The Future of Lunchbox Lab
What is the plan for the SLU hamburger joint following the loss of founder Scott Simpson?
Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jun 03, 2011 at 08:00AM
4 Comments
Over the past few months, I’ve been asked a lot if I knew what might happen to Lunchbox Laboratory in light of the tragic death of its founder, Scott Simpson, in March. I did not. So I thought it was time to check in.
The truth is, even before the loss of Simpson, the hamburger joint’s future never felt fully secure. From the moment it opened at its original Ballard location, Lunchbox enjoyed the devotion of a carnivorous customer base that sung its praises at a fever pitch. But as popular as it was, many derided the restaurant for unpredictable hours, inconsistent food, and unsanitary conditions. Since the move to South Lake Union, management has been working to maintain regular hours, a more consistent product, and clean conditions, says John Schmidt. Schmidt and his partners took over ownership and management at the time of the relocation.
“There have been numerous changes implemented to strengthen what was…a struggling business model,” says Schmidt, owner of Neighborhood Grills. “The changes are big and small, but all in the name of providing the best gourmet burgers and hand-dipped shakes in the nation.”
And despite the loss of Simpson and the diminished involvement of cofounder Allegra Waggener (now working “in an advisory role” for the restaurant), Schmidt says he and his partners expect Lunchbox “to be around for many years to come.”
While the focus for the moment is on “refining the overall experience of our guest,” future expansion shouldn’t be ruled out. As Schmidt told the Seattle Times’ Nancy Leson back in December: “Growth is what we’re about.”
Tags: Hamburgers, South Lake Union
Still mourning the loss of chef Scott Simpson and his original concepts at Blue Onion Bistro, Fork, and the original Lunchbox Laboratory. My son and I tried the SLU site last month and it was just okay. It took awhile to get our order in despite five waitstaff congregating by the bar. No warmth, just the sleek all black clad staff. The food had the same appearance but with noticable changes in size and presentation. The burger and tater tots ordered shrank considerably, especially the bacon content. The chocolate shake was okay, but miss the lab beakers they were originally served in. I saw one of the original line cooks there, but it was just not the same without Scott and Allegra present. The tight squeeze and the lines in Ballard made it a quirky and tasty destination…it’s totally not the same for this devoted fan. I filled out my SLU response card, just got an email, but still no $10 gift certificate. Even that may not get me back in the door. Knowing that Allegra is no longer at the helm after Scott’s passing just speaks volumes. Right now my go to spot is Uneeda Burger in Fremont.
I never made it to the Ballard OG location, but the SLU spot leaves much to be desired. It feels too much like the cookie cutter neighborhood grill that it replaced. I don’t mind the prices but the portions are not on par with the price. The serving size of the tots was pretty small for $3.00, they are TOTS?!? Why so stingy?
Shouldn’t you be about serving great food, not ‘growth’?
As a close friend of the surviving co-founder, I can tell you she is not there in any advisory role.