Montclair Restaurant Owner Says Outdoor Seating Has Boosted Business

MONTCLAIR, NJ — There’s a common phone call that comes in to Stuffed Grass-Fed Burgers in Montclair: “Do you have outdoor seating?” And according to owner Dan Campeas, it’s always a relief that he can answer, “Yes!”

Campeas, 32, is the mastermind behind the restaurant at 150 Valley Road, which earned a spot on a list of “The Best Burger and Fries in Every State,” and has made news headlines for its dedication to organic, grass-fed beef since opening in 2014.

Campeas, a West Orange resident who grew up in Montclair, recently told Patch that outdoor seating has become a vital component of his business – especially after the coronavirus pandemic.

He’s not alone. There are dozens of local eateries and bars that now have outdoor seating in the township, according to the Montclair Center Business Improvement District. Read More: Here Are 57 Restaurants, Bars In Montclair With Outdoor Seating

Patch recently asked Campeas a few questions about the role of outdoor seating in his business. Here are his replies.

Did Stuffed Burgers always have outdoor seating, or was it installed during the pandemic?

We had outdoor seating before the pandemic. I've always thought it was important to try to create an atmosphere and have something which sets you apart from other places.

How essential is outdoor seating to your business? Would it have survived the pandemic without it?

Outdoor seating is very important to my business. It was very important to have during the pandemic, especially as people became more comfortable going out. We constantly get calls asking if we have outdoor seating before people decide to come in. Being able to say yes on those calls definitely makes a difference.

What are some of the challenges with having outdoor seating?

One of the challenges for us is dealing with the more extreme temperatures. I would love to build something which allows people to sit out there more comfortably in hotter/colder weather. But that could end up costing a lot.

We also have other restaurants in the area, and customers from those places will sometimes sit down. I will most of the time allow them to sit and just be nice if we don't have anyone dining there at the time. I will just tell them nicely to clean up. But there are many times when people sit down and I'm not there, or I don't see them and they leave a mess. Gets frustrating at times, but right now there's not much I can do.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.