Smash Burgers & Community Spirit: Burgers on the Edge Opens July 18 in Williamsburg

If you love crispy-edged smash burgers and supporting local entrepreneurs, the Edge District has a new must-try spot. Burgers on the Edge officially opens its doors at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 18, complete with a ribbon cutting hosted by York County Economic Development. The 2,800-square-foot restaurant settles into 455 E Merrimac Trail, adding fresh flavor to the corridor that links Williamsburg, York County, and James City County.

Beyond Burgers: The Prep District Commissary

Owner-chef Chris Waller—also known for the popular Bald Guy Pies food truck—designed the building to serve double duty. In addition to slinging burgers, hot chicken, and all-day breakfast burritos, the back half functions as The Prep District, a fully equipped commissary kitchen that local food-truck and cottage-food operators can rent by the hour. Think mixers, fryers, convection ovens, and ample cold storage—exactly what smaller vendors need to scale up without a huge overhead hit.

Pay-It-Forward Meal Board

True to its community-first mission, Burgers on the Edge introduces a pay-it-forward meal program. Diners can purchase a meal voucher; anyone who’s hungry can pull a voucher from the board—no questions asked. Waller says it’s his way of “feeding people first and worrying about profits second,” a lesson he picked up while cooking on the West Coast.

What This Means for the Edge District

• Culinary diversity: Smash-burgers, Nashville-style hot chicken, and breakfast burritos extend the District’s foodie lineup.
  
  
• Economic ripple: The Prep District lowers the barrier for home-based cooks, potentially birthing the next wave of local food trucks.
  
  
• Evening energy: Planned late-night hours keep the corridor lively past dinner, a win for nearby businesses.
  
  

Ready for a Bite?

Doors swing open at 4 p.m. on July 18—come hungry, grab a pay-it-forward voucher if you need it, and welcome Williamsburg’s newest burger joint to the neighborhood. Thinking about moving closer to our ever-growing culinary scene? I’m Jackie Berberabe, your Williamsburg REALTOR. Let’s chat about homes near all the good eats!