HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Standing in Hopkinsville since 1967, Holiday Burgers has been serving up daily specials and slinging classic diner favorites to their loyal customer base for nearly 60 years. However, new and returning visitors may notice a fresher and brighter space, as the restaurant debuts a fresh look inside.
“I got to thinking it needed a facelift, so I sold my food truck back during the summer and decided to invest the money into the restaurant,” owner Charlie Powell told Christian County Now. With the goal of brightening up the dated space, the recent remodel removed the old wood paneling on the wall and replaced the damaged and worn metal ceiling and linoleum flooring.
The whole project only took about nine days to complete, leaving the restaurant briefly closed much to the concern of regulars. This work along with a coat of paint and a renovated kitchen was done right before Powell marked a full ten years of ownership of Holiday Burgers.
Customer loyalty, building relationships
Charlie and Sherry bought the restaurant from the previous owner back in 2015, with Holiday Burgers already established with their solid menu and a strong, loyal customer base. Although he takes more of a behind the scenes role in the restaurant nowadays, with Mike Bellamy running day to day operations, his commitment to customers remains.
“We know them so well we have their table set up and their drinks poured and almost know what they are going to order when they come in,” Powell said. “It makes people feel comfortable and that’s what being a mom and pop is all about. They’re more like your friends than just customers.”
Walking into Holiday Burgers, the majority of people are greeted by name with the owners and staff. The open kitchen and intimate seating in the front room means a lot of conversation between friends.
He explained that some customers come in for a daily meal, while others stop in multiple times a day to say hello and grab a bite. During his talk with Christian County Now, Powell still made a point to pause and properly greet every customer by name who was coming and going.
Menu and future of Holiday Burgers
According to Powell, the intent of the restaurant is simple, a meat and three family establishment with all the staples people love. Daily specials are written on the board every day featuring items like chicken, catfish, steak, or fried bologna sandwiches. Day to day people can come in to grab a slice of pie by the register, a hearty breakfast and of course, burgers.
As far as the menu goes, Powell says he personally loves when chef Mike cooks up a breakfast bowl which is loaded with an open-faced biscuit covered in gravy, layered with sausage, hashbrowns, and eggs.
Although they have a delicious breakfast, their burgers are the best sellers like the pimento cheeseburger with an onion ring on top and their Eclipse Burger which is topped with an egg. But nothing beats the classic cheeseburger. Out of all the different combinations they have tried, Powell said the veggie burger was one of the biggest flops, “That didn’t go over too good, people want meat.”
As the years go on, he hopes to stay involved as long as he can, continuing to grow their customer base, while building relationships with new and old diners. He aims to continue investing in the upkeep of not only Holiday Burgers, but also his other restaurant in downtown Hopkinsville, Roundies Rock Cafe.
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