Menches Brothers Restaurants

About Us:
History recorded that Frank and Charles Menches ran out of pork for their sausage patty sandwiches at the 1885 Erie County Fair. Their supplier, reluctant to butcher more hogs in the summer heat, suggested they use beef instead. The brothers fried some up, but found it bland. They added coffee, brown sugar, and other ingredients to create a taste that stands distinct without condiments.

The Birth of the Hamburger:
They christened this sandwich the "hamburger" after Hamburg, New York, where the fair was being held. At the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, Frank and Charles baked waffles in Parisian waffle irons and topped them with ice cream. They then had an idea to wrap the warm waffle around a fid, a cone-shaped splicing tool for tent ropes. The waffle cooled and held its shape to provide an edible handle for eating ice cream. Returning home to Akron, the Menches began production of "premium" cones at their Premium Popcorn Works factory.

The Finest Cuts:
Only the finest cuts of beef are used in the Menches' hamburgers. Buns are baked to specification and corn flour-dusted, just the way they were served at the turn of the century. Premium cones are baked fresh daily, filling the air with their wonderful scent. Strict control of the process (and the recipe) is sustained to ensure the unique flavor of the original hamburger—the Menches Hamburger. The Menches have been serving America burgers, popcorn, and ice cream cones for more than 100 years, and today's Menches family is ready to continue this tradition into yet another century!