Self-described as having “ketchup and hot sauce” running through his veins, 32-year old Mark Biccum has been in the restaurant industry since he was in high school.
Today, he owns Jake’s Wayback Burgers, a full-service franchise burger restaurant at 17695 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Jake’s has been at the Van Dyke Commons location for the last five years, featuring not just burgers, but house-made potato chips, all beef hot dogs, marinated chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers and fresh salads. Burgers prices start at $2.99.
Gina Melton, Patch’s resident foodie, recently sat down with Biccum to chat about what’s made his burger joint a successful venture.
Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patch: You are located just behind a McDonald’s. So, what can you tell Patch readers about what makes your burgers stand out?
Biccum: We are fast, but we are not fast food. Our burgers are made to order using fresh beef. We never use frozen beef. We strive to give our customers a great burger for a great value. Generally, our burgers are priced lower than our competitors while still providing great quality. We also have hand-dipped shakes, all-beef hot dogs, and freshly prepared salads. Much of our customer base is made of repeat diners, and that’s a testiment to the quality of our product.
Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patch: What is the best part about being a small business owner?
Biccum: I feel strongly about being a good partner in the community. Jake’s sponsors the Lutz Little League, and we do tons of fundraising for Gaither High School as well as for some local churches. That’s really satisfying.
Patch: Restaurants are a lot of work. What’s impassioned you all these years?
Biccum: There’s a saying that some people have hot sauce and ketchup running through their veins, and I’m one of those people. I started working at Taco Bell when I was 15, and I’ve been in the restaurant industry ever since. From an economic standpoint, burger places have managed to stay afloat during this economic downturn, and there’s good money to be made in the burger market.
Patch: Does Jake’s ever run specials?
Biccum: Each day of the week we have a different special. Every month, we also feature a brand new Burger of the Month and Shake of the Month. These are advertised at our store, but also on our Facebook page. We also have a kids’ menu.