One of Seattle’s favorite burger joints is getting ready to open in Ballard. Owner John Shepherd confirms that Red Mill Burgers will soon open at the old Totem House location across from the Ballard Locks at 3058 NW 54th St.
We spoke with Shepherd who says, “Leases are signed and work has started.” Shepherd plans to gut the entire interior and expose cedar beams that have been covered for decades. “We really are excited by it,” he says of the new place. They signed a ten-year-lease which is unusual in the restaurant business. Shepherd says they generally sign leases five years at a time.
Shepherd says that along with the traditional Red Mill burgers and onion rings, they’ll have fish & chips and chowder. “We’ve never done fish before, but we’ll figure it out,” he says. The plan right now is to open in September with an expanded indoor seating area and a larger outdoor seating area, which Sherman says will be more like a permanent structure with heating lamps.
This will be the third location for Red Mill. Their Phinney Ridge location and Interbay location often have lines out the door.