacon on our Hipster Burger, or roasted beet root, basil aioli, arugula and goat cheese on our Hippy Dippy Burger. We hand-cut our french fries out of Kennebec potatoes. Even our sriracha is a local, custom-made product.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: The ever-changing day. It is never the same. You have different little victories everyday. I think my favorite thing is watching families grow up. You can see a couple meet, date, marry and start a family all within the span of a couple of years. It’s fun to see it happen. I like to be where the celebrations happen. It does your heart good to help families make memories.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: We can have all the greatest ideas in the world, but when it comes down to it, you need to be flexible and give the neighborhood what it wants. Every neighborhood has different needs and just because something works in one place does not mean its going to work in the next place, so we are consistently changing to fit the needs. It is very important to listen to people.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: You would not believe how good our green chili is. We are a nice little burger bar that has a secret weapon in our pork green chili. Come on in and ask for some chili cheese fries — it’s not on the menu but we have it and it will knock your socks off.
Profile
Business: Sunnyside Burger Bar
Address: 3759 Lipan St.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thrusday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Founded: 2014
Contact: 720-255-2485, sunnysideburgerbar.com, twitter.com/sunnysideburger bar
Employees: 30
