More on the burger wagon

Look for margaritas on the go next. Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon has been on the road for a week now, and already owners Bill Irvin and Patrick Russell are looking ahead to having more burger wagons. They also envision re-creating a Woody’s Rum Bar—another place they own in Fells Point besides Kooper’s Tavern and Slainte— on wheels.

They’ve got all the licenses in place, said Patrick, who’s 40 and has been working in Fells Point since he was a 21-year-old bartender. I talked to him this morning on the phone before he headed out with the truck.

Currently, he contracts with businesses and office parks to park the burger wagon at predetermined locations. Today, Tide Point. Tomorrow, Johns Hopkins. For locations, check Twitter updates @BRGRwagon or the Chowhound Burger website.

This Saturday (Sept. 5), you’ll find the burger wagon, representing Maryland, at the sixth annual Hamburg-er Festival in historic Hamburg, PA, about two hours from Baltimore. It’ll be pitting its burgers against 20 other vendors. Patrick said they plan on serving about 500 burgers.

One of the reasons behind the mobile burgers is to spread the word about Kooper’s Tavern, he said. The wagon was in Hunt Valley recently, and many people weren’t familiar with the restaurant or its burgers. He said he and his partners are also exploring the possibility of opening a Kooper’s Tavern in the Baltimore County area.

Patrick also said the wagon—which has hot water and refrigeration—provides access to people who aren’t able to get to Fells Point that often. But perhaps the biggest plus, he said, is, "What we’re offering is not only safe food, but restaurant quality food on the road."