Modesto loves this Bay Area burger chain so much its new Valley store set a sales record
Modesto really, really loves a giant hamburger.
After opening quietly earlier this month along McHenry Avenue, the new Modesto Nation’s Giant Hamburgers set sales records for the 70-year-old family-owned company. The venerable East Bay-based chain has made a name for itself over the decades thanks to its made-to-order burgers, freshly baked pies and breakfast served all day.
Nation’s President and CEO Grant Power said last week the new Modesto restaurant had the highest weekly sales for any of its locations since the company was founded as a six-stool hot dog stand in San Pablo in 1972. The regional chain had 29 locations across largely the Bay Area, with a handful of locations in the Sacramento area and Central Valley.
“We were ready for a busy week — we didn’t know it would be quite that busy,” Power said. “This was above our expectations, it was amazing.”
Nation’s is known for its early-morning-to-late-night dining. None of its current locations have drive-thrus, but all stay open late. The Modesto location opens at 6 a.m. every day and closes at midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
New Nation’s Modesto spot inside old bank
Power said the new Modesto site in the heart of the city signals the company’s long-term commitment to the Valley. In June 2021, the restaurant chain announced plans to turn the old Wells Fargo bank branch into its newest restaurant. Power said they invested $1.8 million into renovating and converting the property with a “100-year mindset.”
“We want to be here forever. It’s easy to say that, it’s a whole other thing to open up your wallets and make the kind of investment that we did,” he said. “You only do that because you want to be here forever.”
Nation’s menu has stood the test of time as well, serving burgers made to order with never-frozen third-pound beef patties. A simple hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion and the chain’s signature dressing (think more Miracle Whip than mayo) starts at $6.80 and goes up to $10.95 for a bacon cheeseburger. You can customize them how you want — add grilled onions, make it a lettuce wrap, you name it.
You’ll also find a salmon burger ($9.40), grilled chicken breast sandwich ($8.30) and even a veggie burger ($7.25), plus hot dogs, grilled cheese and chili.
But that’s just the lunch and dinner foods. Nation’s all-day breakfast includes the classic combos (eggs, breakfast meats, hash browns and toast from $7.20 to $14.60 depending on the number of eggs and meats), French toast, omelets and pancakes.
Holiday pie orders underway at Modesto restaurant
And then there are the pies. The Modesto location is currently sampling many of the restaurant’s more than a dozen pie flavors, from banana cream to lemon meringue to berry, cheesecakes and more. Whole pies run $15.20 to $20.95, and halves are also available — in case you don’t want to eat a whole pie by yourself, ahem.
All of the pies are made fresh daily in Nation’s El Cerrito bakery. They expect to crank out 85,000 pies during the week of Thanksgiving. The Modesto site is currently taking orders for holiday pies.
The pies and the burgers were the draw for Modesto couple Freddy and Betsy Huss. For more than 20 years, they’ve been going to the company’s Tracy location, whose prominent burger-shaped road sign serves as a progress marker for Valley residents on their way back home from the Bay Area.
“It’s great we don’t have to go all the way to Tracy, we love it,” said Freddy Hess. They’ve been driving there every other week to get their fix, but now plan to stop at the new Modesto site weekly, if not more.
Nation’s menu and ambiance attract a diverse crowd, from families with small children to late-night bar hoppers and old-timers who have eaten at the chain for years. The former bank’s high, angled ceilings were kept and its floor-to-ceiling windows expanded, resulting in an open and airy space.
Nation’s plans to franchise after Modesto opening
Power said while they don’t have a traditional drive-thru, they are considering adding a pickup window at the Modesto site. The former bank had a drive-thru already, and it would help speed up orders through third-party delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub. Nation’s also offers delivery through its website and app.
While the Modesto opening was the company’s biggest, it also will be one of its last for the time being. All of its locations are owned by the company, which in many cases, including Modesto, also owns the property. But Power said they plan to start franchising the Nation’s brand and hope to start with locations in Texas sometime in 2023.
But for now, Power is focused on keeping the new Modesto site running smoothly. The 5,000-square-foot eatery has a staff of close to 40 at its opening, and managers from other sites were brought in to ease the transition.
“You’ll make our day by walking through the front doors. We love everyone. We are dying to get the perfect order for you, whether that’s breakfast or a burger or special order,” Power said. “We know there’s something on our menu that you’re going to love.”
For more information about Nation’s Giant Hamburgers, at 2509 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, visit www.nationsrestaurants.com or call 209-424-0008.
This story was originally published November 17, 2022 at 8:44 AM.
