Wayback Burgers
An American fast-casual hamburger restaurant chain built around made-to-order burgers, shakes, fries, and other classic comfort foods.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Wayback Burgers is an American fast-casual restaurant chain headquartered in Cheshire, Connecticut. The brand specializes in made-to-order hamburgers and related comfort-food items, including cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, salads, fries, and regional menu selections. Its stated concept sits within the better-burger segment: restaurants that generally emphasize freshly prepared food, customizable orders, and a more substantial dine-in experience than conventional quick-service hamburger outlets. The business began in 1991 in Newark, Delaware, where its first restaurant operated as Jake's Hamburgers. After opening additional locations, the company began franchising in the early 2000s. The identity evolved during the following decade: the chain adopted the name Jake's Wayback Burgers in 2010 and later removed “Jake's” from the public-facing name during the summer of 2014. The change was intended to reduce confusion with another smaller restaurant business in the southern United States. Existing restaurants were permitted to retain some Jake's-era signage, while new franchises were to use the Wayback Burgers name. Wayback's domestic growth accelerated in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Restaurants opened across a broad group of U.S. states, including Delaware, New York, Ohio, Indiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, California, and others. Documented expansion milestones included the first Ohio restaurant in Wadsworth in June 2011, the first Indiana restaurant in Evansville in March 2012, the chain's fiftieth location in Brooklyn, New York, in July 2012, and additional state entries from 2012 through 2016. By October 2016, 133 locations were reported to be operating worldwide, although the number of locations may have changed subsequently. The company also pursued international franchising. In 2013, it announced plans involving additional countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with openings expected from early 2014 onward. Its first restaurant outside the United States opened in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, in February 2015. A Saudi Arabian location followed in Al Khobar in November 2015, and a Brunei restaurant opened in the Setia Kenangan area of Kiulap in May 2016. Wayback later entered Europe with a restaurant in Breda, Netherlands, on December 1, 2018, and Japan with a location in Tokyo's Omotesando district on March 22, 2022. The Japanese operation announced an ambition to add 60 more locations over the following 20 years, though the available reference does not establish how many were ultimately opened. The brand has used novelty and publicity-driven menu experiments alongside its conventional offerings. In June 2015, it promoted a limited-time milkshake made with protein powder derived from crickets. During the same promotional period, it offered a novelty beef-flavored shake garnished with a Slim Jim as an alternative for customers who did not want the insect-based product. In 2016, Wayback investigated a possible initial public offering but did not proceed further according to the available reference material. The chain remains primarily associated with franchised fast-casual restaurants rather than a publicly traded parent company.
History
Wayback Burgers traces its origins to a hamburger restaurant opened in Newark, Delaware, in 1991 under the name Jake's Hamburgers. The initial operation was followed by additional restaurants, and the business entered franchising in the early 2000s. Franchising provided the mechanism for the chain's expansion beyond its original Delaware base and helped establish a presence across multiple U.S. regions. The brand identity changed as the company grew. In 2010, the chain adopted the name Jake's Wayback Burgers. During the summer of 2014, it announced that “Jake's” would be removed from the name, leaving Wayback Burgers as the principal brand. The stated reason was to avoid confusion with a smaller competitor in the southern United States. The transition was not immediate at every restaurant: some existing locations retained Jake's-related storefront signs, while newly awarded franchises were expected to use the Wayback Burgers identity. Domestic expansion was particularly visible from 2011 through 2016. Wayback opened its first Ohio restaurant in Wadsworth in June 2011 and entered Indiana with a restaurant in Evansville in March 2012. Its fiftieth location opened in Brooklyn, New York, in July 2012. Additional first-in-state openings followed in New Hampshire in August 2012, South Carolina in January 2013, Texas and Minnesota in August 2013, Colorado in November 2013, Georgia in January 2015, and Illinois in May 2016. The chain's U.S. footprint extended across regions including New England, New York, Florida, Texas, Ohio, and California. Its offering and service model placed it among better-burger competitors such as Five Guys, Shake Shack, and Fuddruckers. Wayback also pursued international agreements. In 2013, it publicized an intended expansion into 28 additional countries, with Middle Eastern and North African locations expected to begin opening in early 2014. Argentina became the first documented overseas market, with a restaurant opening in Palermo, Buenos Aires, in February 2015. Saudi Arabia followed in November 2015 with a location in Al Khobar. Brunei became the third documented country outside the United States when a restaurant opened in the Setia Kenangan area of Kiulap in May 2016. The brand subsequently entered Europe through a Breda, Netherlands, restaurant opened on December 1, 2018, and Japan through an Omotesando, Tokyo, restaurant opened on March 22, 2022. A 2016 reference counted 133 operating locations worldwide. Earlier development figures described a network of 95 restaurants and 75 additional locations in development, but these figures reflect a particular stage of expansion and should not be treated as a current count. The available material does not provide a reliable present-day store total, ownership structure, or executive roster. Menu development and publicity have occasionally extended beyond the chain's standard burgers, fries, shakes, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and salads. In June 2015, Wayback created attention with a limited-time cricket-protein milkshake, alongside a beef-flavored shake garnished with a Slim Jim for customers seeking a bug-free novelty. In 2016, the company considered an IPO but abandoned or paused the process before it advanced. Overall, the documented history describes a Delaware-origin restaurant concept that grew through franchising, refreshed its name during national expansion, and tested international markets while retaining a classic American burger-and-shake identity.
- 2022
First Japanese restaurant opened
[1]The brand opened its first Japanese restaurant in Tokyo's Omotesando district on March 22.
- 2018
First Netherlands restaurant opened
[1]The first European location opened in Breda on December 1.
- 2016
Worldwide network reached 133 locations
[1]As of October, 133 locations were reported to be operating worldwide.
- 2015
International expansion began
[1]The first overseas location opened in Argentina, followed by a Saudi Arabian location later in the year.
- 2014
Jake's name removed from the brand
[1]The chain announced that new franchises would use the Wayback Burgers name without “Jake's,” although some older signs remained.
- 2012
Fiftieth location opened
[1]The chain opened its fiftieth location in Brooklyn, New York, in July.
- 2011
First Ohio restaurant opened
[1]The first Ohio location opened in Wadsworth in June.
- 2010
Name changed to Jake's Wayback Burgers
[1]The chain adopted the Jake's Wayback Burgers name.
- 2000
Franchising began
[1]The business began franchising in the early 2000s, supporting expansion beyond its original company locations.
- 1991
First restaurant opened in Delaware
[1]The first restaurant opened in Newark, Delaware, under the name Jake's Hamburgers.
Products and positioning
Mid-market fast-casual, better-burger dining
Hamburger
Wayback Burger
The Wayback Burger is the chain's signature hamburger offering and represents its core better-burger positioning. Wayback's broader burger menu is built around made-to-order preparation and classic American toppings, with customers able to pair burgers with fries, shakes, and other restaurant staples.
Hamburger
Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers are a central menu category across the chain. They extend the standard hamburger format with cheese and customary burger toppings, serving as one of the brand's most recognizable and broadly accessible offerings.
Beverage and dessert
Milkshakes
Milkshakes are a prominent accompaniment to Wayback's burgers and fries. The chain has also used the category for limited-time publicity products, including a 2015 shake made with cricket-derived protein powder and a novelty beef-flavored shake garnished with a Slim Jim.
Fast-casual entree
Hot dogs
Hot dogs broaden the menu beyond hamburgers while maintaining the chain's American comfort-food orientation. They are listed among the restaurant's typical food offerings and complement burgers, fries, shakes, and chicken sandwiches.
Fast-casual entree
Chicken sandwiches
Chicken sandwiches provide a poultry-based alternative to Wayback's beef-centered burger menu. They are part of the chain's standard restaurant assortment and support a broader fast-casual offering.
Salad
Salads
Salads are included among Wayback's typical menu selections and offer a lighter alternative to burgers, hot dogs, fries, and shakes. Specific recipes and current availability may vary by location.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Cricket-protein milkshake promotion
United States
Wayback used a limited-time cricket-protein milkshake as a publicity stunt. The unusual ingredient was intended to generate attention around the chain's shake platform.
Outcome. The promotion was temporary. The available reference does not report sales results or a permanent menu change.
Brand decisions
2022
Entered JapanStrategyBackground
Wayback continued its international franchising strategy after earlier openings in Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, and the Netherlands.
Action taken
The company opened a restaurant in Tokyo's Omotesando district and stated an ambition to add 60 more Japanese locations over 20 years.
Aftermath
The reference records the expansion plan but does not establish how many additional Japanese locations were ultimately opened.
2016
Investigated an initial public offeringStrategyBackground
The company evaluated whether a public listing could support its development.
Action taken
Wayback investigated a possible IPO but did not proceed further.
Aftermath
The available reference does not document a public listing or related financial transaction.
2015
Introduced limited-time novelty shakesProduct launchBackground
The chain used unusual menu items to attract publicity and attention to its milkshake category.
Action taken
Wayback offered a cricket-protein shake and a beef-flavored shake garnished with a Slim Jim.
Aftermath
Both items were presented as limited-time promotional products; no evidence in the reference indicates that they became permanent offerings.
2014
Dropped “Jake's” from the brand nameStrategyBackground
The company sought to avoid confusion with a smaller competitor operating in the southern United States.
Action taken
New franchises were to use Wayback Burgers, while some older locations kept Jake's-related signage during the transition.
Aftermath
Wayback Burgers became the principal public-facing brand name.
2010
Adopted the Jake's Wayback Burgers nameStrategyBackground
The growing restaurant business was developing beyond its original Jake's Hamburgers identity.
Action taken
The chain changed its name to Jake's Wayback Burgers.
Aftermath
The identity was later simplified again when “Jake's” was dropped from the name in 2014.
Recent events
- 2022
Wayback Burgers opened its first Japanese restaurant[1]
Product launch · Other
The chain opened a restaurant in Tokyo's Omotesando district and announced plans to pursue 60 additional Japanese locations over the subsequent 20 years.
- 2016
Wayback Burgers explored a possible initial public offering[1]
Other
The company investigated the possibility of an IPO but did not proceed further, according to the available reference.
- 2015
Wayback Burgers opened its first restaurant outside the United States[1]
Other
The brand opened its first international restaurant in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, beginning its documented overseas operating history.
- 2015
Wayback Burgers launched novelty cricket-protein milkshake[1]
Campaign · Product launch
As a publicity stunt, the chain offered a limited-time milkshake made with protein powder derived from crickets. It also promoted a beef-flavored shake garnished with a Slim Jim as a non-insect alternative.
- 2013
Wayback Burgers announced international expansion plans[1]
M&A · Other
The chain announced plans to expand into an additional 28 countries, including prospective locations in the Middle East and North Africa. Argentina was identified as the second international agreement.
Sources3 sources
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