Jan. 10, 2023

Harrisburgers is getting a new owner.

Dean Marshall, owner of The Big Orange Truck, is buying the Harrisburg restaurant, which closed Dec. 30.

“I am making a menu right now as we speak,” said Marshall, who lives in Harrisburg. “I’m not keeping anything the way we had it. I’m going to do it my way because I’m a little different.”

The restaurant, however, will still feature burgers and ice cream, he said.

“The menu will have fun names for every burger. My goal originally was to do 10, but that will go closer to 18 to 20.”

In addition to beef, there will be chicken and Impossible burgers, all of which can be made into a bowl or salad, he said.

Marshall’s food truck is for sale, and some of those menu items will be available at Harrisburgers, which actually might get a new name, he said.

He won’t make tacos like he did on The Big Orange Truck, but his “Almost Famous Fries,” garlic cheese curds and gourmet wieners will be served.

“I plan to do smoked chicken wings with your choice of five different styles, either sauce or dry rub. There will be deep fried green beans and pierogies.”

Appetizers might include bacon cheeseburger wontons and buffalo chicken egg rolls.

Stensland Family Farms will supply the soft-serve ice cream and the cheese. “Local still means a lot to me,” Marshall said.

He’d like to be open seven days a week and possibly do brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner, but Marshall might open in the morning to give locals a place to drink their coffee, play cards and converse.

“I want to promote just having people in there,” he said. “It’s good for business.”

Eventually, “my goal is to turn it into a tap house. What that means exactly, I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said, noting that he might be limited by space in the building.

He envisions someday having six craft brews on tap along with other beer and wine. He’d like to serve wine slushies and beer ice cream so parents could have a treat too when they take their kids for ice cream.

Marshall and current owner Nick Lund have a mutual friend, and that’s who got them together.

They’re set to close on the sale Feb. 2, and Marshall hopes to reopen March 1.

“I put that out there so it gives me something to work toward,” said Marshall, who plans to remodel the interior.

“I’m going to change it, but I don’t know what I’m changing it to yet. I’m eclectic. If I see something I like, I get it. Orange is my favorite color, and it’s currently red in there, so that might change.”

He’s excited about having a place of his own and one that has been part of the community for more than a decade.

“When we first moved to Harrisburg, the first place we ate was Harrisburgers, so that’s kind of cool.”