Aberdeen’s favorite hamburger is served on South Main Street.
With more than 1,100 votes cast throughout the month of April, the bourbon bacon cheeseburger from Three22 Kitchen & Cocktails edged out the competition for the Aberdeen Burger Battle traveling trophy in the event’s first year.
The burger battle was a community service project organized by the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Leadership Aberdeen class. Diners could visit the participating restaurants last month and vote on the taste, toppings and presentation of burgers. Proceeds from the contest will support The Salvation Army of Aberdeen.
MORE:Â 10 restaurants compete in first Aberdeen Burger BattleÂ
“We identified pretty early that food insecurity was an issue,” Leadership Aberdeen participant Brandon Duxbury said Monday, May 8 at The Salvation Army. That’s where the winner was announced.
When the class heard the community had been requesting a burger battle, Duxbury said students rallied around the idea and decided to use it as a way to raise awareness of The Salvation Army’s food needs.
While Three22 came out as the winner, Duxbury said the results were extremely close.
MORE:Â 10 restaurants compete in first Aberdeen Burger BattleÂ
Three22 General Manager Jacob Collins said that during the first couple weeks of April, orders for the bourbon bacon cheeseburger dominated sales. The contest had perfect timing for the restaurant, which was unveiling a new menu that included the burger loaded with bacon, cheese and haystack onions, he said.
Other restaurants that participated were Circus Sports Bar & Grill, Pounders Pub & Grub, Lager’s Inn, Mavericks Steaks and Cocktails, Mulligan’s Sports Bar & Casino, Red Rooster Coffee House, Schwan’s Recreation, The Zoo and Danger von Dempsey’s Pizza and Brewhaus.
Burger battle raises $10,000 for Aberdeen Salvation Army
In addition to announcing the winner, the Leadership Aberdeen group presented a donation of $10,000 to The Salvation Army. The money came from the $250 paid by each participating restaurant and event sponsors.
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Aberdeen Salvation Army Maj. Joel Arthur said the donation will be spread out to support all of the agency’s food programs. They include the snack pack program, which provides 538 weekend food bags for school children; the summer lunch program, which starts June 5 and runs through mid-August; College Days events; the meal share program and the food pantry.
The food pantry also benefits from the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which is Saturday, May 13. Anyone can participate by setting out a bag of non-perishable food items that will be picked up by letter carriers.
Journey Home’s food pantry also benefits from the food drive.
Leadership Aberdeen is a training and networking program for young professionals.
