A&B Burgers Crowdfunds Move to Beverly

A casual burger restaurant in Salem is looking to move to a larger space in Beverly this summer, with help from a new Kickstarter campaign.

A&B Burgers opened over a year ago in a former jail in Salem. Owners Thomas Holland and Amy Butler are eyeing a different North Shore locale for the future home, a long-closed grocery store at 206 Cabot St., Beverly. On the Kickstarter campaign, the burger-and-shake makers address problems with their current spot, including protected, historic architecture getting in the way of inside expansion, and city-protected green space limiting parking options on the lot.

In the first few days of the campaign, some current fans have reacted negatively, saying the crowdfunding campaign asks A&B's current customers to fund its desertion of them.

Holland responded Saturday with a personal message on Facebook. "Everyone likes to write their opinions but very few have the facts and Amy and myself are trying very hard to run a small business that we both invested our two families' life savings into just 20 months ago." He adds the Kickstarter will fund just 10% of the move, and gently notes that A&B's fans come from beyond the borders of Salem.

"What we are offering is to our friends, our fans and anyone else from anywhere who would like to the chance to be a part of something that is very special to us and very important to us," Holland says.

If you want to be part of A&B Burgers' move, check out the campaign. The venture has until March 15 to meet its $60,000 goal.