SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
BUHLER, Kan. — A new dining option is rolling into Buhler later this month, but its roots run deep in carnival traditions and small-town values.
Bubba’s Burgers, owned and operated by longtime concessionaire Matthew Hall, is set to open Wednesday, June 25, at 111 N. Main St. in downtown Buhler. The restaurant will be open Wednesday through Monday and closed Tuesdays, offering what Hall describes as “good food fast” with a retro diner feel and a commitment to fresh and local ingredients.
“I’ve been around food my entire life,” Hall said. “My mom and dad did carnivals, festivals, fairs, like the Kansas State Fair, and I started working for them as soon as I could see over a counter.”
Hall, a third-generation concessionaire who grew up in rural North Dakota, started his own mobile food business at age 15. Over 26 years, he built it into a multi-offering operation, serving items like funnel cakes, Philly steak sandwiches, corn dogs, blooming onions, fried veggies, and fresh-battered cheese curds. Now, he’s taking that experience off the road and into a permanent location.
“We’re just taking the wheels out from under it,” he said. “It’ll be homemade food served fast, the way we did it at the fairgrounds, faster than McDonald’s.”
The name “Bubba’s Burgers” carries personal meaning. Hall named the restaurant in memory of his late son, Carson (AKA Bubba), who passed away in 2018 after a battle with brain cancer.
The menu will feature hand-breaded pork tenderloins, chicken dinners, and rotating daily specials. Wing Wednesday, Taco Thursday with deep-fried taco shells, and Fried Chicken Friday are already locked in. A prime rib sandwich special is also in the works. There will even be Philly steak sandwiches, including three specialties, the Wisconsin topped with cheese curds or the spicy fire Philly.
The diner will offer hand-scooped shakes in 15 flavors, dubbed “Twisters”, along with soft-serve cones and sundaes. The twisters will be a a taste of nostalgia in every bite, made with hand scooped ice cream like the old days.
Hall said he’s focused on sourcing as many ingredients locally as possible, including produce from Smith’s Market and meats from Jackson Meat. His relationship with Chris Barnes, owner of Smith’s Market in Hutchinson, played a pivotal role in the restaurant’s development.
“Chris is one of my closest friends,” Hall said. “When I was looking to transition out of the mobile business, he kept telling me to be patient, that the right thing would come along. He’s been a big supporter through all of this.”
Barnes’ encouragement helped guide Hall toward Buhler, and their shared belief in buying local helped shape the restaurant’s philosophy.
“I love Smith’s Market, it’s a wonderful little store,” Hall said. “We’ve always tried to support each other’s businesses. It just made sense to bring that mindset to Buhler, and I hope the community sees that commitment in what we’re doing.”
The building, a longtime Main Street fixture, is undergoing extensive renovation. “It’s been more of a remodel than I expected,” Hall said. “But once you get started, you want to do it right. My grandpa always said, ‘If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you don’t have time to fix it.’”
Hall credits Innovative Tint & Graphics, a Hutchinson business, for the retro-style logo and signage. He said the design aims to match the interior’s nostalgic aesthetic.
Bubba’s Burgers is expected to employ three to four full-time staff along with several high school students for summer and evening shifts. Hall said the restaurant will be consistently open, hoping to bring reliability to a location that has seen turnover in recent years.
“When I walked down Main Street, it reminded me of home,” Hall said. “The community shouldn’t have to drive all the way to Hutch to get a good meal. We want to be a destination diner, one that sticks around.”
The opening is timed to align with Buhler’s Spark in the Park, where Bubba’s will debut a special “fireworks shake” as part of its grand opening celebration.
For updates and sneak peeks, Hall encourages residents to follow Bubba’s Burgers on Facebook. “If you catch me out and about, grab a business card,” he said. “They’re good for a free shake or appetizer, we want folks to come give us a try.”