Come October, downtown fans of Holy Chuck Burgers will have a closer source for their favourite burgers. Owner Johnny Prassoulis told us that he’s opening his newest location at Yonge and Wellesley.
“I’ve been looking for spaces downtown for some time now, and this one landed on my lap,” Prassoulis said of his upcoming third location. “We’re opening in the Northbound Leather location, and we will be sharing the space."
Northbound Leather, the retail store opened in 1987 by George Giaouris, is a recognizable institution in the city. Over nearly thirty years, Giaouris has created a world-renowned fashion house known for custom leather tailoring, lingerie and fetish wear. Celebrities Lady Gaga and Alice Cooper have sported pieces from the shop.
Recently, Prassoulis was introduced to Giaouris and quickly came to chatting about a Holy Chuck location opening at the Yonge and Wellesley address. “This place has a lot of history, back in the 1800s it was the first horse-and-buggy carriage storage place. It’s big with about 4,000 square feet of useable space. We’re going to share the space when we open in October.”
Prassoulis is aiming to open on October 1 and says North Bound Leather will continue to operate at the back of the space, while Holy Chuck will face Yonge Street. The exposed brick interior will remain intact, as will the black and white industrial elements. “It fits right in with our look” Prassoulis said.
He even has plans for the iconic display window that is usually dressed with erotic leather apparel. “I think we’re going to install a meat locker at the front, and hang some of the meat that we age for our custom burger cuts” Prassoulis said, but he’s still deciding exactly what he wants to do.
Two of the burger options at the Yonge and St. Clair Holy Chuck.
The newest location will serve Holy Chuck’s signature menu that features over 30 different styles of burgers from your basic cheese burger to more daring offerings that incorporate ghost peppers (Holy Ghost), are topped with foie gras (Holy Duck) or stack half-a-dozen patties and as many cheese slices (Go Chuck Yourself).
In anticipation of the new spot, Prassoulis is now experimenting with hot dogs. “We’re going to be featuring five or six hot dogs on the menu at the new location,” he said. After thinking about the various ingredient combinations he wants to create, he adds: “It’ll be like our burger menu where we play with different ingredients, but in hot dog form.”
Prassoulis is going to launch the hot dog concept ahead of the new opening, at the Front Street Foods Market, which will be launching at Union Station this summer. At the market Prassoulis is going to be serving four types of burgers, and one hot dog. The hot dog will be served in a croissant with a maple chipotle mayo, bacon and potato chips.
The location south of Bloor has him considering staying open late, possibly till 3 or 4 a.m. to feed the after-bar crowd and licensing the venue for booze, so he can sell beer and wine. A boozy milkshake may be on a Holy Chuck menu sometime in the near future.
Plans for 2016 are also underway. A Holy Chuck Burgers is scheduled to open in Etobicoke next spring or summer at the Queensway and 427 and this will be the first location with a rooftop patio.
