Breaking ground

Habit Burger Grill broke ground in August for its first Tucson location at 5721 E. Broadway, near Craycroft Road. It could open as early as mid-December.

Habit Burger Grill out of California is coming to Tucson, the latest buzz-worthy national chain to make inroads into Southern Arizona.

Habit Burger will open as early as mid-December at 5721 E. Broadway, near North Craycroft Road. Phoenix-based J Walters Construction Co. broke ground on the 3,300-square-foot building in mid-August, said project manager Chip Stalkfleet.

The charbroiled burger was named best in America in a 2015 Consumer Reports survey, beating outΒ In-N-Out, Shake Shack, McDonald's andΒ Five Guys.

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Saturdays are for Santa Barbara Chars. #MakeItAHabit (πŸ“·: @orlandofoodspots)

A post shared by The Habit Burger Grill (@habitburgergrill) on Sep 16, 2017 at 4:39pm PDT

Stalkfleet said work should wrap up in early December and he anticipates the restaurant will open soon after. Habit Burger officials at the company’s Santa Barbara headquarters could not be reached to comment Thursday and did not return repeated calls.

Habit Burger, the popular West Coast chain known for its charbroiled burgers, has been operating in the Phoenix area since 2011. There are 10 locations there now, including several in the East Valley cities of Chandler and Gilbert.

Habit Burger joins several Midwestern chains, including Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Smashburger and Steak β€˜n Shake that have opened restaurants in Tucson since the wildly popular California chain In-N-Out Burger introduced itself to us in 2004.


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Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch