The long-awaited drag-themed restaurant, Hamburger Mary’s, is ready to perform.
The purple restaurant on The Docks opens to the public at 11 a.m. Thursday.
“I honestly think Toledo is ready for a Hamburger Mary’s,” said Lorrie Ricker, who co-owns the franchise with her husband, Steve, and business partners Joe Jones, Kevin Grames, and Ralph Clark. “I think Toledo is ready for delicious burgers and fun entertainment and to bring drag into a more of a mainstream arena.”
The restaurant franchise is known for creative burgers, hand-cut fries, and queens, who perform and mingle with the crowd during evening events.
In its first month of business, local queens will perform only on a pop-up basis, but soon shows will move to a set schedule on Friday and Saturday nights. At that point, patrons will be able to make reservations to grab a seat near the stage, a small platform decorated in purple sequined fabric.
Eventually, Mary’s hopes to expand its shows to Sunday morning brunch, as well. As its slogan suggests, it’s a place to “Eat, Drink and be ... MARY!”
“This is like a dinner and a show,” Mrs. Ricker said.
The location is the only Hamburger Mary’s in Ohio. Most of the franchise’s 15 other restaurants are in much larger cities across the U.S., the closest location to Toledo being in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. There were 19 locations, but four businesses recently closed in Florida.
Ashley Wright, an owner of parent company Hamburger Mary’s International, admits that Toledo is not necessarily the first place a person would think to have a Hamburger Mary’s, but he said they’re excited to expand into a smaller community and offer customers an experience they can’t find anywhere else locally.
“Hamburger Mary’s is an open air bar and grill for open-minded people,” Mr. Wright said. “If you have an open mind and you’re willing to explore some new things, have great food, great entertainment, then come to Hamburger Mary’s.”
Though the franchise’s theme naturally lends itself to the LGBTQ community, the owners say it’s meant to be fun, uplifting, and inclusive for everyone, including families. During drag shows no clothes come off and there’s no vulgarity, they said.
Regular restaurant staff dresses in jeans and T-shirts with Mary’s name on it.
During their VIP event Wednesday evening, Adrienne Leathers said she had no concerns about bringing her 5-year-old and 3-month-old daughters to eat and watch a performance.
“I don’t have any concerns about the drag queen aspect. They’re people, just like me and you. ... We’re here to accept people for who they are and this is who they are,” Mrs. Leathers said. “It’s going to be a very positive thing for Toledo and the area.”
The restaurant is starting out with a limited menu, featuring six of Mary’s signature burgers, including the “Queen Mary,” which has cheddar and jack cheeses, grilled onions, bacon, lettuce and pickles with Mary’s sauce, and the “Barbara-Q Bacon Cheeseburger,” which is essentially the “Queen” burger topped with onion strings and a tangy-sweet barbecue sauce.
The menu also features salads, chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese bites and two desserts — deep-fried Twinkies and a brownie sundae. Offerings are expected to expand over time.
Eventually, the owners say they also hope to host Mary Bingo for charity and billiard and dart leagues.
“We just want to celebrate what Toledo is,” Mrs. Ricker said.
First Published November 21, 2019, 11:30 a.m.
