ShawneeDispatch.com

A new restaurant is looking to bring burgers back to downtown Shawnee.

Big Bam's Burgers, 5930 Nieman Rd., opened earlier this month, with a small-town burger joint look.

Joe Bacarro, owner, said he has worked in the restaurant business all of his life and has co-owned other restaurants in the past. The Overland Park resident decided to open his own casual-dining restaurant when he saw an ad for the Shawnee building, which was most recently a pita sandwich restaurant.

Bacarro said it was easy to decide on a theme for the new restaurant because he heard the location was formerly a burger place for years. He also came up with the alliterative name quickly.

"It was just kind of a whimsical, fun name," Bacarro said.

To go with the fun name, Bacarro has started Big Bam's with a simple menu, featuring similar fun monikers. In addition to Bam's Wings, there are five burgers, with names like the "Swiss Miss," the "Cheeze Pleaz!" and the "Ladder 49," a play on the film about firefighters for the burger that features a fiery Cajun dressing. The menu also includes three chicken sandwiches.

Bacarro said he would like to expand the menu in the future, but for now, he'll keep it simple. With the simplicity, he also ensures quality; Bacarro said his burgers and sandwiches are made with fresh meat from a butcher shop in Independence, Mo., not the frozen patties of many fast-food restaurants.

"We have fresh ingredients, good values because there a big basket of fries, and everything is made to order," he said.

The burger theme may be a familiar sight at the building, but the interior is something new. Bacarro said the building was in need of a makeover when he purchased it, so he cleaned it up, with a fresh coat of paint, new countertop and some new decorations.

While he'd like to open up Big Bam's all over the county, Bacarro said he wanted to make sure the Shawnee restaurant was successful first.

"You always hope to expand, but I don't want to make any promises," he said.

Big Bam's can be contacted at (913) 962-1230.