When a friend of Rob McIvor’s decided to sell his Winnipeg-based sandwich trailer, McIvor saw an opportunity to test his mettle in Thompson’s food scene with his own burger stand, Blazen Burgers. His reason was simple: “I like burgers.”
With that singular purpose in mind, Blazen Burgers’ heavy-stacked burgers have quickly become not only a local favourite this summer, but a regional one: the trailer format allowed McIvor to set up shop in a number of places, including Yorkboat Days in Norway House, and the 244 Throwdown near Starbuck, Manitoba.
McIvor’s mother, Margret, took the new burger stand as a good opportunity to retire from regular work; she now helps McIvor with the day-to-day operation. “We get lots of repeat customers; we have regulars coming in who we recognize, and we already know what they’re going to order.” As she said that, one patron noted it was already his third time there that day.
Kelly Moors, who also works at the stand, has helped encourage a strong social media presence. “I’m a social media freak, so any time I make the perfect burger, I like to share it with the world, so people have a desire to come out.”
McIvor isn’t new to food: he cut his culinary teeth working in fine dining establishments in Texas, where he picked up his pulled pork recipe currently on the menu. For the time being, the Blazen Burgers menu is fairly focused on classic-style burgers, including the 244 Burger named after his late brother Mike, and the Monster burger, named after the previous owner’s father. But McIvor notes that he plans to expand the menu in the coming seasons. “This year is just a test, to see how it goes,” he said.
