Local Shop Gives Customers Free Burgers for a Year

In today’s economy, everybody likes something for free.

So to kick off the grand opening of Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries, 2028 County Line Rd. in the Marketplace Shopping Center at Huntingdon Valley, the local shop ran a promotion to give away free burgers for a year to the first 40 customers in line Wednesday morning.

The store opened at 11 a.m., but the line was already well around the corner about a 30-45 minutes before it was officially open for business. Local residents were lined up across from L.A Fitness and next to Rita’s Water Ice to try and get their free, eight-ounce patties for the next 365 days.

It created such a buzz that some eating enthusiasts camped out the night before as if they were trying to get tickets to a college football game.  

“We had kids sleeping out over night,” said Fran DiFerdinando, co-founder of Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries along with his brother, Dave. “A bunch of them got here at 11 last night. So we have a nice little buzz about us right now.”

For those of you who were not fortunate enough to win a year’s worth of free hamburgers, don’t worry because the company will pull 10 more lucky contestants from its Facebook page in the near future.

Aside from burgers, this place has many great items featured on the menu. Like any great burger joint, it has a variety of milkshake flavors to choose from to wet your pallet. Try the vaniolla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip or cookies & cream.

The French fries (boardwalk style, obviously) come with tasty sides of chili, liquid cheese and gravy. Their French fries have been a staple around town for many years now.

“We've been in PA doing business for 30 years,” DiFerdinando said. “Our first location was King of Prussia Mall. This is our first burger concept in this area. We have fries for the Phillies, Sixers and Flyers, so we've had a presence for 30 years.”

Customers can also order other items like chicken tenders, grilled chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers.

Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries is open Monday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. It closes at 7 p.m. on Sundays.

ABOUT BOARDWALK FRESH BURGERS AND FRIES

In the summer of 1980, the brothers Dave and Fran DiFerdinando were strolling down the world famous Boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., They, like many other vacationers, had vacationed there as children and would come every summer to enjoy the rides and the legendary fresh-cut fries. They had the idea to make those famous fries accessible to everyone around the country, not just those at the beach.

“Why would customers wait in line for just French fries?” everyone asked. Because they are fresh-cut every morning, cooked multiple times in a special recipe, lightly salted, served piping hot, made to order. The two brothers opened the first Boardwalk Fries in White Marsh Mall, White Marsh, Md., in 1981. And by 1987 they had franchises coast to coast. As time passed, customers began asking for more. They wanted a burger to go with their fresh-cut Boardwalk Fries. It couldn’t just be any burger; it had to be consistent with their concept of a fresh product.