In its present iteration, 91 Church Street houses the newest competitor in downtown New Haven’s restaurant quest for the ideal hamburger. For the gastronomic purist, this fair Elm City already boasts to have invented the hamburger at Louis’ Lunch on Crown Street. For patrons looking for something more mainstream, the slightly-bougie Shake Shack recently moved into Chapel Street, between Temple Street and College Street. And as of June 2015, Five Guys Burgers & Fries has now taken up residence at 91 Church Street, offering their greasy, cheap, and delicious fare to New Haven. I experienced the pleasure and subsequent pain of a Five Guys (Burger & Fries) burger and fries: 1,300 calories consumed for the sake of academia.



Exterior of Five Guys at 91 Church, September 2015 Interior of Five Guys, September 2015 John C. Miles’ post in the College Courant for his 91 Church St. business, June 1868 Meigs and Co. Advertisement in New Haven Directory, 1913 Sanborn Map of 1911 Winchester Storefront from the Dana Scrapbook, 1923. S. S. Kresge store on Chapel, late 1920s Sanborn Map of 1946 Photo by Andy Blair, Kresge Department Store on Chapel, 1974 Tommy Ardolino, Kresge Photo Booth, 1974 Tommy Ardolino and Mark Teofilo, Kresge Photo Booth, 1975 Kresge Department Store on Chapel, 1979 S. S. Kresge at 91 Church, Connecticut Historical Building Commission, 1981 Fire Damage to Church Street, 2007 Fire Damage to 91 Church, 2007 George Washington’s Placard on the side of 91 Church, 2015

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