Well, have you heard?
Walnut Creek’s latest burger shop, The Habit, is incredibly popular during peak hours. So popular that the line often extends out the door during weekend afternoons.
It’s become a hang-out spot and a place to grab a quick, quality meal. Teenagers, college students, you name it. The Habit’s got it.
The Habit sits in a transformed retail and office complex on the corner of Olympic and South California boulevards. The Habit single-handedly has turned the center into a busy destination.
The Habit serves their classic Charburger, best known as the “Char." In addition, the restaurant serves a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and kids' meals. For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll want to try their shakes, malts and ice cream cones.
The spot is especially popular with teens, with the phrases, “Let’s meet at the Habit,” or “Let’s make it a habit!” being coined.
All this popularity begs the question -- did the Habit folks think that their new burger shop would be this popular?
After all, Walnut Creek has no shortage of places to grab a quality burger. The competition is quite fierce. George's Giant Hamburgers, the Counter, and Hupcaps all are viable burger joints.
Personally, I think the Habit is more popular with Las Lomas students because it offers great taste at affordable prices. A basic Charburger goes for $2.95; an "Original" meal of burger, fries and a drink goes for $5.95. George's is a little run down and has served the same burger for countless years. The food and the ambiance at the Habit are exciting for the Las Lomas community.
However, The Habit has a relatively small amount of seating and wait times for a “Char” can sometimes exceed eight or so minutes. But, people keep returning. The customer base has done nothing but grow since its opening last holiday season.
So all the long lines and limited seating area to enjoy your burger begs the question: Does the Habit have plans to expand? Did they anticipate such a frenzy surrounding their establishment at peak hours?
When I visited The Habit to ask the manager this very question, he was, not surprisingly, too busy to chat.
Can The Habit’s kitchen and space constraints keep up with its’ fast growing customer base? Would a larger facility suit The Habit?
Just food for thought.
