Five Guys began franchising its restaurants in 2003.
The Murrell family opened the first Five Guys restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986. For its early years, the business concentrated on company-operated locations in the Washington, D.C., area before beginning a broader franchise expansion.
That expansion helped turn Five Guys from a regional burger restaurant into an international chain. The company is known for made-to-order hamburgers, hand-cut fries, and a large selection of free toppings.
The founding restaurant and the beginning of franchising are separate milestones. Five Guys opened its first location in 1986, but franchise growth did not begin until 2003. This distinction explains why the two dates are sometimes confused in short histories of the brand.