{"id":11852,"date":"2026-09-18T14:47:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T11:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startup-hub.ro\/?p=11852"},"modified":"2026-09-18T15:14:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T12:14:06","slug":"the-first-simons-burger-restaurant-in-romania-has-opened-its-doors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startup-hub.ro\/en\/startup-news-announcements\/the-first-simons-burger-restaurant-in-romania-has-opened-its-doors\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Simon\u2019s Burger Restaurant in Romania Has Opened Its Doors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A year ago, Oltean Csongor and Gr\u00fcman R\u00f3bert, co-founders of StartUp HUB, set out to bring Simon\u2019s Burger to Romania. After a year of hard work, planning, and preparation, the very first Simon\u2019s Burger location in Romania finally opened its doors on September 12th in the heart of Cluj-Napoca, at 29 Bulevardul Eroilor.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon\u2019s Burger started in 2022 in a 60 m\u00b2 space on a side street in Budapest, and today it stands as one of the most dynamic success stories in the regional fast-food market. This opening marks a major milestone for both the brand and StartUp HUB. Speaking on the seamless partnership and the strategic importance of expanding into Romania, T\u00f3th M\u00e1t\u00e9<\/strong><\/a>, co-founder and CEO of Simon\u2019s Burger, stated: \u201cWe grew 50-fold in three years without ever writing a business plan, but with strict operational discipline\u2014because we know that with good marketing, you can only sell a bad burger once. New York proved that the product holds up anywhere. Romania is the first market we are entering with a partner who builds systems. For us, a good franchise partner isn’t one who opens fast, but one who measures, adjusts, and only then scales\u2014and StartUp HUB has already proven this capability in HR tech.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cluj opening brings more than just another burger joint to Romania: the 200 m\u00b2 unit serves as the launchpad for a nationwide expansion strategy targeting 25 restaurants. The location was chosen deliberately. Oltean Csongor<\/strong><\/a>, CEO of Simon\u2019s Burger CJ SRL, noted: \u201cWe chose Cluj because it has Transylvania\u2019s youngest and most dynamic urban population… The flagship store is both a restaurant and a ‘laboratory’: prices, operations, consumer behavior\u2014everything we measure here will dictate the pace for the next 24 locations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the market-entry strategy, the performance metrics of the Cluj flagship (built with a \u20ac500,000 investment) will guide the rollout of the 25-store national network over the next five years, focusing primarily on major shopping malls across top cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Korvin Tibor<\/strong><\/a>, Franchise Director at Simon\u2019s Burger, underscored the importance of operational discipline and system consistency: \u201cCluj is our benchmark for Romania. Here, we analyze price sensitivity, cost structure, and consumer behavior in a highly competitive QSR market. If the data aligns with our projections, Romania can follow a rapid yet disciplined expansion model. Our franchise model is built on full operational standardization\u2014recipes, processes, training, procurement\u2014so that every new unit reaches profitability within the same timeframe. In Romania, we are working with a franchise partner who understands that system discipline makes all the difference.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gr\u00fcman R\u00f3bert<\/strong><\/a>, co-founder and CEO of StartUp HUB, highlighted: \u201cEntering the QSR market represents our group’s boldest diversification yet: a brand with proven consumer appeal, a franchise structure validated across three markets, and ideal timing. What convinced us was the combination of metrics and people: a brand that grew 50-fold in three years without price hikes, and two founders who lead operations from the front line, not from an office. StartUp HUB remains an HR-tech group, but we believe value-creating business models can be replicated beyond a single industry\u2014and QSR is our first proof point.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The secret behind Simon\u2019s Burger lies in its fresh, made-to-order smash burgers, a streamlined menu, and a fair pricing philosophy that proves premium quality doesn’t have to be overpriced. T\u00f3th Simon<\/strong><\/a>, founder of the brand, shared his vision: \u201cEvery new market has taught us something\u2014Slovakia about the supply chain, Austria about operational standards, and New York about pace and volume\u2014and everything we\u2019ve learned is built into the Cluj location. I\u2019m 26 years old and I grew up alongside this brand. In Cluj, I want a whole generation to grow up with it too\u2014to make it the go-to burger after school, after the game, or after a first date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The September 12th Grand Opening stayed true to the brand\u2019s signature style: the first 1,000 guests received a free cheeseburger, and one lucky winner walked away with a year\u2019s supply of free meals (one combo meal per day) at Simon\u2019s Burger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing is certain: this is only the beginning. Soon, 24 more Simon\u2019s Burger locations will open across the country. Until then, we look forward to welcoming everyone in Cluj!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A year ago, Oltean Csongor and Gr\u00fcman R\u00f3bert, co-founders of StartUp HUB, set out to bring Simon\u2019s Burger to Romania. After a year of hard work, planning, and preparation, the very first Simon\u2019s Burger location in Romania finally opened its doors on September 12th in the heart of Cluj-Napoca, at 29 Bulevardul Eroilor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startup-news-announcements"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t