WILLIAMSBURG — Cook’s Burger Bar, the newest restaurant from Against the Grain Restaurants, is expanding with a second location, bringing “old school vibes and new school flavor” to Lightfoot this summer.
Targeting a mid-June opening, Cook’s Burger Bar will reinvigorate the former Skrimp Shack space in The Gallery Shops at 6588 Richmond Road.
Construction started April 1, just weeks shy of the first anniversary of Cook’s opening in Midtown Row.
The venture from ATG co-founders Andrew Voss and Chris Cook is the locally based hospitality company’s first brick-and-mortar business outside of Colonial Williamsburg, and the new location marks the group’s further expansion into the surrounding area.
“The community has shown up for Cook’s since day one,” said Voss. “This second location gives us the opportunity to connect with a part of town that’s hungry for more food and beverage options. We’re excited to be a catalyst for more energy, more options and more growth.”
The Lightfoot location promises the same experience that has become the hallmark of Cook’s: high-quality food and authentic hospitality in an environment that’s both familiar and exciting.
Since April 2024, Cook’s has served as an homage to classic mid-century Midwestern restaurants, characterized by a whimsical menu and retro aesthetic.
The 2,950-square-foot Lightfoot space will be similarly decked out with wood paneling, stained glass pendants, and vintage Breweriana. The menu, led by Chef David McClure, at once offers curated ingredients and rejects pretension: fresh Angus beef, fries hand-cut and fried to order in beef tallow, locally-sourced vegetables, and other nostalgia-inspired dishes.
“Broad Street Realty-Midtown Row, is thrilled with the success of Cook’s Burger Bar,” said Hannah Warner, Marketing & Events Manager at Broad Street Realty-Midtown Row. “We now consider Cook’s a staple of our center. We are honored to be part of their story and wish them great success as they continue to expand in the region.”
The new Cook’s location will be open in Lightfoot seven days a week and home to more than 80 seats.
The operations at the current Midtown Row location will continue as usual, for neighbors and visitors alike. For the latest, follow along on Instagram and Facebook @cooksburger and on cooksburger.com.
