Robert Krause, left, and Simon Bates — purveyors of gourmet burgers and fries at The Burger Stand.
In 2009, the Molly and Robert Krause helped turn Dempsey's Pub into one of downtown's most popular eateries. The concept was relatively simple — offer seven or eight modestly priced gourmet burgers and a few flavors of gourmet fries.
The Burger Stand proved to be a coveted complement to Dempsey's beer and pleasing environment. But that's about to change. Molly Krause announced today on her blog that later this summer The Burger Stand will move into the Casbah Market building — right next door to Esquina, the taco joint they just opened in February.
"We will be opening sometime this summer, but will still be serving out of the Demspey’s location until then. The action around here just never seems to stop. I used to think that there would be a time of quiet, but I now have to admit that I like the action as much as Robert." — Molly's full blog.
Comments
jstthefacts 3 years, 1 month ago
couldn't they move it a little farther away than the casbah.Very average burgers.
foodboy 3 years, 1 month ago
Where do you go for a good burger if you think Dempseys is only average?
local_interest 3 years, 1 month ago
Where is your perfect burger? I'm being serious and curious at the same time.
b_asinbeer 3 years, 1 month ago
Again...what's your perfect burger?
local_support 3 years, 1 month ago
I support your interest
Boston_Corbett 3 years, 1 month ago
I didn't know the LJW perused blogs for news.
clyde_never_barks 3 years, 1 month ago
It makes for much less work than making it up like normal...
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
Is Doug OK with this move?
JustNoticed 3 years, 1 month ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
sk_in_ks 3 years, 1 month ago
Hope this means the Burger Stand will be open 7 days a week after the move; last time I checked, they were closed Sundays in their current location inside Dempsey's!
d_prowess 3 years, 1 month ago
I ate there last night so it is definitely open on Sundays.
mickyd01 3 years, 1 month ago
I've eaten there on several Sundays.
Denny2009 3 years, 1 month ago
great place to grab a burger and beer..keep up the good work Dempseys.
gjmshm 3 years, 1 month ago
Dempsey's will continue doing even better burgers under a different chef. Unfortunately, there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Dempsey's was forced to make a tough decision when they found out that Robert went to First Management to try to get Dempsey's evicted from the building. Dempsey's has been very generous but has been taken advantage of. It sounds like a Napoleon Complex to me.!
King_Kaun 3 years, 1 month ago
Better burgers under a different chef?? Should we expect this chef to bring the same "high quality of food" that is currently served at their other bar, Quinton's?? HAHAHA!!! Don't worry Burger Stand...we will follow you wherever you go - even if you are serving out of a van DOWN BY THE RIVER!!
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Quinton's has been operating in Lawrence for over 20 years and still going strong.
gjmshm 3 years, 1 month ago
What is "high quality food"? They get their food from the same company as Quinton's. Cisco provides for both. You don't know the facts if you are not in the restaurant business. They were serving pre-made items like the sweet poptato fries! Paaalease!
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
I think we all know who has the real Napoleon complex and their name starts with a g and ends with jmshm......The Burger Stand is the best burger joint in North East Kansas. Dempsey's was a shee hole before they came in. People will follow Robert and Simon wherever they go!
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Really? Dempsey's interior has not changed a bit since the burgers came in except some window blinds.
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
HAHA......Larry must be the owner of Quintons......that's great!
gjmshm 3 years, 1 month ago
Hello! This is Suzi, by the way. Who is this? If you are referring to my husband, he has nothing to do with this. If you would like to speak with me on this subject please call me. I would be happy to!!!
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
Whoever he is, he is a crony. I just went through some of his past comments. Obviously he is connected to the owners of Dempsey's and is in the restaraunt business.....let me post you a few.
Thank you for finally bringing a quality burger to Lawrence. My cheeseburger was $6.99 and worth every penny. The burger at Freestate is $10 and it is terrible. I'm shocked people complain about a $6.99 dinner. The same burger at Blanc in KC is $8.99. If $6.99 is out of your price range for dinner, Checkers is having a sale on Alpo. Enjoy!
Star burger at Pach is very good. It was my favorite until Dempsey's opened. Dempsey's burgers are a tenderloin, ribeye and strip blend. I hope Henry T's does well with the new concept. It might be a tough sell since the only Kobe their current clientel knows about is Kobe Bryant.
Jason has confirmed my belief that nobody can post anything about a business unless he/she has owned a business. It's just that your comments sound really stupid to business owners.
Robert & Molly, Good luck with the new venture, I'm sure it will be a huge success. I will miss your talent as a first class chef and your staff's professionalism.
BBQ=Beimers Burgers=Dempsey's Sandwiches=Quintons
I was involved in a business matter and the property came up in question. During the meeting, we were privvy to the names of the owners and the bank loan info. All I remeber was there were a lot of co-signers on the note and rate was the highest I have ever seen.
NOTICE A TREND? In the beginning he was praising Dempsey's for their burgers (which he never admits it was The Burger Stand) his favorite food places were Quintons and Dempseys, he mentions that only "business" owners should respond to business issues, and that he was in on a "business matter" that involved a night-club property, not to include his countless post on liqour licenses gripes. If he isn't your husband he is someone close to you.
And now he is slamming Robert and Simon for their future plans. Those quotes of his don't lie.
You have been served!
rockchalk2323 3 years, 1 month ago
know the facts??? do you? Sysco (not Cisco) may provide the food to Quinton's but The Burger Stand gets their products from Ben E Keith Foods.
zanarite 2 years, 11 months ago
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
Could the Millsteins be about to sell the Casbah to Compton/First Management?
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Did Hell freeze over?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
So, does that mean that Compton will kick the Krauses out of the taco corner when the lease expires?
fanaddict 3 years, 1 month ago
Oh Dempsey's...I will follow you wherever you go...
anitliars 3 years, 1 month ago
Just discovered these wonder burgers about 5 months ago, and have had about 10 since. All my friends and family love their burgers and fries. We'll be following them wherever they go.
458casul 3 years, 1 month ago
robert was a bad boy tried to take over dempseys and cut steve out of his lease so robert got kicked to the curb
KRichards 3 years, 1 month ago
Dempsey's sucked as a bar before the Burger Stand went in, and probably would have been out of business just like his failed restaurant on 6th street (some taco place) Everytime I go everyone is eating burgers and no one is there just for the bar.
Dempsey's was lucky to have the Burger Stand.
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
That's an untrue statement. You may not like Dempsey's but the business was making money and had been open for two years before the burgers began. Dempseys bar is packed late night as well. The burger concept actually started in Kansas City at a place called Blanc. The burgers at Dempseys are not an original idea.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
"The burger concept actually started in Kansas City at a place called Blanc."
Bars have been serving burgers for decades, all over the country.
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Thanks for stating the obvious. I was speaking of these particular burger recipes.
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
birdie138 3 years, 1 month ago
Plus, Blanc's has their tasty shakes...
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
No it's pretty much true
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
If they were a "succesful bar" why did they bring Dempsey's in for the first place? Come on' Larry! Common sense would tell you that when a bar that was already serving food decides to bring in a chef/celbrity it isn't to help the chef. I don't have to be a crony of Krause's to know that. Alls I had to was go into Dempseys when The Burger Stand opened on a Saturday afternoon and compare it with a year later. It is obvious The Burger Stand saved Dempsey's.
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Maybe you need to know the facts. Dempseys did not serve food prior to the burgers. It was only a pub for two years. The kitchen and equipment belong to Dempseys because it was part of the Mad Hatter which Dempseys bought from First Mgt. Dempseys let Robert use the kitchen free of rent and free utilities. Celebrity chef??? A Lawrence celebrity to 100 people at best. Krause never even worked in the kitche. All the recipes and hard work was Simon.
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
zanarite 2 years, 11 months ago
It doesn't seem like an issue of not liking Dempseys, instead it is more an issue of the truth. How many different bars have been at that location in the past 5 years? It's hard to deny the truth that only a handful of people even knew what Dempseys was before the Burger Stand moved in.
gjmshm 3 years, 1 month ago
Dempsey's was unfortunate to be taken advantage of. Now Krause is just going to be known as the burger guy. They are wearing their welcome out of Lawrence out just like in Topeka.!
zanarite 2 years, 11 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
458casul 3 years, 1 month ago
if robert wouldnt have try to cut steve out he wouldnt be moven that was a bad move on roberts part u dont bight the hand that feeds u
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
Explain to me who was doing the feeding, and who was doing the bighting (sic.)
458casul 3 years, 1 month ago
bite the hand that feeds u
ontheroadfitness 3 years, 1 month ago
With all this talk about burgers, I'm wondering when there will be a restaurant in town that DELIVERS tasty, healthy meals at affordable prices! :)
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Once again, did Hell freeze over?
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Once again, did Hell freeze over?
The_Big_B 3 years, 1 month ago
That would be TWICE again ...
whats_going_on 3 years, 1 month ago
what is tasty and affordable to you? I can find something healthy just about anywhere I go (granted, I don't eat fast food).
ontheroadfitness 3 years, 1 month ago
Yup, it's pretty easy to find something healthy at most restaurants these days, but I think it'd be cool if there were a place that offered only healthy options AND had delivery. But I'm afraid LarryNative might be correct in Hell having to freeze over before something like that happens...
whats_going_on 3 years, 1 month ago
agreed, I'd eat there, if their food was good I suppose. I wonder what their menu would look like. :)
local_interest 3 years, 1 month ago
Define affordable. A good non-sysco/non-usfoods/local food meal in my mind should be around $10. $15-20 for dinner.
overplayedhistory 3 years, 1 month ago
as soon as the government subsidizes healthy food like they do $h!tty food.
Matthew Fowler 3 years, 1 month ago
Grand opening, grand closing.
ontheroadfitness 3 years, 1 month ago
http://www.thepumpenergyfood.com/ something like this would be awesome!
thatonedude 3 years, 1 month ago
I only like Dempsey's for the Burger Stand.
openyourmind 3 years, 1 month ago
robert krause, we love your food. you are a culinary genius. BUT, you are dealing with the devil. someday you will realize this.
Keith 3 years, 1 month ago
ditto
Clickker 3 years, 1 month ago
What in the world does Chase have to do with this local issue?
greenstrings 3 years, 1 month ago
blanc burgers did not start gourmet burgers. Sorry, but food concepts are rare in originality. Food tasting as magnificent as The Burger Stand sure is a rare treat. Healthy food is awesome, but why not work out a little extra for a guilty pleasure. As for the talk about what is happening with Dempseys ownership and Burger Stand...forget about it, because none of you will ever have a full picture of the scenario. Get a life...or get a burger...naysayers don't mean a thang! Honestly I never went to Dempseys before the Burger Stand, if they get a new food gig, good for them, maybe I will try that out. As for hell freezing over and the devil talk...wow...ya'll so hardcore bashing on LJWorld!!!!! Keep it up...because it makes me giggle softly inside. How about them Royals...
eastbelle 3 years, 1 month ago
teehee ... you makes me chuckle. :-)
hitme 3 years, 1 month ago
Over-rated...very very very over-rated. In fact, I don't care for anything they have to offer. You have to be very redundant and explicit (to the point of being rude) with them, to cook the meat long enough. The fries are a cardiologist's nightmare, not to mention that their choice of toppings just aren't appealing.
greenstrings 3 years, 1 month ago
It's great that you don't care...now I can sleep at night! Whew, close call. Last time I checked, we only live once, my cardiologist and I frequent the Burger Stand. Your comments are not appealing, but trust in that the food speaks beyond attempts to downplay a great Lawrence restaurant. I'm so glad you have time to let everyone know not to try the food. I'm sure they could not figure that out without your shining insight! Are you mad at the burger? Did it scare you? It's okay, a little burger won't haunt your dreams. I just don't get the point to all the naysaying...get over yourselves and let it be.
misseve 3 years, 1 month ago
I agree with the repeated request for more than rare cooked burger request... other than that I have had no other complaints about The Burger Stand.
FarneyMac 3 years, 1 month ago
If you're asking for well-done Kobe beef, the problem is with you, not them.
misseve 3 years, 1 month ago
what i want is not a bloody burger... and if its my money i should get what i ask for without much ruckus
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
The problem with well done Kobe is the fat will melt completely away and leaves a very dry steak or burger. I guess is you like your steaks well done, an order that makes any chef shake his head, it is your money and that's how you should get it. No reason to spend the extra money on Kobe for well done though.
pizzapete 3 years, 1 month ago
I agree, way over rated. I would take a burger from Conroy's, Set em up jacks, Jeffersons, or Buffalo Wild Wings over them any day.
theruckus33 3 years, 1 month ago
and your favorite move is "American Pie" favorite beer is Budweiser, favorite musician Nickleback and you love mma fighting.......yeah we get the picture
pizzapete 3 years, 1 month ago
Nope
corduroypants 3 years, 1 month ago
OK, it's Hoobastank instead of Nickleback, but he was pretty close.
corduroypants 3 years, 1 month ago
I think Sonic is still open.
corduroypants 3 years, 1 month ago
I think Sonic is still open.
openyourmind 3 years, 1 month ago
greenstrings...read up on your lawrence history.
the devil talk is in reference to first management, not dempsey's. and there are many many people in this wonderful community who believe that the biggest naysayer and the one who is always challenging what is in the best interest of the community is fm/compton.
greenstrings 3 years, 1 month ago
This compton bizness is beyond my lawrence history répertoire. I also do not like many decisions made around the world...maybe I should go post bashing all of them too. I understand the devil talk is about fm/compton....but where does this talk, in this setting, get anyone with a community's best interest? All I hear is devil talk and nothing to back those comments. I do not like the idea of a new apartment complex downtown next to that parking garage, but I also do not like stepping in dog doodoo. Should I start a anti-dog doodoo movement on here?
greenstrings 3 years, 1 month ago
LJWorld is deleting my comments, but why?
JustNoticed 3 years, 1 month ago
Exactly. Or talk to ANY neighborhood association who has had to deal wlith him. He is a self-centered, selfish little prima donna and a certified liar.
458casul 3 years, 1 month ago
yes u should start the poop movement
Napoleon_Dynomite 3 years, 1 month ago
Kobe beef is flavorless. The fact that they don't want to cook it to 160 degrees is a health risk. The joke is on you if you're willing to pay for this. Dressing the burger up doesn't make the meat taste any better. Kobe just isn't the right meat to make a burger with.
LarryNative 3 years, 1 month ago
Wow. You are 100% wrong on every statement. You live up to your name, congrats.
corduroypants 3 years, 1 month ago
Napoleon only likes delicious bass.
junkhand 3 years, 1 month ago
underhanded dealings or not, dempsey's management is keeping their head in the sand if they think people are going there for the bar/atmosphere........
mcguirej 3 years, 1 month ago
6 pm, really? Does that include all of the families getting ice cream? Have you ever even been down there after 6 pm? 99% of the students I have ever interacted with do not go out and start drinking that early. After 10 pm is more realistic, and probably still pushing it a bit.
There is a lot more to do downtown after 6 pm that does not involve students or drinking. Decent food can be found at several places on Mass after 6 pm, and I know this from experience.
bruno2 3 years, 1 month ago
You're way off the mark Beo. My wife and I love to go downtown on Friday evenings in the summer (about 6:00) to have a nice meal, hang out, and people watch.
eastbelle 3 years, 1 month ago
I guess we're starting our 8 month old early on the "drunken student" part ... we went to Dempsey's for a nice family dinner the other night .... I believe it was just around 6, actually. Oh, and, trust me, we know NOTHING about decent food. Of course not. Nope.
thatonedude 3 years, 1 month ago
Having had burgers at Dempsey's after 6pm, I can tell you there's a healthy townie population to go along with "drunken students" there. Same with Free State Brewery, another place with great food.
Keith 3 years, 1 month ago
prolifersforwar for the win!
smot 3 years, 1 month ago
This is one of the funniest and best pieces of prose I have read in a long time
bruno2 3 years, 1 month ago
WHAT?!!
naturalist 3 years, 1 month ago
wouldn't want any of those vegetarians going to Dempsey's burgers.
basil 3 years, 1 month ago
Brilliant and hilarious.
whats_going_on 3 years, 1 month ago
You just made my night.
corduroypants 3 years, 1 month ago
I love godless minking.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 years, 1 month ago
"You should be home, watching the evening news "
Is the Replay an acceptable option?
eastbelle 3 years, 1 month ago
OMG, LMFAO. I might have just woken the baby. Crap. Thanks, though! I will forever look upon this moment and think of myself as both a harlot and godless liberal. Thank goodness for the harlot part! :-) HAHAHAHAHA!
sherbert 3 years, 1 month ago
I love the burgers but doubt that I'll be going to the Casbah for them.
Kris_H 3 years, 1 month ago
That was great. LJW should hire you to write news articles, more people would read them.
Solomon 3 years, 1 month ago
The burgers at Dempsey's----over rated & over priced.
dudedog12 3 years, 1 month ago
All of the burgers come from old tough bulls and worn out cows anyway, they got you on this, you think you are getting quality, just a step above mc d's, maybe even not that .. lmao...
whats_going_on 3 years, 1 month ago
your post and your name fit quite well, I must say.
LA_Ex 3 years, 1 month ago
I'm going to go where the quality is. I only went to Dempsey's for the burgers. Without The Burger Stand, Dempsey's is just another bar. Maybe Dempsey's will hire a chef that can make Irish food. After The Burger Stand moves out, this is the only way it will stand out from the rest of the bars in Lawrence.
vertigo 3 years, 1 month ago
You can't claim it's a Kobe beef burger unless the beef came from the Hyōgo prefecture in Japan. It may be Kobe-style beef, but not true Kobe.
Kobe beef in Japan is a registered trademark of the Kobe beef distribution promotion conference. It must fulfill all the following conditions:
1- Tajima cattle born in Hyōgo Prefecture 2- Farm feeding in Hyōgo Prefecture 3- Bullock or castrated cow, to purify the beef 4- Processed at slaughterhouses in Kobe, Nishinomiya, Sanda, Kakogawa and Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture. 5- Marbling ratio, called BMS, of level 6 and above. 6- Meat Quality Score of 4 or 5 7- Gross weight of beef from one animal is 470 kg or less.
King_Kaun 3 years, 1 month ago
You are Correct! Except read the company's website...they AREN'T selling Kobe Beef Burgers...they are selling AMERICAN KOBE beef burgers. Please read up on your facts... here ya go:
http://www.kobe-beef.com/
Having an ACTUAL "Kobe Beef" burger would not taste as good - as a "burger" is not a great way to enjoy the qualities of authentic "Kobe"....
but the "American Style Kobe" is super duper tasty as a burger and affordable!! Blanc Burger does a GREAT AMerican Kobe burger, too!
Easy_Does_It 3 years, 1 month ago
94 comments. I had to take a look, I thought maybe homeless gays were being married at Dempsey's.
4everahawk 3 years, 1 month ago
To whomever wanted to know why the reference to Chase Manhattan Bank credit card being shredded....DC is married into that family.
eastbelle 3 years, 1 month ago
EVIL!!! Ever since they bought out WaMu, I have been wanting to cut up my Chase card ... just another reason ... thanks.
Stedman 3 years, 1 month ago
Awesome hamburgers. Yeah, I would like mine cooked a little longer, but other than that these are the 2nd best burgers I have ever had. Second only to Larkburger in Avon, Colorado.
WhiteDog 3 years, 1 month ago
Five Guys for the win. Good burger without all the drama.
whats_going_on 3 years, 1 month ago
double the fry-induced heart attacks, however.
bangaranggerg 3 years, 1 month ago
I'm never shocked by the trolling and strange behavior that can go on by these comment sections, but I am suprised in this instance today of how much some of you know about involved parties and how seemingly accurate you are gossip-wise. I wish we could refine that - I'd be really, super interested in reading about local business related development events and gossip with as much crazy filtered out of it as possible.
basil 3 years, 1 month ago
Brilliant and hilarious.
basil 3 years, 1 month ago
(Sorry: that got posted in the wrong place.)
tubs_of_love 3 years, 1 month ago
Anybody ever make their own burger? I use plain old ground beef and really, it's better, especially for the price. Although I DO like a Dempsey's burger when I'm feeling lazy.
intheknow 3 years, 1 month ago
Yipee!! I love the Burger Stand! I love my burger bloody, served with micro greens and a truffle sauce that drips from my fingers. I'll jog and extra few (um, hundred) miles to work that burger off! Naysayers...head to McDonald's...the price and quality should suit you just fine. Sorry Dempsey's - we'd grab a Guiness from you with our burger, but not if there's no Burger Stand, we're out!
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