ROSCOE VILLAGE — Northwest Indiana, affectionately or disparagingly known as "The Region," has its own beloved style of burger, and it's coming to Roscoe Village.
Curtis Rund, who hails from The Region but now makes his home in Ravenswood, has taken over the storefront vacated by Banh Mi Baget at 2057 W. Roscoe St. and is aiming for a mid-March opening of a burger joint that pays homage to his roots.
The restaurant's name is even The Region, just to make the association perfectly clear.
"It's either a compliment or a pejorative," Rund said of the term. "People from Chicago think we're hillbillies, the rest of the state [of Indiana] thinks we're gangsters. If you go to Indianapolis ... they look at you like they're scared of you."
But The Region's burgers are uniformly a source of pride.
It's all about the extreme smashing of the beef, which produces a pattie so thin that when grilled, it crisps around the edges, Rund explained.
"It incorporates crunch with the beef," he said.
Though The Region, the restaurant, represents a departure from Rund's day job as the owner of staffing services agency, his experience flipping Region-style burgers runs deep.
During high school and college, the now 35-year-old Rund worked at Schoop's, which sort of is to Northwest Indiana burgers what Lou Malnati's is to deep dish Chicago pizza.
"It was probably the funnest job I've ever had," said Rund. "I've always felt an itch to get back into it. I don't know if it's a mid-life crisis or what."
If all the stars align, Rund aims to open The Region on March 13. He's already passed his food inspection but still has some work to do, including painting the facade and hanging outdoor signage, before the restaurant is ready to start serving customers.
The menu will include fries and shakes, and the fast-casual eatery will have seating for approximately 15 people, a number that could double in fair weather months if Rund receives a permit for a sidewalk patio.
Though he's confident of his concept, Rund admitted to opening jitters.
"It's been scary and exciting, you get out there on your own and it's nerve wracking," Rund said. "I have no idea what to expect."
For those unfamiliar with Northwest Indiana-style burgers, we dug up these images from Schoop's and Miner-Dunn, two iconic Region restaurants, for reference:
The Region owner Curtis Rund cut his teeth flipping Northwest Indiana-style burgers at Schoop's. [Instagram]
