Louisville, Kentucky: Birthplace of the Cheeseburger
A bronze plaque on the front wall of Kaelin's restaurant claims it was the "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger" in 1934. There are three rival Cheeseburger Birthplaces, but this is the last one where you can order a cheeseburger.
Kaelin's
- Address:
- 1801 Newburg Rd, Louisville, KY
- Directions:
- Kaelin's. Southeast side of the city. I-264 exit 15 or 15A, then northwest on Hwy 1703/Newburg Rd for a little over a mile. On the north side, west of the golf course and east of the cemetery, at the corner of Newburg Rd and Speed Ave. "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger" plaque is bolted to the front of the building, in the fenced-in patio area. You can get up close by walking through the restaurant; the entrance is on the back side of the building.
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You can only access the plaque by entering through the restaurant. It's just an advertisement for a business.
[Will Dormann, 09/26/2019]
Kaelin's is back open and serving cheeseburgers! Chris Fenton, Bill DuBourg, and Matt Staggs bought the building in 2018 and rehabbed it to open under the name 80/20 @ Kaelin's, an homage to the ratio of beef to fat in hamburgers. The old neon sign is restored as well, and they have an ice cream shop.
[Chris Meiman, 07/30/2019]Restaurant is closed. The sign is gone too. Building seems to be undergoing some renovation.
[Amado Albert Nessia., 08/01/2016]The restaurant closed in 2014. The "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger" plaque may still be bolted to the back of the building; it was still there in Oct. 2015.
Kaelin's Restaurant closed in 2009, then became a coffee shop, then became an Irish restaurant and pub. That establishment is now closed, too. The sign announcing Kaelin's as the Birthplace of the Cheeseburger still stands on the south side of the building.
[James Hite, 09/01/2015]Kaelin's Restaurant is no longer in operation. The building now houses a new restaurant.
[Anita, 09/11/2009]Page of 2 [Next 3 items]
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Most important of all, the new owners restored the "Birthplace of the Cheeseburger" plaque to the outside of the building.