You may be aware that in the restaurant industry, any business that stays open for more than a year deserves great recognition. . How about a restaurant that’s served customers for more than 66 years? That’s exactly what Jim’s Burgers in Bell, California has been doing. Since 1958, this local eatery has maintained a loyal following of burger fans from across SoCal and beyond. What makes Jim’s a pillar of California fast food? More than half a century of kitchen expertise. It’s tradition that makes Jim’s Burgers a success – and we intend to keep it that way.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Gus Frousakis – owner of Jim’s Burgers – wanted to meet changing eater trends without losing his restaurant’s spirit. As a restaurateur of 52 years, Gus understood that while customer habits change, appetites for quality stay consistent. That’s why he adopted Otter’s restaurant software for his business’s needs. Gus knew that Otter empowers tradition, not replaces it, so his team can maintain their standards in the digital age. We sat down with Gus to learn what’s kept Jim’s Burgers popular – and profitable – all this time.
What’s your role at Jim’s Burgers?
Gus: I’ve been the owner of Jim’s Burgers for about 52 years. It’s a family business that’s run for a couple generations, and I’ve been part of it since I was a kid. I’m pretty proud of it. I’ve been doing it for many years, and I hope to continue.
How did you get started with Jim’s Burgers?
As a young man, I saw my father be a part of this. My summer vacations and weekends were spent at the business, so I’ve kind of got it in my blood. I did many things to help out and manage things at a young age.
What’s the history of Jim’s Burgers?
Jim was my uncle. He’s passed away, now, but he opened up about 30 different places. Of those, only two were original places – one that my cousins own in Pico Rivera, and this restaurant. It’s kind of nice to still be the original owner and have the freedom to express ourselves how we want. The business has proliferated, and we’ve been successful. We have employees that have been here for 30 years, 40 years. They’re a big part of the family that I consider Jim’s Burgers to be.
Where did the idea for the restaurant come from?
We’re of Greek descent. In the 50s and 60s, there was a big migration of Greeks coming in from New York. They got into the food business, and started opening diners. Their menus were huge. There were opportunities, and my family came here to start a new future. They brought their hopes and dreams to Los Angeles. When they arrived, they found out that diners weren’t their strength. They were better at smaller restaurants.
Jim was paramount in creating all these restaurants. He would build one in a heartbeat. Then, my father got into the business. It was his hope that we’d get into franchising. Unfortunately, the Greeks have a different mindset. They’re a little independent, and pretty soon, my father couldn’t keep control. But he was very bright, and he kept the land so that he could rent it out. That was what led to the evolution of Jim’s Burgers. Only two of our family’s restaurants stayed open – I’m blessed that Jim’s is one of them.
How does your community view the restaurant?
The community has been wonderful to us. They’re big supporters. We’re not really in a busy industrial area. It’s a community restaurant. And it’s the community that’s kept us going. They’re our backbone, and we really cherish them. The happiest thing I see is families coming back year after year, growing up and bringing their kids to have their first burgers. I’ve seen three generations pass.
How has Jim’s Burgers evolved over the years?
This place is kind of a throwback. It’s got its own little vibe, and we’ve kept it that way. We play into the sense of keeping it old school. Before Otter, the only electronic thing we had was a drive-thru system that we added in the 80s. We felt we were keeping it wholesome and simple.
Times have changed. These days, people are demanding delivery services, and they’re more comfortable using apps. I’ve got to keep up – I don’t want to miss the boat. I have Otter to help me with that. They’re helping me integrate this new vision for the restaurant. They’re taking me to the next level. I’ve always known that this technology was there, but I’ve never implemented it too much into the restaurant. Now I feel that, if I don’t, I’ll lose out on a future generation.
What do you value in restaurant technology?
Simplicity is still something that has to come across. If we can make it as simple as it was before technology, and make things as seamless as possible, then my older employees would find it more inviting. We’d understand it a little better, and our training would be a little easier. To that end, we’re hoping that this technological aspect is something we can grasp.
How does Otter benefit your business?
Somehow, it feels like Otter is integrating it all for us. So we can take it to the next level, and not feel the stage fright of “Oh, this is all too much.” I don’t know if it’s the technology that’s moved forward or the great platform Otter has, but we’re looking forward to taking the next step.
Were you hesitant about getting started with Otter?
Yes. There’s a lot of hesitancy when you get older. Change at this restaurant was one of those things. This restaurant was the same way for years – we hadn’t done much different, and it worked for us. So something like technological advancement is frightening. But when we had the Sales team from Otter come, they put us at ease. They were like, “We can handle this. We can make this happen for you.” I felt their sincerity – their abilities – in what they were showing me. I said, “Let’s take a chance. We’ll learn with each other.”
What does your team think about Otter?
Once they get to the point of understanding it, they become more comfortable with it. We’ve had time to really feel it out. Some of my employees have never had a screen in front of them before, and are still a little bit nervous. The younger generation picks it up no problem. They like that it’s logical.
Otter utilized a lot of my old system and brought it together with my new one. Now, my staff understand that it’s not that different from before. That’s helped quite a bit. The actual programming and work done by Otter have made it all a lot easier.
What do you personally look for in restaurant tech?
I value respect for the food and expedience of delivery. We’re a business, so we’re looking for more sales and profits. But in a way where we don’t lose the integrity of the restaurant. I really appreciate the community. I want Jim’s Burgers to be an iconic place. I’m proud to have built it and sustained it through the years. I don’t want to take the uniqueness out of it. I want our menus to stay ours. If they can be presented through a website, great. If they can be used for delivery, that’s wonderful. I just hope that the delivery maintains the quality and care of our food.
The clients that receive our delivery might be a whole new brand of people. We’re going to come to them with a product that I hope is as worthy as when it’s fresh.
How does your community affect Jim’s Burgers?
The community is changing quite a bit. Things are happening where I feel I have to serve our new customers how they want to be served. The old-school people will still come in and do what they’ve done forever. If they want to go through our drive-thru, that’s wonderful. But what I’m seeing is that delivery is taking off. I know COVID kind of facilitated that. In my mind, being reluctant to change will cause me to decline. I feel like Otter has been a wonderful fit for my business.
That’s what it really comes down to – keeping this place viable for the next generation. Now, everybody’s got their phones, they’ve got their apps. Why not order before you come in, and have it ready as soon as you’re here? This technology allows us to better benefit our customers. But my goodness, it’s a change, and we’ll have to strap ourselves in!
I’m not going to change everything, though. I’m still going to have these specials on the wall. I want people to see things at the restaurant. I want to keep it lively. It’s old, but it’s still a draw. I think a system like Otter can get us there without too much change or more hiring.
What made you choose Otter as your restaurant’s POS?
I think the biggest thing that really brought me in was Otter’s desire to work with us and utilize our existing system. They did the best they could to take what we had and bring it into their software. It made the transition much easier for us than going with something completely different.
How would you describe Otter POS to another restaurant?
I would recommend they choose Otter. I look forward to telling my friends about Otter, because they managed to use what I had and made it such a seamless transition. And knowing that I had their team to address issues if they came up. I couldn’t speak more highly about it.
What’s the number one reason to go with Otter?
I’m in the service industry. We provide a product. I see Otter the same away, actually. The service we’ve received from Otter is something I’ve come back to, just like I hope my own service keeps customers coming back. It’s something I would recommend to my friends. That level of service is paramount to make me feel comfortable. It’s such a new field that this technology is offering, and I’m hoping everything works out.
There have been so many systems through the years that I’ve shied away from, because they didn’t have the flexibility to make my customers satisfied. It’s not a cookie-cutter sort of thing. I respect franchises, but I’m not one, and I’m going to keep it that way. Otter gives my customers a more comfortable feeling – like a home. Like a neighborhood restaurant. That’s reason number one.
What’s in store for the future of Jim’s Burgers?
What a great question! The future will probably rely on the next generation. I hope their visions are strong. I hope they’re passionate and want to deliver what I feel this community deserves. Our employees have become our family, and they keep the tradition of Jim’s Burgers alive. I hope this new technology keeps us relevant with the youth. Perhaps Otter could even expand to do marketing for us on a different avenue beyond the website – on social media and the like.
What are your favorite items on the menu?
We’re known as Jim’s Burgers, and to me, the burgers are astounding, hands down. You can’t go wrong with any burger. I eat them all, all the time. Double cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, avocado burgers – everything you could want. Burgers are our speciality. Being a small place, we’re able to actually make them your way. That’s another thing Otter has helped us with!
We have Mexican food, we have pastrami, chicken dinners… Going back to the old diner perspective, we have a big menu. I’m proud of all our food, and I try to keep up the quality as much as possible.
Is there anything else you’d like to say about Otter?
One of the gentlemen at Otter presented us with a kiosk system. That’s another great idea! Somebody can come here and lines might be backed up, but they can order at a kiosk. It saves us time, and it saves them time. It just seems like a great system to use when the lines are too big. Maybe the customer doesn’t want to speak. Maybe they want to use a machine. I’m hoping to see that in the future – that’s a pretty cool thing.
Seeing the integration that Otter is doing gets someone like me more enthusiastic about new possibilities. It gives me the desire to grow my business in a whole different way, but still keep true to Jim’s Burgers.
With Otter, the team at Jim’s Burgers is keeping their spirit alive!
We’re proud to support a business like Jim’s Burgers: a community mainstay that puts quality and service first. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to retain the restaurant’s tradition into the world of digital delivery. Otter’s dedication to personalized solutions and commitment to restaurant support keeps owners and their teams in control. At Jim’s Burgers and the countless other iconic businesses our Restaurant Operating System supports, we make adopting technology seamless. Our solutions help your restaurant succeed the way you want it to.
🌐 Find Jim’s Burgers online at the restaurant’s website and Facebook page.
