Five Guys

Five Guys is a privately held restaurant company that focuses on made‑to‑order burgers, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. Its restaurants are positioned in the fast-casual segment, with a simple menu built around fresh, never frozen beef, hand-cut fries cooked in peanut oil, and open kitchens that let guests see food being prepared. Locations are a mix of company-operated and franchised units across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia-Pacific.

The business began in 1986 as a small carry-out burger shop in Arlington, Virginia, founded by Jerry and Janie Murrell and their sons. The name “Five Guys” refers to the Murrells’ five sons, who became deeply involved in day-to-day operations as the brand took hold. Through the 1990s, the concept built a loyal following around Washington, DC by focusing on a limited menu, generous portions, and burgers cooked to order rather than held under heat lamps. A key turning point came in 2001, when the company moved from five local stores into a more formal expansion phase, setting up the framework for franchising and multi-unit development.

From that base, Five Guys grew first across the Mid-Atlantic and then throughout the United States. It entered Canada in 2010, opening its first Canadian restaurant in Alberta, and then moved into the United Kingdom in 2013 with a flagship opening in London’s Covent Garden. Over the following years, the brand extended into additional European and Middle Eastern markets and secured visibility at major travel hubs, including an outpost at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. Since 2001, the chain has expanded from its original five locations to a large international footprint.

As of May 2025, Five Guys operates more than 1,950 restaurants in 29 countries. Most locations are in the United States, but the company continues to build out its presence in Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, the Middle East, and selected markets in Asia-Pacific. Recent company communications highlight a steady cadence of new openings, which are often announced through its corporate news channels. The brand also promotes master franchise opportunities in certain regions, signaling an active pipeline of additional international development.

Over roughly the last five years, Five Guys has shifted from being primarily a North American growth story to a recognizably global burger brand. The company has added new countries, increased its presence in key international cities, and entered more travel-oriented and high-visibility locations. While it remains privately held and does not publish detailed financials, the scale of the system and the consistency of new store announcements point to an ongoing growth posture rather than a mature, slow-growth model.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Five Guys typically occupies single-brand restaurant spaces with a straightforward dining room and a sizeable back-of-house kitchen to support on-site preparation. Many of its legacy units were built without drive-thrus, though the company has tested variations in certain markets as consumer habits evolve. The concept’s broad appeal to families, office workers, and students, together with its strong brand recognition, supports dependable customer traffic throughout the day. Because the chain is still expanding and entering new markets, it remains a recurring candidate for second-generation restaurant spaces as well as purpose-built units in high-traffic retail corridors, lifestyle centers, urban streets, and transit and travel hubs.

Five Guys remains owned by the founding family and headquartered in the greater Washington, DC area. Corporate and development inquiries typically route through its Virginia headquarters, while guest questions are handled through online FAQs and local customer support. The company’s continued growth, recognizable name, and flexible deployment across different urban and suburban environments make it a familiar and active tenant in many retail and mixed-use projects.