Bagger Dave’s

Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern is a small Midwestern casual dining chain that centers on made-to-order burgers, a full bar with beer and cocktails, and a relaxed neighborhood tavern feel. The restaurants operate as full-service sit-down venues with bar seating and family-friendly dining rooms, positioned closer to a classic grill and tavern than a quick-service burger concept. As of November 2025, the company runs 5 restaurants across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, all within a compact regional footprint.

The concept was created in 2008 by Diversified Restaurant Holdings, which set out to build a burger-focused tavern using fresh ingredients, house-made sauces, and some regionally inspired items. In its early years the brand expanded across Michigan and into nearby states, often selecting busy suburban retail corridors and shopping centers where restaurant traffic could ride alongside national anchors and entertainment draws.

Around 2016 and 2017, Bagger Dave’s went through a significant reset. The company closed underperforming units, pulled back from certain markets, and was separated from Diversified Restaurant Holdings into its own public company, Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern, Inc. That move marked a clear pivot away from aggressive new unit growth toward tightening operations and stabilizing a smaller core group of restaurants.

In the years following the spin-off, Bagger Dave’s narrowed its geography to a handful of Midwest locations and later became an affiliate of BT Brands, Inc., which now holds a significant minority ownership stake. As of November 2025, public filings from BT Brands describe Bagger Dave’s as a five-unit casual dining affiliate that contributes to results under the equity method, reflecting a modest but steady presence within a broader multi-brand restaurant portfolio. The emphasis in recent disclosures has been on improving restaurant-level profitability and optimizing the existing base rather than opening new markets, which points to a measured, hold-and-optimize approach with the possibility of selective infill in familiar trade areas.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Bagger Dave’s functions as a full-service, alcohol-serving restaurant suited to high-visibility suburban nodes, regional shopping centers, and mixed-use corridors with strong evening and weekend traffic. Historically the chain has occupied inline and end-cap spaces and has shown an ability to adapt to second-generation restaurant spaces. While the brand is not pursuing large-scale rollout, its focused Midwestern footprint, established operating history, and ties to a public multi-brand restaurant owner make it a realistic candidate for targeted placements and relationship-driven deals in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.