Things have taken an insane turn at the Auburn Cheeburger Cheeburger.
In Auburn, Alabama, the fan-favorite burger joint has revamped its style and menu for a new, modern twist on an Auburn staple.
Don Doyle bought the restaurant onto College Street in December 2017 and went with his gut to bring it into this century. Alongside his wife, Doyle crafted a new “Insane Milkshakes” mantra that the franchise has now adopted thanks to his creativity in the creamery department.
The new and improved Cheeburger Cheeburger now serves artisanal and wild milkshakes with classic and out-there flavors.
Kate Valentine, a milkshake barista and server at Cheeburger Cheeburger, said she is always intrigued and surprised by the fancy milkshakes they offer.
“[The signature shake menu] isn’t a franchise thing,” she said. “It’s all Don. He creates all of them, draws all of them up.”
These insane milkshakes include a normal base, but the toppings are where it gets interesting.
When customers order the “Maximum Oreo,” they receive a fried Oreo atop the shake. Choose the “NY, NY” milkshake and get ready for an entire slice of cheesecake to be served atop whip cream.
The sky is the limit when it comes to the shakes, but Valentine said it is definitely a craft that takes a little while to manage and perfect.
“They’re not hard to make, but you’ll put all of the toppings on top, and they’ll all come spilling out,” Valentine said. “I definitely freaked out the first time. It’s a little stressful, but you get used to it.”
Thanks to Doyle’s creative mind and on-trend thinking, with the help of his wife, the Cheeburger Cheeburger franchise approved of the new menus and will be using the Auburn restaurant as a model for future expansions into the “Insane Milkshakes” road in the future.
Employees are also welcome to contribute ideas for the monthly signature milkshake.
Valentine recommends the “Maximum Oreo” milkshake, but Doyle has made his favorite flavors the star milkshake at Cheeburger Cheeburger: “Tiger Tracks.”
“My favorite shake is the ‘Tiger Tracks’ because those are the flavors I love the most,” Doyle said. “It was the first shake we came up with.”
The “Tiger Tracks” shake is a peanut butter, chocolate and salty pretzel concoction. “Maximum Oreo” is the most popular, according to Doyle.
Doyle graduated from Auburn University in 2004 in environmental science and again in 2006 with a master’s degree in industrial engineering. Though he is an engineer, Doyle always had a dream of owning his own restaurant, but he never thought it would be Cheeburger Cheeburger.
“Owning a restaurant was always in the plan, but this was the place available at the time,” Doyle said.
The restaurant fell into his and his wife’s creative hands. They took inspiration from places in Gulf Shores and Alabaster. They strived to be the first place in Auburn to take on the creative challenge of insane milkshakes.
An interior change for the diner was much-needed, according to Doyle, as the design was based on the 1940s. However, Doyle noted that many other Cheeburger Cheeburger establishments have gone with the industrial modern interior design they have today.
One thing is for certain; the pink walls are not missed. Unfortunately, though, a little piece of that pink is left near the serving window.
“It just so happens that there’s a computer system there, and I was afraid it might break,” Doyle said. “I had to leave [the pink paint].”
Now the diner is filled with murals that represent Auburn traditions, such as rolling Toomer’s and watching the eagle fly at football games. Polaroids cover one wall to commemorate guests taking the “Pounder” challenge with a camera waiting at the milkshake bar for the next customer.
Valentine loves working at Cheeburger Cheeburger and said it is exciting to see how much has changed for the better as well as holding in excitement for what is to come.
“We are awaiting a new menu, and when it comes out, we will eventually go to a breakfast menu, as well,” Doyle said.
Valentine is most excited to see hot wings be offered at the restaurant.
“We’re getting wings,” Valentine said. “Who doesn’t love wings?”
The classic Cheeburger Cheeburger still exists within the walls of that corner restaurant on College Street, but Doyle and his wife have brought a new era of Cheeburger Cheeburger to Auburn. Fan-favorites are still available, with the large selections of burger toppings still available, but new additions are keeping the diner relevant, bringing returning and old customers together to experience what has changed.
The new and improved menu is widely known in the college town, but students are continuously discovering the not-so-secret signature milkshake menu.
Currently, there are 10 signature shakes available at Cheeburger Cheeburger that never change, and the special, monthly flavor is announced on the restaurant’s social media accounts.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
