Kuma's Corner Explained

Kuma's Corner
Established:2005
Food-Type:Hamburger restaurant
City:Chicago
State:Illinois
Country:United States

Kuma's Corner (Kuma's) is a burger restaurant with a heavy-metal theme based in Chicago, Illinois.

History

Kuma's Corner first opened in 2005 in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.[1] Since then Kuma's has opened locations in Chicago's Fulton Market, as well as in Schaumburg and Indianapolis,[2] as well as a second Chicago location in Fulton Market.[3]

In 2024, Kuma Holdings, the parent company of Kuma's Corner, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the decision. The company plans to keep operating its restaurants while restructuring.[4]

Menu

Kuma's serves specialty hamburgers.[1] [5] [6] [7] [8] Its burgers have been described as the best in Chicago,[9] [10] as well as the best in the United States.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] In 2014, Kuma's Ghost Burger was named one of the most influential burgers of all time by TIME Magazine.[16] The ghost burger included a ghost pepper aioli, and was topped with an unconsecrated communion wafer.[17]

Kuma's Corner has been credited with inspiring other restaurants to incorporate creative ingredient combinations into their own offerings.[18] In particular, Kuma's Corner played a role in popularizing the pretzel bun, now a staple in many burger restaurants.[1] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Media

In 2013, Kuma's Corner was featured on an episode of the Travel Channel show Burger Land.

Controversy

In 2013, Kuma's Corner faced criticism from Chicago’s Catholic community over the so-called "Ghost Burger" which was named after the Swedish heavy-metal band Ghost and featured a communion wafer on top.[19] Despite Kuma's offers to donate portions of the proceeds, the Archdiocese of Chicago and other Catholic organizations expressed their offense and called for a boycott of the restaurant.[20] [21] [22] [23]

In 2020, the company faced accusations of racist and homophobic behavior by management. These issues were acknowledged publicly by the owner, Ron Cain.[24] The company responded publicly by announcing steps such as third-party training on subjects such as diversity and interpersonal relations, and introducing measures for staff and managers to communicate about their concerns. Chef and manager of the Indianapolis branch, Luke Tobias, announced shortly afterwards he was parting ways with the restaurant.[25] Shortly afterwards it announced a new director of operations.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kuma's Corner Interview: Ten Years In . Eater Chicago . Ashok . Selvam . 2015-08-07 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://chicago.eater.com/2015/8/7/9116389/kumas-corner-interview-ten-years-in . live .
  2. Web site: Will Kuma's Corner Open in Woodfield Mall? . Eater Chicago . Hammond . Priya . January 14, 2015 . 2023-03-27 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://chicago.eater.com/2015/1/14/7540171/will-kumas-corner-open-in-woodfield . live .
  3. Web site: Kuma's Metal Bar to Open Next Week in the West Loop . Eater Chicago . Hammond . Priya . May 15, 2017 . 2023-03-27 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221556/https://chicago.eater.com/2017/5/15/15641794/kumas-west-loop-fulton-market-burgers-metal-opening-date . live .
  4. Web site: The Parent of Kuma’s Corner Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. June 13, 2024. June 14, 2024. Eater Chicago. en.
  5. News: Wallace . Amanda M. Faison . Chicago's Kuma's Corner Will Bring Its Metal and Burgers to RiNo . Eater Denver . April 1, 2019 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://denver.eater.com/2019/4/1/18287769/kumas-corner-opening-december-2019-rino . live .
  6. News: Kramer . Lisa . Kuma's brings its metal and burgers to the West Loop . Crain's Chicago Business . July 27, 2017 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327230109/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170727/ISSUE03/170729894/kuma-s-west-loop-chicago-restaurant-review . live .
  7. News: Keilman . John . Are fancy burger buns worth the extra dough? . Chicago Tribune . July 13, 2016 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-fancy-burger-buns-food-720-20160713-story.html . live .
  8. News: Schmich . Mary . Heavy-metal burger heaven . Chicago Tribune . September 24, 2009 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221552/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-09-24-0909240252-story.html . live .
  9. News: The Best Restaurant in Illinois, According to Guy Fieri . . Alix . Martichoux . Alicia . Patton . Nexstar Media Wire . 2022-12-28 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://wgntv.com/news/trending/the-best-restaurant-in-illinois-according-to-guy-fieri/ . live .
  10. News: Best Burgers In Chicago: Kuma's Corner . CBS Chicago . Mason . Johnson . 2012-10-17 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/best-burgers-in-chicago-kumas-corner/ . live .
  11. News: Chicago Burger Named Best in Country . NBC Chicago . May 24, 2013 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327230921/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-burger-named-best-in-country/1978956/#:~:text=A%20new%20list%20from%20the,to%20create%20the%20Top%205.&text=%E2%80%9CThe%20final%20list%20spans%20the,Meal%20said%20in%20a%20statement. . live .
  12. News: June 5, 2014 . Chicago Burger Voted Among Best in the U.S. . NBC Chicago . . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-burger-voted-among-best-in-the-u-s-report/2525729/ . live .
  13. Web site: Kate . Kolenda . The 101 Best Burgers in America . The Daily Meal . 4 June 2015 . 2022-04-01 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327231303/https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/101-best-burgers-america-0 . live .
  14. News: Sarah . Schmalbruch . The 50 best burger joints in America, ranked . Insider . March 27, 2023 . March 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240312025411/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-best-burger-joints-in-america-ranked-2016-7#44-kumas-corner--chicago-il-metal-rages-waits-are-oppressive-and-the-beastly-burgers-stacked-with-everything-from-chorizo-to-pulled-pork-have-a-reputation-so-big-lady-gaga-ate-one-during-her-monster-ball-tour-time-out-chicago-7 . live .
  15. Web site: And America's best burger goes to... . Jane . Welch . CNBC . June 26, 2015 . 2023-03-27 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/26/and-americas-best-burger-goes-to.html . live .
  16. The 17 Most Influential Burgers of All Time . TIME . Sarah . Begley . January 10, 2014 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://time.com/3681108/most-influential-burgers/ . live .
  17. Ghost B.C. Burger Makes the Body of Christ More Delicious Than Ever . . 4 October 2013 . Chris . Martins . 24 November 2013 . January 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200128220914/https://www.spin.com/2013/10/ghost-bc-burger-communion-wine-wafer-christ-kumas/ . live .
  18. News: Leahy . Tim . The History of Chicago's Most Iconic Burger Restaurants . Thrillist . August 2, 2018 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago/chicago-history-burger-restauraunts-timeline-drexels-pure-food-white-castle-kumas-corner . live .
  19. Web site: Harris . Jenn . 2013-10-04 . Just a cracker? Chicago restaurant tops burger with unconsecrated Communion wafer . 2023-05-14 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . May 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514094343/https://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-ghost-burger-communion-wafer-20131004-story.html . live .
  20. Web site: Should You Eat Kuma's Unholy Ghost Burger? . Thrillist . Keohan . Dan . June 6, 2016 . 2023-03-27 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago/avondale/should-you-eat-kumas-unholy-ghost-burger . live .
  21. News: Hirst . After burger controversy, Kuma's Corner donates to Catholic Charities after burger controversy . Ellen Jean . October 4, 2013 . Chicago Tribune . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-after-burger-controversy-kumas-donates-to-catholic-charities-20131004-story.html . live .
  22. News: Dick . Johnson . Catholic Charities Turns Down Kuma's Corner Donation . NBC Chicago . October 9, 2013 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221554/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/weird/catholic-charities-turns-down-kumas-corner-donation/1964481/ . live .
  23. News: Breslin . Susannah . A Supposedly Sinful Burger Stirs Up Controversy . Forbes . October 9, 2013 . March 27, 2023 . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327221553/https://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2013/10/09/a-supposedly-sinful-burger-stirs-up-controversy/?sh=8ebcdda1e453 . live .
  24. Web site: Pasbani . Robert . 2020-07-17 . Metal Burger Joint Kuma's Corner Responds to Racism/Homophobia Allegations, Promises To Do Better . 2023-05-14 . Metal Injection . en-US . May 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514094357/https://metalinjection.net/news/metal-burger-joint-kumas-corner-responds-to-racism-homophobia-allegations-promises-to-do-better . live .
  25. Web site: Bloom . Mina . 2020-07-15 . Kuma's Corner 'Rebuilding' After Accusations Of Racism, Homophobia . 2023-05-14 . Block Club Chicago . en . May 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514094344/https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/07/15/kumas-corner-brings-in-new-leader-after-accusations-of-racism-homophobia/ . live .
  26. Chicago, IL . 2021-05-27 . Kuma's Corner Appoints New Director of Operations . RestaurantNews.com . 2023-05-14 . en-US . May 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514094344/https://www.restaurantnews.com/kumas-corner-appoints-new-director-of-operations-052721/ . live .