Wholesome from the inside-out - Bareburger comes to Ridgefield

Ridgefielders who have been hungry for the old Chambers building to bustle with business will soon have their appetite satisfied.

The upscale, healthy and environmentally friendly franchise Bareburger will open their signature garage doors in about a month.

The Bareburger brand boasts tasty food that is not only good for you, but benefits the community. How? By partnering with local artisans and organic farmers, and using reclaimed and recycled materials to build and decorate, Bareburger combines local, delicious, and green.

"Bareburger puts a lot of weight into who is opening their stores," says Ridgefield Bareburger co-owner Chris Sturges. "The company is new and at this point, the opportunity to own a Bareburger is only available to friends and family," he adds.

And, a friendship is how the concept of bringing Bareburger to Ridgefield was born. Sturges partner, Truitt Bell, has known the founders of Bareburger for several years. "Truitt is my grandmother's neighbor here in Ridgefield," explains Sturges. The duo started talking about Bareburger - its mission and ideals. "After visiting Bareburger in Manhattan, we began talking more seriously about bringing the concept to Ridgefield," says Sturges.

Sturges knows he has big shoes to fill (no pun intended). "It was a challenge to get restaurant approval for this space," explains Sturges, who admits that the process began a year ago. Sturges is committed to preserving the history of the landmark property that once served as the town "go-to" place for sporting goods and rugged footwear. "We have maintained the integrity of the building," he says.

Bareburger is wholesome from the inside-out. The rustic interior, complete with recycled windows, wood, and garage doors, is down to Earth (literally). The fare and beverage offerings share the same locally sourced quality. "We want the quality to be the highest level possible, but at the end of the day, it's fun - burgers, shakes, fries," says Sturges. "Price-wise, it's competitive with other family-friendly places in town," he adds.

Bareburger will offer variety of burgers, both meat and meatless, and both bare and fully loaded. Customers will have their choice of buns too. "We have gluten-free offerings and a great gluten-free bun," explains Sturges.

Organic wines, beer and soda are some of the beverages choices. "We'll also have a small craft drink list," says Sturges.

Customers will have the option to dine alfresco or take out meals.

Hungry for healthy? It won't be long now.