Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Culwell.
Dave, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I own Burger Schmurger, a family-forward burger joint that brings quality food, a great customer service experience and community all in one. My (at the time) 13 year old daughter and I started cooking for friends and neighbors during Covid in 2020. That grew into a once-a-month popup in a local brewery, that turned into multiple popups around Dallas that led to a residency in an Exposition Park brewery. From there I met some guys at a catering event who owned a local bar in the Knox/Henderson district of Dallas. They offered me their kitchen if I agreed to make that same burger in this kitchen they’d give it to me. I jumped at this opportunity. This partnership resulted into dozens of Best Burger awards and me hiring a full time staff. As our success grew, I decided to formally partner up with these guys. They are the hospitality group, “This and That” (Tiny Victories, Double D’s, Boogies and more). I thought that if I wanted to take the next step with Burger Schmurger, I’d need help and we had such a good relationship…it was a no brainer. We opened our first Burger Schmurger on 4/30/25. It has been such a great experience so far. I’ve learned a TON!!! And as I continue to learn, I love this more and more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My biggest struggle has been learning this business. I’m not from the service industry and, aside from cooking for friends and family (and enjoying it), I haven’t really cooked anywhere near this level before. But I think not coming from this industry has helped with how I handle certain obstacles. There is no “this is how it’s done” or “we usually do it like this”. I look at things from a different place or with a different perspective. Sometimes it’s a better way and sometimes I get educated.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a burger joint specializing in quality products and high level service in a family forward environment. We have amazing burgers, non burger items that stand on their own, a kids menu that kids can’t get enough of and a bar menu that allows parents to have a nice house cocktail or cold draft beer while still enjoying a family experience. I’m really proud of how Burger Schmurger has evolved from backyard parties, local popups and residencies to a thriving restaurant serving the same communities we started serving a few years ago. We’ve upgraded the menu, elevated the experience and have kept the same community feel…it’s amazing. Teaming up with Phil Schanbaum and This and That Hospitality has been a huge part of making all this happen. Between how we started and his experience with concept and design opening restaurants and bars, it has been relatively easy building this dream of mine. We’re now opening our catering division back up and bringing Schmurgs to the party and other big announcements coming. The brand is stronger than ever and I couldn’t be happier.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is by far my Granny’s IceBox Cake. We have one dessert at Burger Schmurger…and it’s Granny’s IceBox Cake. When I was a little boy, we didn’t have central air conditioning in our house. During the summer months, if you didn’t need to turn the oven on…you didn’t. My birthday is in July…the peak of Southern California summer…Granny would make her IceBox cake. We always called it Refrigerator Cake, it was delicious. Chocolate wafers with homemade whipped cream. It was heavenly. So many memories. It was a no brainer when deciding what dessert we’d offer. And it’s the only dessert on the menu. But be ready for another surprise drop in this area of our menu!!!
Pricing:
- Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 11am-6pm $7 House Cocktails, $1 off draft beer and wine
- Lunch Special Monday-Friday 11am-2pm Schmurger, House Cut Beef Tallow Fries and a drink for $15 (and it moves up to the front of the orders)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.burgerschmurger.com
- Instagram: @burger_schmurger
- Facebook: @burgerschmurger
