Five Guys was founded by Janie and Jerry Murrell in 1986 as a hamburger business in Arlington County, Virginia.
The first restaurant opened at Arlington’s Westmont Shopping Center. Janie and Jerry built the business with their sons, and the family’s five sons became the “five guys” referenced by the name. Their early focus was a straightforward menu centered on burgers, hot dogs and fries rather than a broad fast-food selection.
The chain initially expanded locally around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. By 2001, it had five locations, and it began franchising in early 2003. Franchising transformed Five Guys from a regional family operation into a rapidly expanding national and international chain.
The name is sometimes explained as referring to the five sons alone, but the family story changed as the Murrells’ fifth son, Tyler, was born two years after the company began. Today, the sons have held various operating and management roles in the business.