Bru Burger Bar

What Bru Burger Bar does

Bru Burger Bar is a casual-dining burger restaurant chain founded in 2011 and operated as a concept under Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG), a diversified restaurant group. The chain operates 15 company-owned locations across Indiana (10 locations), Ohio (3), and Kentucky (2), with no franchise or reseller model. Its core product is a full-service dine-in burger experience built around an exclusive proprietary meat blend, house-made sauces and Bloody Mary mix, and locally sourced produce — some of which comes from the parent's CRG Grow Greenhouse — alongside salads, sandwiches, craft cocktails, craft beer, and wine. Menu entrees are priced at $10-$17 with appetizers $7-$18 and cocktails $10-$15, and a Monday-Thursday happy hour drives weekday traffic.

The company monetizes through three primary revenue streams: dine-in table service across all locations, online ordering and takeout via the Paytronix platform (web storefront and mobile app with location-based services), and private events plus carry-out group packages serving groups of approximately 10 people per small pan and event bookings for 25+ guests. The brand participates in the CRG VIP loyalty program, which spans the parent group's other restaurant concepts and provides cross-brand points and rewards. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic Instagram and Facebook pages, Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews, email signup, and event-based catering outreach. Notable industry recognition includes "Best Burger in Indiana" from Reader's Digest (2022) and a "Top 10 Best Restaurants in Indianapolis" designation from ESKCA (2022). Technology infrastructure is conventional restaurant tooling — Paytronix for ordering and loyalty, Netmasons for the website, Google Analytics for web measurement — with no proprietary AI or data platform disclosed.

Name

Bru Burger Bar

Legal name

Bru Burger Bar

Website

https://bruburgerbar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bru Burger Bar is a casual-dining burger chain operating 15 company-owned locations across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky under Cunningham Restaurant Group, serving families and general consumers with proprietary-blend burgers, craft beverages, and private event catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Burger Fast Casual (THAFABAA)

Keywords

• Casual dining restaurants
• Burger restaurant chain
• Craft beer cocktails
• Private event catering
• Loyalty rewards program

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dine-In Restaurant Sales: Traditional restaurant dining with full menu including burgers, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and beverages including craft cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. Revenue generated from table service at 15 locations.
2. Online Ordering: Online ordering and takeout through Paytronix platform. Customers order via website or mobile app for pickup.
3. Private Events and Catering: Carry-out group packages for private events, corporate lunches, and parties. Menu items include appetizers, burgers, sides, and desserts designed for group dining.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BRU Burger Bar operates a casual-upscale, full-service burger restaurant chain across 15 company-owned locations in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, serving an exclusive proprietary beef blend, locally sourced produce (including items from the parent company's CRG Grow Greenhouse), house-made sauces, craft cocktails, and a rotating craft beer selection. Beyond dine-in, the brand offers online ordering for takeout, a location-enabled mobile app, a shared CRG VIP loyalty rewards program, and private event and catering group packages for groups of 25 or more.

Product overview

Bru Burger Bar is a restaurant chain operated by Cunningham Restaurant Group with 15 locations across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The core offering is a full-service dine-in burger restaurant featuring award-winning burgers made with an exclusive proprietary beef blend and locally sourced produce. The product portfolio includes the dine-in restaurant experience as the primary offering, complemented by digital channels (online ordering via Paytronix and a mobile app), a VIP loyalty rewards program (CRG VIP), and private event/catering services (group packages for groups of 25+). The menu spans creative burgers, fries, shakes, salads, appetizers, craft cocktails, and desserts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cunningham Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company operating BRU Burger Bar as part of restaurant group portfolio. Manages VIP loyalty program spanning all CRG locations. Provides corporate support for operations, marketing, and expansion. Privacy policy and online ordering handled through CRG platforms.
• PaytronixcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline ordering platform and mobile app provider. Handles online ordering, location data services, and loyalty program integration for BRU Burger Bar.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Five Guys: National burger-focused chain with company-owned and franchised locations and a custom-blend beef narrative. Comparable to BRU in product focus and proprietary blend strategy, though operating in a more limited-service format.
• Shake Shack: Premium casual burger chain with company-owned locations, craft beverage program, and proprietary beef blend focus. Comparable to BRU in product positioning, urban/suburban footprint, and craft food-and-beverage identity.
• Wahlburgers: Casual burger concept with full bar, proprietary blend, and branded dining experience. Comparable to BRU in full-service casual burger positioning and craft beverage-led experience.
• Smashburger: Casual burger chain with craft beverage offerings and a regional-to-national footprint. Comparable to BRU in menu focus, mid-market pricing, and expansion model across multiple US states.
• Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Premium casual burger bar with house-made sauces, craft cocktails, and locally sourced ingredients. Closely comparable to BRU in full bar program, proprietary blend focus, and elevated casual dining positioning.
• BurgerFi: Casual burger concept emphasizing natural Angus beef, craft beverages, and a modern store experience. Comparable to BRU in menu positioning, company-owned expansion model, and premium-burger value proposition.
• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews: National casual dining chain specializing in gourmet burgers with a full bar and craft beverage program. Highly comparable to BRU in menu focus, pricing tier ($13-$18 burgers), and full-service bar-led casual dining model.

Broad incumbents

• BJ's Restaurants: Larger casual dining chain with deep menu, full bar, and Pizookie dessert program. Comparable to BRU in casual dining with full bar and craft beer positioning, but operates at much larger scale and broader menu.
• The Cheesecake Factory: Iconic casual dining chain with extensive menu, full bar, and private event capabilities. Comparable to BRU in full-service casual dining with bar program and private events, though at significantly larger scale and broader menu.
• Twin Peaks: Casual dining concept with full bar, sports-focused atmosphere, and broad American menu. Comparable to BRU in full-service casual dining with full bar and craft beverage emphasis, though with different thematic positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bruburgerbar
• Instagraminstagram.com/bru.burger.bar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bru-burger-bar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bru Burger Bar