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Smashburger Headed to Monrovia

The burger chain Smashburger will be one of four new tenants in the building that will replace the old Acapulco restaurant.

The burger chain Smashburger has applied for a conditional use permit to serve alcohol at a proposed location in the Huntington Oaks shopping center, the Monrovia Now blog reported Wednesday.

Smashburger would be one of four tenants in a new building that will replace the old Acapulco restaurant and construction should begin in February, Monrovia planning division manager Craig Jimenez told the blog.

Smashburger's mission is built around a unique way of cooking burgers by literally smashing them into the grill.

"Place your order and we spring into action, painting the grill with real butter, adding a dash of our secret spice blend, and smashing the meatball with a tool we invented ourselves...," the chain's website explains. "Smashing caramelizes the beef, creating a sear that locks in the juices as no other cooking method can."

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Dan Crandell January 31, 2013 at 12:46 am
Ed I would even compare it to a Red Robin. What say you?
JustMe January 31, 2013 at 02:16 am
I'd love to see a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour come to Monrovia.
Gayle M. Montgomery January 31, 2013 at 11:47 am
I'd still like to see a Norms come to Monrovia. They converted the old Steak Corral in West Covina to one about a year and a half ago, and they do a buzzing business. The hours are good, and this town doesn't have any full-day coffee shops where people can gather when it is convenient except (ugh) Denny's) on either side of us. The Norms in West Covina is often SRO at the door.
R. Ray Morford January 31, 2013 at 12:12 pm
The City of Monrovia can not keep a Restaurant out of the City just because of Competition. New businesses must comply with our regulations already in place, then a conditional use permit is given.
Jerry Baker January 31, 2013 at 01:12 pm
Which regulations does the City of Monrovia have which surrounding cities do not have?
J. Knight January 31, 2013 at 01:58 pm
Actually, when I think about it, probably just about every restaurant in Monrovia serves hamburgers. Even Big Shrimps serves a fantastic Kobe Beef burger. Clearly hamburgers sell. As long as this is a quality hamburger place, I would welcome it in Monrovia.
sayitisntso January 31, 2013 at 02:08 pm
I would like to see a good Gun Shop in Monrovia again, I miss Carl's Gun Shop. The city would be able to keep the sales tax revenue that is spent elsewhere on the purchase of guns and ammo.
sayitisntso January 31, 2013 at 02:18 pm
I agree the BEST burger in Monrovia is at the Market Grill on Shamrock and Colorado Ave, fresh baked buns and smash type patties with a good grade of beef. Tasty and juicy!
Richard Christy January 31, 2013 at 02:22 pm
I'd like to see a marijuana dispensary come to Monrovia. For the same reasons as sayitisntso. Pity to see that tax revenue go elsewhere.
J. Knight January 31, 2013 at 02:47 pm
While I respect people's rights to own a gun, this is an ill-timed comment. It feels like every other day there is a news report of someone using a gun to "solve" their problems. I am not quite ready yet to have a cache of guns sold in our city. Would love to see the laws across the country tightened further to help keep guns out of the hands of those who should not possess them, especially the mentally unstable and children.
Heather S. January 31, 2013 at 03:50 pm
This sounds tasty - can't wait to try it....
A book store would be nice...I wish Vroman's would come back
Dan Crandell January 31, 2013 at 03:59 pm
Seems the community isn't allowed to express good thoughts for the happenings in our city without some rebels without a cause putting their useless issues in our faces. Cyrus brings his guns and Christy brings his pot. Freedom of speech, expression and thought is theirs to project to everybody. I'm thinking PIA'S
Kim Hughes January 31, 2013 at 04:56 pm
I agree with Heather--we have to go all the way to the Pasadena Vroman's. It would be nice to have one here. Also, the SmashBurger sounds great! Wish we could also convince Stater Bros. to move here.
sayitisntso January 31, 2013 at 06:03 pm
J. Knight, my rights do not depend on timing. The second amendment does not depend on the anti-gun nuts using every tragedy involving a firearm for their agendas. I see no calls by the anti-gun nuts to ban alcohol when a child is killed or injured by a drunk driver which happens far more often then with a gun.
Ellen Zunino January 31, 2013 at 07:28 pm
I'd love to see anything but another restaurant of any kind in Monrovia. I'm having to drive farther and farther from home for the necessities of life.
Gayle M. Montgomery January 31, 2013 at 08:02 pm
Agreed, J. Knight. Very poorly placed and frankly looking for a fight i think.
Gayle M. Montgomery January 31, 2013 at 08:04 pm
Yeah, but Daniel, if they smoked enough pot, they wouldn't need guns. It would be peace and love. Far out, Man. Richard, give Cyrus a joint. And of course I'm being facetious. Maybe. Maybe just ornery.
Gayle M. Montgomery January 31, 2013 at 08:08 pm
Rereading the article and why they call it Smash Burger, it sounds like they may have once worked at In N Out. Years ago, I took the Dale Carnegie Leadership Course. One of the required talks was instructional. A gal in our class worked for In N Out and told us how to make an In N Out burger. It had to do with smashing them on the grill. By the time she was finished telling us, everybody in that class was salivating.
sayitisntso January 31, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Different process, IN N OUT is pressing pre-formed patties on the grill to flatten them to assure even cooking which also drys them out because it squeezes out the fats and juices..
Richard Christy January 31, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Dan, Why don't you take my suggestion seriously? Dispensaries are legal, why not allow Monrovia to benefit by the great tax revenue that it would bring in?
Ed Delgado February 1, 2013 at 01:18 am
Dan, I've never actually been to a Red Robin so I can't say one way or another. I have to admit that some of these comments are giving me the urge to try some of these other restaurants. I drive by the Market Grill each week but I've never stopped in!
Ed Delgado February 1, 2013 at 01:24 am
That's for sure! Barnes & Noble is downsizing so I get the feeling that Vroman's may wind up being the last book store standing! They're kind of like the Southwest Airlines of book stores. That being said, I can't imagine a new bookstore (not a dismal outlet like the defunct Crown Books that was in the mall) opening up here unless the citizens of Monrovia promised to buy at least one book a year. Kind of like the Personal Seat License that the NFL owners demand.
Jill Pyeatt February 1, 2013 at 01:40 am
That would be great! A good suggestion.
Jill Pyeatt February 1, 2013 at 01:42 am
Absolutely yes on the marijuana dispensary! Let's show the rest of the San Gabriel Valley that we're the trendsetters here in Monrovia.
Dan Crandell February 1, 2013 at 02:11 am
Hello Gayle .... I also took that Leadership Course last century. "How to win friends and influence people" Great book that I reference every once in a while. Hay are you still on JD?
I was at John Wayne Airport that afternoon when the In N Out CEO"s plane crashed. I saw the plane seconds before it crashed. I knew something was going wrong. Never will I forget that day.
JustMe February 1, 2013 at 05:27 pm
It would also be fun to have more things to do in Monrovia. We've got lots of places to eat, but it'd be nice to have something to do. Some ideas are: ice skating, roller skating, bowling, miniature golf, mini/golf and arcade games, lazer tag, paint ball. There's a SkyZone in West Covina that is an indoor trampoline park. These are just a few ideas, I'm sure there are lots of others.
J. Knight February 1, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Sayitisntso - You are right that they did not ban alcohol due to DUI deaths but they did tighten up the laws. A third DUI is now a felony in almost all states, whether you killed someone or not. And if you do kill someone you are not longer just sent to a holding cell to sober up then released (because it was the alcohol that caused the accident you would not have had if you were sober), you are now tried for involuntary manslaughter. So while alcohol is legal, driving while drunk is not.
I think the same tightening of the laws needs to happen with guns. The second amendment was established so that people could protect themselves not so they could have access to guns in order to cut short innocent lives. Something is wrong with gun regulation in this country when we see such horrific gun violence on a regular basis. I am not saying to get rid of guns, I am just saying we need to look at how guns are made available so that we can curtail the gun violence. And finally, yes you have the right to buy guns, but in light of the recent tragedy in Newtown CT, it would have been a kindness to yield expressing your opinion publicly to put in a gun shop.
J. Knight February 1, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Would love to see Vroman's in Monrovia as well. But with the way the brick and mortar bookstores are having a tough time competing, I wonder if Vroman's could support another store in the San Gabriel Valley? Would definitely have to take up Ed on his suggestion.
Bonnie Card February 3, 2013 at 04:25 am
I agree with JustMe. There is a movie theater....( Which needs new seats by the way) and that's about it. The kids of Monrivia don't have a lot of entertainment options. Lets fix THAT!
R. Ray Morford February 4, 2013 at 10:23 pm
I understand a "Chipolthe" Restaurant may be one of the three Rest. at this location.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
rubberband June 19, 2013 at 10:29 am
Perhaps I am unclear on what exactly you would have done? Take away visas from Chinese only? NotRead More allow anyone pregnant to cross our boarders even with a visa? Pregnancy tests at the boarder? Or start a fund for what you call "the hard-working Mexican people?" I am going to assume you were kidding and waxing sardonic when you wrote that they don't have the luxury of staying in a decent hotel...and I really find myself hoping that you have some idea of the WORLD you live in, not just your immediate area. This is not an attack; it is a very real appeal to ask : What would you have DONE about it? Please allow issues of legality, human ethical behavior, financial liability, and finally a realistic approach to your response.
Kate K. June 19, 2013 at 10:59 am
Are you all standing at the Arcadia City Council meetings, telling the City and Arcadia Police Dept.Read More to crack down on these hotels that are turned into "birthing houses" ? If its not against any statute then YOU need to work to get a statute drafted and enacted as law to stop this. YOU are "We the People", and if you don't make the laws, someone else will. Complaining online may make us feel better, but it will resolve nothing.
Brenda Winner June 19, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Be part of the change you insist on happening. Bring some ideas out and present them to whoeverRead More needs to see tham. You make it sound like its a situation that you think is not your problem but yet you expect smeone else to make it better You have no clue about the culture, the reasoning or the attempts that may have been made or are in the works. Lend a hand.
rubberband June 12, 2013 at 10:17 pm
See other post about this: It needed to happen...(Ancient Burial Ground that was desecrated) but IRead More maintain we should get some sort of "cleansing" or burn some incense/sage or call for an exorcism. I believe the evil mojo needs to be banished before we build again.........
donna mills June 8, 2013 at 04:40 pm
Hi Therese, I am good friends with Star Shields. He is a busy face painter, and often needs back-upRead More either at the Summer festival in Laguna Beach, now underway, or with one of his other commitments. If you're interested, I would be happy to give you his contact details via email.
Therese B. June 8, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Hi Donna! Star is a good friend of mine too!!! He is more an airbrush artist (and a darn goodRead More one!!) then a face painter. But he is truly a legend in his craft. I have been lucky enough to work with him and learn from him too! I just wish he wasn't so far away :( Nice to hear from you!
donna mills June 11, 2013 at 03:52 pm
Oh wow! what a small world! Best, Donna
rubberband June 7, 2013 at 04:22 pm
Old fashioned country vet "patchin' up" was some of the cool stuff I was taught growingRead More up. Splinting a bird's wing or leg, getting a thorn out of a slightly infected cat or dog paw was part of learning. I am NOT saying to eliminate/not see a REAL vet, however some things can be handled at home with a bit of basic medical knowledge and Bactine/hot clean water and towels/tweezers and some loving hands to hold Fido or Snowball when you can do it yourself. I am already bracing myself for the angry openly hostile messages this post might draw, so it's OK if you feel the need to do so. Watching some of my older friends who have limited income spend THOUSANDS of dollars for a beloved pet out of pressure/and what I call "pusher's guilt" sorta made me feel like mentioning that in the old days, some of the animal care was done by a wise farm woman/man...not all vets are crooks, and not all pet needs need put you in the poor house.
lynn June 7, 2013 at 07:24 pm
I love the old farmers remedies, particularly for mange however when dealing with elderly animalsRead More and certain conditions you just get around it. The farmers remedies are often slow working causing more pain then an animal needs to go through. I try holistic meds quite often for some bacterial infections and they are slow too. Cats in particular are difficult treat. They are great in some situations but in others the it is not appropriate. I will attempt the at home first then the vet. My recent situation was a neglected kitty I rescued with a 1.25 lb cyst I had no idea she had the cyst just thought she was matted. I was trying to get her shaved. Kitty's don't cooperate for though things. One thing led to another she ends up on the operating table. No rescue groups would help me and that's where my anger is directed. I have been donating to different groups monthly for more then 20 years. At one point three different groups at the same time. No one helped me when I needed it. I'm done.
rubberband June 8, 2013 at 11:31 pm
@Lynn: Reading your posts I felt some anger FOR you. HUGE animal lover here, and ALL my pets areRead More rescues/fosters except for the Robo dwarf hamster. Love my cats, and know there just some things you can't do to a kitty without risking kitty AND your own safety. What you have experienced was pretty much the exact thing I saw some older friends go thru...Care about their pets, want to get help, and can't seem to get any or get SOME but with hidden costs and "guilt trips" at the end. If no one said it, thanks for helping critters out and giving when you could. Sorry it was not rewarded.
donna mills June 3, 2013 at 01:20 pm
Gasp! Seriously? OMG--Poltergeist get behind me!!
rubberband June 3, 2013 at 01:48 pm
Donna...Poor Donna. My dear, it is too late. Call that weird yet cute little tiny lady toRead More "clean" your home and get your kids out of the television. ......oh and if you have a pool...DO NOT GO SWIMMING.
Dan Crandell June 3, 2013 at 01:58 pm
Love you Donna. Your comment should have been "Poltergeist get ""thee""Read More behind me"!!!!! All in fun.