Kraze Burgers loses name at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Kraze Burgers now has a less crazy name in the Westfield Montgomery Mall Dining Terrace. It is now going under the anodyne moniker of Burger Venue.

Same menu, same ingredients, but no Kraze Burger branding. Virtually all of the Kraze Burgers restaurants in the area seem to have closed - does anyone know if there are still any open?

So the good news is, if you like Kraze Burgers, you can still enjoy it at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Kraze Burgers for sale at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The first Kraze Burgers to open in America, in downtown Bethesda, went bankrupt and closed 15 months ago. A second Bethesda location opened in December 2013 in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Now that Kraze Burgers business is for sale for $385,000.

According to a sale listing, the mall location takes in a gross income of $580,000, and generates a $100,000 cash flow per year. The prospective buyer will get all of the equipment and inventory, and two weeks of training. Under "reason for selling", the current owner says, "Retire."

The listing cites no competition for gourmet burgers at the mall, but doesn't mention that Bobby Flay's Bobby's Burger Palace is located there. Kraze Burgers' burgers are outstanding, in my opinion, and I was surprised that the Bethesda Row location failed.

KRAZE BURGERS SAYS LOT 31 CONSTRUCTION CAUSED BETHESDA ROW CLOSURE

Why did Kraze Burgers suddenly close at Bethesda Row? The company says a poor economy, and the effects of the Lot 31 construction at Bethesda Row, severely impacted their success at this location.

Kraze Burgers says the multi-year construction project on Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues across from Barnes and Noble has reduced foot traffic around the Row, and that store sales ultimately dropped by 50%. Several businesses have previously complained about the impact of the project on parking and sales traffic. In contrast, Kraze Burgers says its new stores at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Tysons Galleria "did outstanding numbers last month."

The company is proceeding with rapid expansion plans. They have recently signed leases at BWI Marshall Airport, in NoMa in the District, and in Herndon. Kraze is in negotiations with several other retail centers and airports in the region, a spokesperson said yesterday.

One additional piece of news, is that the company expects its Kraze Bethesda, LLC bankruptcy case to be dismissed in the coming weeks. That entity is separate from the rest of the Kraze Burgers company. The landowner of the former Kraze Burgers space is not Federal Realty, and the building is not technically part of the Bethesda Row development.

If you have a Groupon left over from the Bethesda Row location, Kraze says you can redeem it at other locations, which also include Lansdowne, Germantown and Barracks Row. The spokesperson said Kraze Burgers has seen a spike in customers across all locations through the Groupon promotion.

KRAZE BURGERS CLOSES AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

A few weeks after filing for bankruptcy, Kraze Burgers has now officially closed at Bethesda Row. The restaurant at the corner of Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue is empty and deserted tonight. This is very sad news for burger lovers, especially for those who walk there from downtown Bethesda residences or from work. There is still one Kraze Burgers in Bethesda, the recently-opened food court  location at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

KRAZE BURGERS OPENING DECEMBER 12 AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

A second Bethesda location of Kraze Burgers will open this Thursday, December 12, in the food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The South Korea-based chain opened its first US location at Bethesda Row about 2 years ago.

SNEAK PEEK AT KRAZE BURGERS BETHESDA ROW'S NEW DINING ROOM (PHOTOS)

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is scheduled to reopen today, after closing the last few days for renovations. That's assuming there were no setbacks during the construction.

You'll find a more open and spacious dining area among the changes.

Here's a sneak preview:

KRAZE BURGERS BETHESDA ROW TO BE CLOSED "FOR A WHILE" (PHOTOS)

The doors were locked, and nobody's home for the second day at Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row.

Signs taped to the windows say it is temporarily closed, and will remain so for "a while."

The reason for this is unknown. Kraze Burgers hasn't updated its Facebook or Twitter accounts for months. You would think that if there was a mechanical, plumbing or electrical problem, that - given the massive financial losses being incurred each day it is closed - you'd see repair people working overtime inside. No such activity was happening last evening.

Stay tuned!

KRAZE BURGERS LIMITED EDITION MINT CHOCOLATE SHAKE (PHOTOS)

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is offering a limited-time-only Mint Chocolate Shake for the holidays.

Here's a photo of the real thing:

GET YOUR KRAZE BURGERS FASTER: CALL AHEAD AT BETHESDA ROW

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

When you order a burger at Kraze Burgers, you're not getting a burger heated up in a microwave, or premade.

Your burger is fresh, and cooked to order.  But that takes time (although the wait is reasonable).

Now you can save a few minutes, by calling in your order ahead of time.  Time it right, and your meal will be ready when you arrive at the restaurant.

Just call 301-215-9068, and the Kraze chefs will spring into action!

BULG-ING BULGOGI BURGER - ONE WEEK ONLY AT KRAZE BURGERS BETHESDA ROW!

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is concluding its celebration of National Burger Month with its final limited-time-only burger...

The Bulgogi Burger!

This burger pays homage to the Korean roots of the Kraze Burger franchise, and to a Korean dish that pre-dates the modern hamburger by many centuries.  That would be bulgogi, of course.

The Bulgogi Burger is actually authentic to bulgogi in several ways:

First, it is bulg-ing with thinly-sliced, rib-eye steak marinated in a sweet sesame-soy sauce.  Bulgogi sauce often has sesame and soy flavors.  And it is made from thin-sliced, marinated meat.

Second, the burger contains lettuce and onion, both of which you might find in a bulgogi recipe, as well.

Kraze finishes the Bulgogi Burger with American appointments like American cheese, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise.

All of this is served up on their fresh-baked original bun.  Which, I can tell you from personal experience, comes out looking like a bun you'd see in a food magazine photo.  It's that good.

So hurry over to Kraze Burgers for lunch or dinner. This burger will only be on the menu for a week!

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.  301-215-9068.

BETHESDA'S ULTIMATE CHILI BURGER - FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!

Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row continues its celebration of National Burger Month with its third, limited-time-only burger:  The Chili Burger.

Check out the size of that 100% natural all-beef patty.  Now add Kraze Burgers' patented Maximum sauce.

How do you top that?  With a generous portion of house-made beef chili, of course!  Then some diced onions and fresh tomatoes, and American cheese, all on the original Kraze bun.

Hold on, though - the piece de resistance is the addition of french fries.

Yes, the fries are in the burger!

Hurry in, because this will only be available through next Tuesday.

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.

BURGER HISTORY MADE AS BURGER CROSSES PACIFIC TO BETHESDA KRAZE BURGERS

Big Bethesda burger news x 2 today!

Not only has Kraze Burgers announced their second, limited-time-only burger, in honor of National Burger Month.

But they are also making burger history.

Remember when Kraze Burgers opened last year, and while every single item from the original Kraze Burgers menu in Korea didn't end up on the US menu, I said that didn't mean they wouldn't in the future?

The Semi-Nude Burger is one of the original Korean Kraze Burgers, and it is now available here in the US for only one week!

Aside from the Kraze Dressing not being mentioned, the ingredients are exactly the same as the Korean version:  2 all-natural, 100% beef patties, American cheese, Swiss cheese, grilled sun-ripened tomato, grilled onion, bacon, and a sunny-side up fried egg to top it off.  I guess the only way to find out if it has the Kraze dressing, is to try it at Bethesda Row this week!

Order this limited-edition burger, and you will be part of burger history!

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.

KRAZE BURGERS CELEBRATES NATIONAL BURGER MONTH WITH SPECIAL BURGERS

May is National Burger Month.  Kraze Burgers at Bethesda Row is celebrating by offering limited-time-only Burgers of the Week.

The first is the KS Upgrade Burger.

In addition to the usual, all-natural, 100% beef patty, and multi-grain bun, toppings include Kraze Sauce, fried egg, grilled oyster mushrooms, lettuce, red peppers, sprouts, American cheese and mayonnaise.

A delicious combination.  Having been introduced Tuesday, it should be available through Monday night.  Then they'll have another special surprise burger Tuesday.

Hurry in to try the KS Upgrade.  If you haven't tried Kraze Burgers yet, find out for yourself if this is the best burger in Bethesda.

Kraze Burgers, 4733 Elm Street, Bethesda.