OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Oak Grove’s newest burger spot opened its doors over the summer with made-from-scratch burgers, desserts and custom drinks. Bobby Wheeler and Gabriella Williams, the young couple behind the business, pinched and saved to make their restaurant dream come true.
“We felt our relationship was strong enough to do it, and we wanted to set up our future,” Wheeler told Christian County Now. “We were both working 12-18 hours a day saving up to get it.”
Before the grand opening in July, they hustled to put their own personal touch on the restaurant space which is located right outside of Fort Campbell by Gate 6.
The food service business is not new to either of them, with Williams previously gaining experience from her brother’s restaurant just down the street, Taco Loco. Also, Wheeler had already perfected his burger when he launched his Bobby’s Smashburger’s food trailer in 2022. They decided to combine their knowledge for the opportunity to tackle this venture together.
“A lot of people were happy to see Bobby’s Smashburger’s get a brick and mortar, and we’ve been so lucky to have such great community support from both Oak Grove and Clarksville,” added Williams.
Cultural menu inspiration, community involvement
Their main goals when opening included creating a made-from-scratch menu and engaging with the area. To promote a sense of community, they have brought food to local volunteer firefighters, and created the Pay it Foward Board hung proudly in their restaurant.
Their system allows for people to put in an order that is printed on a gift receipt and posted on the board. If a person comes in who is unable to afford to eat, they can redeem a prepaid meal from the board. The two of them make sure there are always a few tickets available, even if they have to pay for it themselves.
With the menu, Williams put her flair on it by tapping into her roots from Trinidad and Tobago. Along with an array of seasonal beverage options including Autumn Punch, her Peanut Punch is the standout. She describes it as a Trinidadian peanut milkshake over ice that is in honor of her late father. “It’s a staple in the Caribbean. You can make it so many different ways, but my family just has a certain way of making it. Its super simple and super delicious,” said Williams.
Free samples of their homemade drinks are always offered when ordering, along with a counter full of homemade baked goods to choose from. The main attraction of course is the smashed, crispy burger. Wheeler prefers his with just lettuce, tomato and mayo, but he encourage customers to try combining any of their free toppings.
With their first few months in the books, the couple is looking forward to the future. They encourage other young people aspiring to open a business to persevere and never give up, while also crediting their support system for getting them across the finish line.
Smashburger Central is located at 15153 Fort Campbell Blvd. in Oak Grove. They are open daily from 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. Find updates about their menu and hours on the Smashburger Central Facebook page.
BUSINESS OWNERS: Click here for a free marketing and branding consultation for your business