The Counter announced this past spring that they would be coming to Ballard Blocks. Now the sign is up and they’re closer to opening.
Eric sent us this photo and says, “Drove by this place as the sign was going up so I stopped in and asked questions. I guess they just finished hiring 80 people and will be opening in 3 weeks. Very impressed with the decor.” The Counter let’s you build your own gourmet burger from 312,120 different combinations. (Thanks Cathy for also emailing us).
The Counter closer to opening
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
312,120 different combinations? I thought Lunchbox Laboratory had a lot of options.
I am impressed that a do-it-yourself business needs 80 people to run it.
80 people?! Are they sourcing from their own farm, feedlot, and slaughterhouse?
Do you bring these burgers home to cook?
How many options and are there any vegetarian ones?
The only thing you do yourself is fill out the order form. Beyond that, it is a full service restaurant, including a bar.
The menu looks pretty good:
http://www.thecounterburger.com/menu/
That is the least-restaurant-looking logo I've ever seen.
Mmmm…. franchise burgerz.
You mean I can finally have a veggie patty with something flavorful on it? I am so there. I don't care if it's a franchise. It's still a good idea.
Agreed. The name as well isn't very neighborhoody. But I guess if its a franchise you get very little say in the matter.
If a competing burger joint opens nearby will it be called the Counter Counter? ;-)
I've been to The Counter in LA, and they have great service and great burgers. Yes, it's a chain (part-owned by “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau), but I'm stoked that we're getting one here.
Speaking of.
The last few weeks, Built Burger has had a grill out front of their store Sundays during the Ballard street market, cooking up samples of their burgers. I know they are a bit expensive, but they are some of the best tasting, juiciest burgers I've had. Don't know if they'll be there again this Sunday, but if they are, I'll be in line for some “free beef”.
Each person gets to work one hour a week.
Goodness, I already stand in front of Lunchbox Laboratory's chalkboard in a drooling stupor; how on earth am I gonna make up my mind at The Counter? Guess I'll bring my blindfold and a box of darts.
Great, just what Ballard needs–another California chain store, born in pretentious Santa Monica, backed by blockbuster Hollywood cash. Fittingly crammed under L.A. Fitness, next to Traiter Joe's in the horrendous Ballard BLocks. That building epitomises what hi-rise, hi-density, urban re-engineering has brought to Ballard, courtesy of Mayor McCheese's developer cronies. How did we let Nickels destroy the character of our neighborhoods? What's next–T-shirt stalls in the Pike Place Market? Get your burgers at Ballard Brothers, Red Mill, or Dick's. If you want a California chain burger, go to California.
Let's see… I want a veggie burger with grilled pineapple, peppers and sprouts, but unfortunately I lack the substantial funds required to go to California for lunch, so I am personally ecstatic. WATCH ME GO YAY.
Get a grip, it's only a hamburger.
So much for free choice….
get over yourself. the building is up. you'd prefer it remain unoccupied and 80 people without jobs?
My god that sounds hurl causing.
It seems it is a hurl causing veggie burger.
Of course and each makes minimum wage.
I've always wondered why someone who does not want meat feels the need to eat something that pretends to be meat or tries to resemble meat.
Without that building, where would he channel his class envy?
You're right, it is pretty terrible that Ballard is getting new business. Also terrible that people will now shop at TJ's and work out in Ballard, rather than driving out of the neighborhood to go to the same places….
It's alright, you don't have to eat it, as long as you let me go YAY :) (there will be ketchup too.)
I eat both, sometimes I just want the veggie patty. It tastes good in its own right. :)
More like heartburn causing! But have whatever you'd like! hahaha :)
Most of us don't want to eat something that pretends to be meat. That's why the Garden Burger patties are more popular than the Bocca patties.
Mostly, I just want to be able to eat where everyone else eats. I've managed to survive eating side with people who eat meat for a very long time.
Yep! You now have the option of having a veggie burger that actually has flavor. That particular grouping of toppings wouldn't be my choice, but a big 'hurrah!' that there is choice. :-)
Um, I like Dick's and Red Mill just fine, and I'll continue to go to each on occasion. And when I'm in LA and want a burger, I'll go to In N' Out, Mo's, Fuddruckers, or maybe even – The Counter. But that doesn't mean I don't get to be glad that The Counter is going to be here as well. I don't like the Ballard Blocks building, either. But The Counter, chain or not, makes great burgers, ones that are completely unlike Dick's and RM (burger diversity, w00t!) and I can't wait to walk down the street and have one.
It's not about getting your gladness–these days, take it wherever you can find it. But while you're savoring your upscale vegan Happy Meal, think about the nasty world of corporate business models, chain store expansion, and shrinking market share (woot!). The economy sucks right now, so food business is way down and many of our local restaurants are closing. Let's say you take maybe…five percent? of your hamburger dollars away from local places that are struggling. No big deal, it's just chump change, right? But you then give those dollars to an out-of-state chain financed by a multi-millionaire who doesn't have to worry about revenue for the first year or two (or five) because his financial resources are relatively unlimited. Ditto for L.A. Fitness and T.J.'s. Congrats, you are now their market share! And they don't care about your cool little life in Seattle, let alone Ballard, other than getting market share and cheap rent in a speculative commercial development that was possible due to a bunch of local business closures.
And a year later, three or four more local businesses have closed because the bank would't let them ride out the recession on top of a 3 percent loss of revenues due to your shopping shifts (goodbye scholarship funds, goodbye full time jobs and benefits, hello bankruptcy for a few more local families–but don't worry, they'll “get over themselves” eventually). What's left are…three California chain stores in a spec building and a bunch of empty storefronts on 15th and Market. Now Ballard looks just like every other shopping mall between here and Portland. Woohoo! Isn't choice great?
So it's not just a hamburger after all. It's local restaurants, local grocery stores, local workout shops, local businesses. Excuse me while I head to Lunchbox Laboratory for lunch.
The Counter has a Vegie burger that's made in house. It's vegan as well.
Expecting to serve about 500 guests a day.
i will go to lunchbox laboratory as well…but i hope i don't get stuck talking to you in line…sheesh.