R.I.P. Jim’s Hamburgers
By Paul Lundgren on Feb 6, 2012 in R.I.P., Restaurants
Paper over the windows doesn’t necessarily mean this classic restaurant at 2005 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s friendly West End is closed for good, but the word on the street is that it has been closed for a few months and will stay that way. (It was included in the “Breakfast in Duluth” post 10 months ago.)
This was the last of four Jim’s Hamburger locations in Duluth. Jim Overlie was the founder, opening the first one in 1937. I think the West End location opened in the 1940s. Overlie sold in 1985 to Dick and Mary Christensen. Dick died in 2000 and Mary died in 2006. Their son Denny took over ownership.
Other Jim’s Hamburger locations were at:
502 E. Fourth St. (closed in 2005)
414 W. Superior (closed in 1995)
502 E. First St. (closed in 1982)
Is that the last Jim’s Hamburgers? It didn’t look even close to being open when I went by there last. We had two to chose from on the Hillside -- Fifth Avenue East and Downtown. At the one downtown I put my dad’s name in a drawing and he won his height in hamburgers. Good times.
Here is some Jim’s Hamburgers history from the News Tribune Attic (originally posted back in 2008):
Jim’s Hamburgers, 1980
Wasn’t there a Jim’s location in West Duluth (56th and Grand)? Jim’s had great food … especially burgers and fries and you could get breakfast all day. Great memories!!!!
Man, I haven’t eaten at Jim’s for years. Makes me yearn for having a burger, then walking over to Carr’s Hobbies and peeking through the door at the train set, then walking over to Video Vision to rent a Nintendo console and 3 games for $10, then walking home down 21st and snickering at Yoshika’s.
I will say that should it re-open, I will make a concerted effort to eat there more often.
MK Mess
While it is sad to see a local business close, I find it a little funny that a community that prides itself on locally owned and operated businesses let this “gem” of a burger joint go under. Practice what you preach, or go eat at Quiznos.
Not trendy enough, deserved to die.
I loved that place. It was just down the street from my old studio and it’s where I used to grab a little protein’n starch when I was working there. I remember a thanksgiving day when I had my T-day dinner there. It has been shut down for nearly a year. Hardly any greasy spoons left in this city! Someone needs to campaign for the genre. Aren’t there any webmillionaires who pine for the burgers of their youth, and who are willing to pay to preserve them?